Highfield Grange Pre-School

A fallen bird’s nest became a building project, while vegetables became both soup ingredients and material for imaginative play. These February 2023 examples give Highfield Grange Pre-School a recognisable character: children had opportunities to turn their interests into practical activity.

At its February 2023 inspection, Ofsted rated the pre-school Good and judged safeguarding effective. Based at The Highfield Centre in Marus Bridge, Wigan, it has capacity for 26 children. Children attending in February 2023 were aged two to four; that is the age range at that visit.

In February 2023, children collected leaves and twigs to replace a nest lost from a tree, then added a written notice. The activity connected cooperation, making and early writing around something the children themselves had noticed.

The early years foundation stage sets requirements for children’s learning, development and care. Here, the February 2023 activities linked practical play with language, problem-solving and independence: children discussed how to steady a potato before cutting it, and persisted with chopping a leek.

Outdoor space mattered too. In February 2023, the large outdoor area included equipment for climbing and sliding, while children arranged blocks and planks into a balancing trail. A trolley supplied writing materials outside, and children drew plants and trees. Outdoor play therefore included opportunities to make marks as well as move.

In February 2023, staff helped children discuss feelings and resolve small disputes during shared activities. This gave disagreements a practical purpose: children could learn how to continue playing together.

A supermarket outing supplied vegetables for soup-making in February 2023. Children helped prepare the ingredients and were encouraged to taste the finished soup; toothbrushing after lunch also brought personal care into the day. These were hands-on experiences rather than simply instructions about healthy habits.

Communication extended learning beyond the setting. In February 2023, parents received information about their children’s progress and activities to do together at home. That offered families a way to participate in learning rather than relying only on updates.

The address is The Highfield Centre, Highfield Grange Avenue, Marus Bridge, Wigan, WN3 6GH.

In February 2023, attendance was term-time only, with sessions running from 9am to 3pm. Funded early education was provided for children aged two, three and four at that time. This was a daytime, term-time pattern, so its fit with a family’s working year deserves careful consideration.

• Consistency of teaching. The February 2023 inspection identified a need to strengthen leaders’ skills and confidence so staff delivered the intended curriculum consistently. At a visit, ask how leaders now support and monitor practice across the team.
• Term-time attendance. The February 2023 pattern ran from 9am to 3pm during term time. Does that remain the attendance pattern for a child joining now?

Highfield Grange Pre-School suits parents who value practical exploration, outdoor activity and opportunities for children to take the lead in play. Its February 2023 examples make those priorities tangible. Families seeking the term-time daytime pattern described then have a clear starting point, balanced against the leadership work required to make teaching more consistent.