Higher Croft Children's Centre

In January 2022, stories, signing and targeted language support shaped children's experience at Higher Croft Children's Centre. At its January 2022 inspection, Ofsted judged the provision Good, highlighting children's communication and language development while identifying toddler teaching as the main area for improvement.

The centre is on Fishmoor Drive in Blackburn, BB2 3UY, with capacity for 60 children from birth to five. Its strongest inspection examples concern relationships, listening and growing independence rather than elaborate facilities.

The early years foundation stage sets the requirements for children's learning, development and care: education and everyday care belong together. In January 2022, activities included stories, number work and sensory exploration, with children's different cultures brought into play.

A familiar penguin story prompted children to recall vocabulary, copy movements and use signing to communicate feelings. This gave them several ways to participate in the same story. Preschool children also practised counting and simple addition through an example involving plates, connecting number work with familiar objects.

Toddler activities needed greater precision. In January 2022, dough play exercised children's fingers, but some questioning introduced too many ideas and allowed too little thinking time. Sandcastle play also offered opportunities to develop language and reasoning that staff did not fully use. The improvement priorities covered both the delivery of planned activities and additional coaching and training for toddler-room staff.

At the January 2022 inspection, Ofsted found safeguarding effective and support for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities especially strong, with professional collaboration and targeted listening, attention and language groups helping children make progress.

In January 2022, children formed close bonds with their key persons, and staff helped them understand routines and manage their behaviour. Toddlers practised putting on coats alongside others; preschool children used strategies to take turns independently. These everyday tasks made independence part of the day.

Parent communication had a practical purpose too. In January 2022, staff offered guidance on toilet training and behaviour at home, linking support beyond the nursery with children's daily routines.

The address is Fishmoor Drive, Blackburn, BB2 3UY. Opening hours are 8am to 6pm, Monday to Friday, across the year.

In January 2022, the centre provided funded early education for children aged two, three and four. That is a dated funding position, separate from the current opening hours and age range.

• Toddler teaching. The January 2022 improvement priorities concerned extending learning through activities and strengthening staff coaching. For a toddler, the important issue is how an activity develops conversation and thinking as well as keeping them occupied.
• Age and attendance. The centre accepts children from birth to five, while the January 2022 examples concerned children aged two to four. Which room and attendance pattern would apply to your child's age?

Higher Croft merits consideration for families who value language development, practical support with routines and targeted help for additional needs. Its January 2022 inspection provides concrete examples of that work. Families choosing toddler provision should give equal weight to the teaching improvements identified then; those concerns are central to judging the fit for a younger child.