Church Lane Nursery

Science experiments, signing and a pretend farm shop give Church Lane Nursery's March 2025 learning experiences a clear character. Everyday play became an opportunity to explore reactions, communicate ideas and handle real fruit and vegetables.

At its 11 March 2025 inspection, Ofsted rated the nursery Outstanding and judged safeguarding effective. Based at St Michael's Church Hall in Brighton, the nursery has capacity for 30 children aged 24 to 60 months. It operates during term time and closes for school holidays.

In March 2025, learning followed children's interests while staff planned what each child would tackle next. The early years foundation stage provides the framework for learning, development and care; here, its areas of learning came together through practical play.

Science had substance. Children combined bicarbonate of soda with vinegar-containing paint, while staff introduced the words acid and alkaline alongside the reaction. That connected unfamiliar vocabulary to something children could investigate themselves.

Makaton supported communication in March 2025, used alongside speech and visual aids to give children different ways to express themselves. A trip to a local greengrocer also fed into a farm shop activity: children selected real produce, made price labels and weighed purchases. Shopping play brought together food knowledge, language and early mathematical experiences.

Physical activities included climbing and balancing, alongside making play dough and practising with scissors. These gave children opportunities to develop both larger movements and the hand control needed for early writing.

At the March 2025 inspection, Ofsted found that children with special educational needs and/or disabilities received carefully tailored support, with individual plans and cooperation between staff, parents and outside professionals contributing to excellent progress.

Relationships shaped daily care in March 2025. Staff knew children's personalities and interests, and children encouraged friends who were finding a task difficult. Adults modelled that encouragement themselves, making perseverance and kindness part of the learning experience.

Health education included toothbrushing at nursery and conversations about food and its effects on the body. Parents received updates and guidance, while staff had training, coaching and opportunities to reflect together. These were practical mechanisms for keeping children's care and learning connected across home and nursery.

The address is St Michael's Church Hall, Brighton, BN42 4GD. Attendance follows a term-time calendar, with school holidays closed, so families need to plan their childcare around that pattern. In March 2025, opening hours were 8.45am to 3pm each weekday during term time.

In March 2025, the nursery provided funded early education for children aged two, three and four. This is a dated description of its funding provision.

• Term-time calendar. The nursery closes for school holidays. Families needing childcare throughout the year will need to accommodate those breaks.
• Communication and individual support. March 2025 practice included Makaton, visual aids and personalised support plans. On a visit, ask how these would be adapted to your child's communication and settling needs.

Church Lane Nursery suits families seeking term-time provision for children within its 24-to-60-month age range. Its March 2025 strengths were concrete: exploratory science, several ways to communicate, practical food learning and individual support. The holiday calendar is a central part of the decision, alongside whether those approaches fit your child.