Opening hours
Monday-Thursday 9am-3.30pm, term time only. Breakfast Club: Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays 8am-9am. Afterschool Club: Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays 3.30pm-5pm (depending on uptake).
Whitechapel Preschool Playgroup
Ofsted: Good
(Jul 2025)
Number of places
25 places
Age range
2–4 yrs
Last inspected
Jul 2025
Local authority
Lancashire
About this day nursery
Whitechapel Preschool Playgroup, nestled in rural Whitechapel, operates during term-time from Monday to Thursday, 9:00 AM to 3:30 PM. Catering to children aged 2-4 years, the preschool provides ample outdoor engagement across two large play areas, a Multi Use Games Area, a Hornbeam maze, and a spacious school playing field.
The dedicated staff, with a wealth of experience, specialise in Speech, Language, and Communication, fostering strong collaborations with parents who are recognised as primary educators. The playgroup emphasises a play-based learning approach, integrating both child-led and adult-initiated activities throughout the day.
Sessions are structured into morning (9:00 AM - 12:00 PM), morning plus lunch (9:00 AM - 1:30 PM), or full day options. Breakfast Club is available Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, while an Afterschool Club runs Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays, depending on demand.
The preschool encourages consistent attendance of two or more sessions to promote better child settlement, routine development, and engagement in learning.
Our ethos
Our experienced, mature, longstanding staff specialise in Speech, Language and Communication and believe that parents are their child’s best educators, so form strong links with parents to help nurture this.
What it's like
Children are eager to start their day, settling quickly with warm welcomes from staff who are superb role models. The curriculum is carefully considered, with activities like making 'mint tea' to support early mathematical skills and dressing up in the garden for imaginative play. Children's behaviour is good, showing high self-esteem and resilience, and they are respectful towards others and well-prepared for school.
Rural settingPlay-based learningSpeech, Language, and Communication focusExtensive outdoor facilities
Pricing & funding
Fees are charged on an hourly basis, with rates differentiated by age for two-year-olds and three-to-four-year-olds. Additional optional daily charges apply for cooked lunches, nappies, and wipes, alongside a one-off fee for a drawstring bag.
Funding accepted
15 hours — eligible 2-year-olds15 hours — universal (3–4 yrs)Tax-Free Childcare
Good to know
- Parents can opt out of optional charges by providing their own packed lunch, nappies, wipes, and bag from home.
Key facts
Session types
Morning session, Morning session plus lunch, Full day, Breakfast Club, Afterschool Club
Food
Cooked school lunch provided for a fee, or children can bring a packed lunch.
Age range
2-4 years
Term time / All Year
Term Time
Waitlist
Unknown
Ofsted Inspection
Ofsted rating for Whitechapel Preschool Playgroup
Last inspected 14 July 2025 · Elisia Lee
Overall effectiveness
Good
What it's like to attend
Children are eager to start their day, settling quickly with warm welcomes from staff who are superb role models. The curriculum is carefully considered, with activities like making 'mint tea' to support early mathematical skills and dressing up in the garden for imaginative play. Children's behaviour is good, showing high self-esteem and resilience, and they are respectful towards others and well-prepared for school.
Inspector highlights
- The curriculum is ambitious and supports children to gain important life skills, including conflict resolution.
- Children with special educational needs and/or disabilities are well supported, with staff observing, planning, and working with professionals to close learning gaps.
- Support for children's physical development is a key strength, offering opportunities for both large and fine motor skills.
- Healthy lifestyles are promoted well, with children learning about healthy food choices, growing vegetables, and understanding personal safety.
- Leadership and management are very good, with targeted training directly impacting the provision for children.
Areas to develop
- 1provide enough time for children to listen and formulate a response when a question is asked, to support communication and language
- 2support staff to consistently implement behaviour expectations, in order to support children's listening and attention skills during group times.
Inspection #10381289 · Source: OfstedView full Ofsted report
What parents say
Verbatim quotes recorded in the Ofsted inspection
children grow in confidence and resilience
completely comfortable and confident with staff
Inclusion & environment
How they support every child
SEND provision
Children with special educational needs and/or disabilities are well supported. Staff regularly observe children as they play and plan activities to close any gaps in learning. They offer a range of different support strategies and work closely with a wide range of professionals.
Outdoor space
Children enjoy expressing their imagination as they dress up in the garden and pretend they are being chased by a wolf. Children have opportunities to develop their large motor skills through using a climbing wall, riding bikes and digging vegetables in the allotment.
Inspection history
Improved from Requires improvement → Good in 2025
Date: October 2007
- July 2025Good
- October 2024Requires improvement
- November 2018Good
- April 2015Good
- December 2011Good
- October 2007Outstanding
Frequently asked about Whitechapel Preschool Playgroup
About the setting
Whitechapel Preschool Playgroup registered in 1983 and operates from the village hall in Whitechapel, Preston. It employs five members of childcare staff, with one holding a level 6 qualification, three at level 3, and one unqualified. The pre-school opens from 9am to 3.30pm, Monday to Thursday, term time only, and offers government funded childcare places.
- URN
- 309527
- Registered person
- Whitechapel Preschool Playgroup Committee
- Day care type
- Full day care
- Register
- Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register, Voluntary Childcare Register
- Establishment type
- Childcare on non-domestic premises
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