St Mary's Church Upton

Making a difference, wherever we are, as we share Faith For Life in Christ
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St Mary’s Pre-School Playgroup

St Mary’s Pre-School Playgroup is part of St Mary’s Church and was established in 1970. We offer term-time education and teach the children about faith in Jesus through Christian values, telling bible stories, singing some Christian songs and praying with the children. Children learn through play and guided activities in a welcoming, inspiring and stimulating environment.

For more information about who we are and what we do, and how to apply, keep reading below, or visit our facebook page. You can contact Rosalind Carter (Pre-School Leader) by calling 0151 677 1186 ext 1036 (weekday mornings only) or email preschool@stm-upton.org.uk.

We offer education for children from age 2 up to school age. Our sessions are on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday in term-time from 9:15 to 12:15. Children can enrol for as many or as few sessions as you choose, to suit your circumstance.

Following the Early Years Foundation Stage document, used by all schools and Early Years settings, provides a rich and stimulating curriculum for the children. A high staff:children ratio and a key person system to enable us to tailor the curriculum to each child to inspire and guide them. St Mary’s Pre-School ensures that all children have access to all areas of learning. For those children with additional needs, we adapt our learning and resources so they can be fully included in all that we do.

We are registered with Ofsted and our last inspection report can be found at www.ofsted.gov.uk, our reference is 306495.

Meet the Team

Rosalind Carter
Leader/ Manager

Rachel Lavin
Deputy Leader/ Manager

Amy Peters

Sandra Cookson

Val Rushton

A Day In Pre-School

When the children arrive they hang up their coat and wash their hands before self-registering with a photograph of themselves.

Free play – The children can move freely between the 2 halls and choose what and who they play with, including: small world play, construction, jigsaws, home corner, paint or chalk, or quietly looking at books. There is always a craft to complete, which is supervised by one of the teachers.

Snack time – Small groups of children are encouraged to have their snack together after washing their hands.  We sing a thank you song before we eat, and the children are offered a healthy snack (e.g. fresh fruit, vegetables, toast, cheese, crackers) and either milk or water to drink.
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Carpet time – We come together on the carpet to sing songs, share what we have been doing, decide what day it is and what the weather is like. This helps the children develop their listening and communication skills. Sometimes we watch Jolly Phonics to help learn letter sounds.
Outdoor play – We use the garden to explore the world around us, so please send in a pair of named wellies in a bag to pre-school, as we are out in all kinds of weather! There are many activities for the children to enjoy, including: a mud kitchen, balance equipment, a sand pit and many more.
End of the session – Before the younger children go home (11:45) they have a story. For the older children, the last 45 minutes of the session involves more specific guided learning. This is to help the children get ready for Foundation 2. They have their story at the end of this time.

How Do I Apply?

It’s as simple as sending an email to preschool@stm-upton.org.uk, and someone will get back to you. Please include the following information in your email:
  • Your email address
  • Name of Child(ren)
  • Child’s date of birth
  • Name of parent/s
  • Address
  • Postcode
  • Contact phone number

For more information about who we are and what we do, you can visit our facebook page or contact Rosalind Carter by calling 0151 677 1186 ext 1036 (weekday mornings only) or email preschool@stm-upton.org.uk.