Newchurch Pre-School

Paint mixing, story prediction and children washing snack plates give Newchurch Pre-School a practical, hands-on character. At its February 2025 inspection, Ofsted rated it Good overall and found safeguarding effective.

Based at Parish Hall in Culcheth, the setting accepts children aged 9 to 60 months. The strongest examples from February 2025 centre on language, independence and learning shaped around children's interests.

The early years foundation stage sets the requirements for children's learning, development and care; here, the February 2025 examples show learning through play and everyday tasks. Staff planned around children's next steps and used their interests to draw them into activities.

In February 2025, children explored paint with their hands and predicted the results of mixing colours. Stories, songs and rhymes supported language, while pretend tooth-brushing introduced vocabulary about teeth. These examples connect conversation with something children can do and investigate.

Independence had practical expression too. Younger children persevered with putting balls through tubes; older children washed, dried and stacked plates after snacks. Outdoor play provided another regular part of the day at that time.

At the February 2025 inspection, Ofsted found that the key-person approach helped children settle and form attachments, that learning progressed from individual starting points, and that staff identified emerging gaps and worked effectively with external agencies.

In February 2025, settling began with information about routines, interests and earlier learning. Parents used an electronic communication system alongside conversations at collection, and received ideas for supporting learning at home. This made communication about development part of everyday contact.

In February 2025, staff used sign language to support children's communication, drawing on their training. That added another means of communication for children. Staff coaching and supervision were targeted towards the skills needed in their work.

The address is Parish Hall, Common Lane, Culcheth, Warrington, WA3 4EH. Opening hours are 7.30am to 5.30pm, Monday to Friday, across the year, with closures on bank holidays and for two weeks at Christmas.

In February 2025, the setting provided government-funded places. Families considering funded attendance should include the charge structure in their discussion of the booking arrangement.

• Timing adult input. In February 2025, staff sometimes intervened in play at moments that disrupted children's involvement. Better judgement about when to extend an activity was an improvement priority.
• Explaining hygiene. In February 2025, nose-wiping was sometimes done without explanation, and reminders to cover coughs were inconsistent. Helping children understand these habits was the other improvement priority.
• Matching the booking to family life. The opening day runs from 7.30am to 5.30pm. Which attendance arrangements and funded-hours charges would apply to your child's proposed routine?

Newchurch Pre-School merits consideration for families who value practical independence and language woven into play. The February 2025 examples are concrete: colour prediction, shared stories and helping with snack dishes. Its weekday opening window may suit families arranging care around work, while the two improvement priorities make adult intervention and hygiene teaching useful points to explore.