ABC Pre-School Culcheth

Snow dough, paint and favourite stories give a concrete picture of ABC Pre-School Culcheth's learning in December 2021. Hand movements, vocabulary and learning to share were woven into play. These are useful examples of what children experienced at that time.

The setting on Ellesmere Road has capacity for 30 children aged 6 to 60 months. At its December 2021 inspection, Ofsted rated it Good overall, while identifying improvements needed in language modelling, responses to children's misunderstandings and feedback to staff.

In December 2021, children squeezed and shaped snow dough to exercise the hand muscles used for writing, and experimented with paint and mark-making tools. Adults described younger children's play and repeated words to build vocabulary; familiar stories offered another opportunity to practise language.

The early years foundation stage sets the requirements for children's learning, development and care: play supports learning alongside everyday care. In December 2021, the curriculum gave extra attention to social and emotional development following the pandemic. Sharing, taking turns and helping put resources away gave children practical ways to participate together.

Teaching needed greater precision. In December 2021, adults sometimes used inaccurate word forms, and older children were not consistently given enough thinking time before answering. Staff also needed to adjust activities more readily when a child misunderstood something. These points matter because an engaging activity still needs an adult who can recognise what a child has understood.

At the December 2021 inspection, Ofsted found secure relationships with key people, effective safeguarding and good support for children with special educational needs or disabilities, including play plans and advice from other professionals.

In December 2021, staff shared information with families to support learning at home. Staff supervision and coaching arrangements existed, but feedback needed to become more prompt and specific. That was a separate improvement point from the teaching itself: practitioners needed clearer guidance about how to change their interactions.

The address is Ellesmere Road, Culcheth, Warrington, WA3 4BJ. Opening hours are 7.30am to 5pm, Monday to Friday, across the year, with bank holidays and one week at Christmas closed.

In December 2021, the setting provided funded early education for children aged two, three and four. That is a dated account of its funding provision.

• Teaching precision. The December 2021 improvement points concerned pronunciation, thinking time, correcting misunderstandings and staff feedback. During a visit, ask how these are addressed in everyday activities and coaching.
• Age breadth. The current age range is 6 to 60 months, while the children attending in December 2021 were aged two to four. Ask how care and daily activities are organised for the youngest children.

ABC Pre-School Culcheth suits families seeking weekday care across the year. Its December 2021 account combines practical learning through play with specific teaching improvements to weigh carefully. The strongest examples are tangible: shaping dough, practising words through stories and learning to share.