New Woods Childcare

Toy cars used to comfort an unsettled child and mirrored pebbles rolled across the floor give New Woods Childcare a recognisable character: everyday play and small gestures of care shaped its December 2024 provision. At its 16 December 2024 inspection, Ofsted rated the nursery Good and judged safeguarding effective.

Based in Sutton-in-Ashfield, the nursery has capacity for 49 children and accepts ages from 3 to 60 months. The inspection examples offer a useful picture of how children were supported, alongside two specific areas needing attention.

The early years foundation stage sets the framework for children's learning, development and care, bringing play and everyday care into the educational day.

In December 2024, younger children experimented with mirrored pebbles, copying rolling and spinning movements. Older children acted out familiar domestic experiences with a toy cooker, pretending to heat food and then cool it. These were concrete opportunities to explore movement and rehearse everyday understanding.

Outdoors that month, a pretend fire engine became a shared game with staff, who introduced language about speed. Singing also accompanied a snowman painting activity. However, some adult-planned activities did not achieve their intended learning purpose, including an activity intended to explore emotions.

In December 2024, settling support included comforting upset children and redirecting their attention towards toys they enjoyed. Staff explained changes in the routine, while children sometimes offered their own comforters to upset friends. Care interactions included talking through nappy changes and asking younger children before beginning them.

At the December 2024 inspection, Ofsted found that staff worked with other professionals on targets for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities, but needed to adapt interactions more effectively for children learning English as an additional language.

During that month, parents received information about care routines, activities and learning. Staff also passed information about children's abilities and individual needs to their future teachers, supporting continuity when they moved to school.

The address is New Woods Children's Centre, Barker Avenue, Sutton-in-Ashfield, NG17 3FQ. Opening hours are 7.45am to 6pm, Monday to Friday, across the year, with closures for bank holidays and one week at Christmas.

In December 2024, session times ran from 7.45am to 6pm, and funded early education was provided for children from nine months old. These are dated details of the provision at that time.

• Planned learning. In December 2024, some activities fell short of their intended purpose. Families should weigh this teaching concern alongside the examples of engaging child-led play.
• English as an additional language. Interactions needed better adjustment in December 2024 to help these children understand requests and develop language. This matters directly for families whose children are learning English.
• Attendance fit. The opening window spans 7.45am to 6pm. At a visit, which booking pattern and funded-hour arrangement would suit your child's age and routine?

New Woods Childcare merits consideration by families who value everyday play, sensitive care interactions and communication about their child's day. Its December 2024 Good judgement provides the quality benchmark; the concerns about planned learning and support for children learning English deserve equal weight in a family's decision.