The Wonder Years Preschool & Extended School CIO

Child-led play and a clear emphasis on speech and understanding give The Wonder Years its character. Based in The Bungalow on the Wigginton Primary School site, it combines preschool education with care for older children, making it relevant to families at several stages rather than just the years before Reception.

At its 30 April 2025 inspection, Ofsted rated the provision Good and found safeguarding effective, with children making progress, including those with special educational needs and disabilities. The important qualification was curriculum development: staff needed greater confidence and knowledge, especially in communication and language. That matters here because language development is also a prominent part of the preschool's approach.

The setting offers childcare for ages 3 to 11, with preschool provision for children aged 3 to 5, and has 60 places in total. Term-time preschool mornings, afternoons and full days sit alongside breakfast, after-school and holiday care. These are separate offers with different hours and arrangements.

Learning and Activities

The Early Years Foundation Stage Framework shapes preschool learning through play, with activities responding to children's interests and development. It is the foundation for the day, rather than an extra programme. The setting's In the Moment Planning approach adds a specific way of teaching: practitioners join play children have already chosen, then extend it through conversation, demonstrations, questions and challenges. A child's interest becomes the starting point for teaching.

Communication Friendly Status follows work with Elklan, while Early Talk for York is a partner in the setting's language work; Wellcomm screening addresses listening, speech and understanding. These support language development, though the April 2025 improvement point still matters for staff practice.

In April 2025, an interest in oceans connected several kinds of learning. Children named creatures at a water tray, explored books in a comfortable reading area and used an electronic device to investigate unfamiliar marine life. Craft then extended the same interest. One interest linked conversation, reading, research and making.

That April, shell sorting taught size comparisons, while activity-area signs introduced quantity by showing how many children could play there. Mathematics had a practical purpose.

Outdoor and Community Life

Holiday Club includes both outdoor and indoor activity, with a planned activity advertised in advance. After-school care gives older children choices including baking, sport, craft, games and reading, alongside a homework area with reference books. That mix accommodates different needs after school: some children want to be active, while others want quieter time or space to complete homework.

Boddlers is a separate offer for children and their accompanying adults at Wigginton Recreation Hall. Sessions run in term time, Monday to Thursday, from 9.30am to 11am, with time for a drink, snack and conversation. Parents or carers remain responsible for their children throughout. Its value is shared play and contact with other adults caring for young children, rather than childcare while an adult is elsewhere.

Relationships and Communication

A preschool key person and buddy provide the main relationship with each family. Settling sessions usually last an hour, giving children and parents time with the team before regular attendance begins; additional settling time can be accommodated. This makes settling an adjustable process, with familiar adults involved from the outset.

In April 2025, the parent hub combined early-years information with books families could borrow to read at home. Staff also talked to parents about children's learning. The practical benefit was a link between experiences at preschool and conversations or reading at home, rather than communication being limited to the day's logistics.

Behaviour support centres on explaining feelings, resolving disagreements and setting boundaries suited to the child's development. The positive-behaviour policy uses choices, distraction and explanations of consequences, and separates a child's behaviour from their identity. It rules out humiliating punishments and threatening shouting. For recurring difficulties, observation and discussion with parents are used to understand what is happening and agree a consistent response.

Inclusion and Wellbeing

SEND arrangements include a coordinator, collaboration with speech and language therapists where needed, and My Support Plans reviewed with parents at least once a term. The coordinator works with the key person and family to bring information, observations and support together.

At the April 2025 inspection, Ofsted found that staff recognised additional needs, adapted their planning, made referrals and used extra funding to address learning gaps, but asked leaders to strengthen staff's curriculum knowledge and confidence, especially for communication and language. That combination is useful: support mechanisms were working, while the quality of staff interaction remained an area for further development.

Health learning was practical that April. A Tooth Fairy visitor discussed tooth cleaning, and conversations about food linked eating with looking after the body. Story props also helped children express emotions. These examples brought wellbeing into ordinary activities, with something tangible to talk about or use.

In April 2025, the team comprised 16 childcare staff, including 10 with early-years qualifications at level 3 or above.

Sessions and Attendance

Preschool runs in term time. The full day is 9am to 3pm; morning choices are 9am to noon or 9am to 1pm, and afternoon choices are noon to 3pm or 1pm to 3pm. The longer morning and earlier afternoon options include the lunchtime period. That distinction concerns attendance time and should be kept separate from what food a child eats.

Term-time wraparound care consists of breakfast care from 7.40am to 9am and after-school care from 3pm to 6pm. Holiday Club offers a full day from 8am to 6pm. Its half-day option is restricted to particular circumstances and offered on an ad hoc basis, depending on availability; it is not a permanent half-day booking pattern.

Holiday Club welcomes children from primary schools in Haxby and Wigginton and beyond. Children attending a full day must bring a packed lunch; morning attendees may bring one too. Breakfast and snacks are provided during the club day.

Getting There

The address is The Bungalow, Wigginton Primary School, Westfield Lane, Wigginton, York, YO32 2FZ. Enquiries can be made by telephone on 01904 758717 or by email to enquiries@the-wonder-years.co.uk.

Sharing the Wigginton Primary School site does not guarantee a Reception place. For children needing SEND transition support, information is shared with the receiving school once parents have agreed, helping the next setting understand the child's needs.

Funding and Paid Extras

Funded childcare is offered through the universal 15 hours per week for three- and four-year-olds and the Working Families extended entitlement of up to 30 hours per week. Preschool sessions are term-time only, and extended funding can also cover wraparound care. Families complete a declaration allowing the setting to claim their funding.

Private sessions are charged, and attendance beyond 30 hours per week attracts additional charges when using the extended entitlement. The pricing page sets out the attendance and funding structure; obtain a current written quotation for the sessions you intend to book.

• Communication and language. April 2025 brought an improvement point about staff confidence and curriculum knowledge in this area. At a visit, ask how training now changes everyday conversations and teaching during child-led play.
• Term-time and holiday patterns. Preschool offers several morning and afternoon choices, but Holiday Club half days are restricted to ad hoc arrangements in particular circumstances. Families needing a regular shorter holiday day should factor that rule into their planning.
• Food and personal-care supplies. Children attending Holiday Club for a full day bring lunch from home. For your chosen preschool or funded pattern, what food and non-food supplies should you provide, and which carry additional charges?
• Settling and individual support. An hour is the usual settling-session length, with extra time possible, while My Support Plans are reviewed at least termly. Discuss how these arrangements would work together for a child who needs a slower start or additional support.

The Wonder Years suits families seeking term-time preschool mornings, afternoons or full days, with separate wraparound and holiday provision for older children. Its most useful educational detail is the connection between child-chosen play, adult interaction and language work, supported by a key person and buddy. SEND planning also has a clear review process involving parents.

The April 2025 Good judgement is balanced by the language-development improvement point, which touches the central teaching approach. The holiday half-day restriction also matters for families needing shorter days.