St Mary's Pre-School

St Mary's Pre-School is a 24-place sessional setting at St. Marys Church, Church Street, Watford. Its latest full inspection, in April 2023, judged it Good in every assessed area and found safeguarding arrangements effective. The strongest thread was children's security. Staff relationships gave them confidence, while everyday responsibilities helped them become more self-reliant.

This is a small setting with an inspection-era picture of warm relationships and purposeful preparation for writing. The report also set a clear challenge: adult-led activities needed to give children more consistent freedom to develop their own ideas.

In April 2023, frequent story sessions saw children cuddle up with staff, while artwork displayed around the pre-school gave them visible ownership of the space. Finger-gym sessions using modelling dough developed fine-motor control before writing. Hands-on play also supported early mathematical thinking, including a water activity built around recognising numbers.

The educational approach followed the Early Years Foundation Stage. In parent terms, that means play and guided activity build communication, physical, personal and early academic development together, rather than treating reading or number work as isolated lessons. Staff connected each activity to abilities children would need later, although the inspection found that activities were not always adapted consistently or opened far enough for children to take an idea beyond the planned task.

Relationships carried weight in April 2023: children appeared secure and confident, with staff available for reassurance. Independence was practical rather than abstract: snack-time clearing gave children a share of responsibility alongside their self-care. Funding had also been obtained to adapt the cloakroom and make those routines easier.

For children with special educational needs and/or disabilities, key workers coordinated extra help with outside professionals. Families had strong relationships with staff from the start and regular communication about learning. Safeguarding was effective at the inspection; staff understood signs of harm and reporting procedures, while recruitment and paediatric first-aid arrangements were kept under review.

The setting is at St. Marys Church, Church Street, Watford, WD18 0EG, and has 24 places in total. Families should ask the setting directly for its current fees.

• Adult-led learning. The April 2023 inspection asked for more consistent adaptation and greater scope for children to pursue their own ideas. How staff now extend an activity when a child chooses a different direction is a useful visit question.
• Daily arrangements. Session patterns and current age groups will decide whether the setting fits a family's weekly childcare needs.
• Budget detail. The treatment of meals, snacks and non-food consumables alongside private or funded hours will shape the total cost.

St Mary's Pre-School's clearest appeal is its inspection-era combination of close relationships, practical independence and carefully sequenced early learning. Its fine-motor work and early mathematical play show how ordinary routines and activities prepared children for the next stage.

It is best suited to families seeking sessional preschool care and those who value a small 24-place setting over a long-day model. The inspection improvement points matter, however. Parents should look for evidence that children now have more freedom within adult-led work and that coaching has strengthened teaching across the team.