Timsbury Childcare

Tadpoles, pizza dough and water channels give Timsbury Childcare's May 2021 inspection account its character: children investigated living things, explored textures and put their ideas into words. At its May 2021 inspection, Ofsted rated the nursery Good overall.

Based at Tabor Church, North Road, Timsbury, BA2 0JH, the setting has capacity for 30 children. In May 2021, children attending were aged 0 to 5. That dated picture combines practical exploration with two clear development points: learning plans and the organisation of group activities.

The early years foundation stage is the required framework for children's learning and care here; in May 2021, its delivery included conversation during dough-making, imaginative shop play and activities that exercised children's hands and fingers. These examples give parents a concrete picture of learning through practical tasks.

In May 2021, children examined tadpoles in clear jars and discussed their development with friends. Staff added descriptive vocabulary during pizza-making. The emphasis was on looking closely and talking about discoveries.

Outdoor resources also supplied purposeful challenges that month. Children moved water along guttering and experimented with filling and emptying containers in sand. In the mud kitchen, squeezing oranges and crushing herbs with a pestle and mortar gave them opportunities to practise coordination. Shop role play offered another outlet for imagination, with props helping children develop their pretend characters.

At the May 2021 inspection, Ofsted found safeguarding effective, positive relationships with families and effective support for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities, including work with other professionals and training in Makaton aimed at developing individual children's communication skills.

In May 2021, staff helped children recognise emotions and describe how they felt physically, giving them language for seeking help. Praise recognised individual achievements. Children also practised independence by managing their own coats and bags.

Communication with families in May 2021 included electronic updates and regular information about children's learning and next steps. This gave parents a way to follow what their child was working towards.

The address is Tabor Church, North Road, Timsbury, BA2 0JH.

In May 2021, the nursery operated Monday to Friday during term time, with session times of 7.30am to 6pm and a holiday club during school holidays. It also provided funded early education for children aged two, three and four at that time. These are dated attendance arrangements.

• Learning plans. In May 2021, recently introduced planning needed further development so activities built more consistently on children's existing knowledge and skills. This matters for families looking for a clear sequence of next steps.
• Group activities. In May 2021, circle time sometimes lost children's attention; its organisation needed to account more closely for different ages and individual needs. Families should weigh this alongside the engaging practical activities described that month.
• Attendance fit. The May 2021 arrangements combined term-time provision with a holiday club. Which current attendance pattern would suit your family's childcare needs?

Timsbury Childcare's May 2021 account depicts an experience that suits families who value practical investigation, imaginative play and communication with parents. The mud kitchen and tadpole observations make that picture tangible. Learning plans and group-time organisation remain important points within that dated assessment, rather than reasons to overlook its strengths.