Palm Tree Nursery

Tweezers, peas and fruit kebabs give Palm Tree Nursery's February 2022 learning a concrete character: children practised careful hand movements and explored healthy eating through practical activities. This Blackburn setting accepts children aged 24 to 60 months and has 20 places in total.

At its February 2022 inspection, Ofsted rated the nursery Good, found safeguarding effective and reported good progress, including for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities and children learning English as an additional language. Two improvements mattered: giving children more opportunities to manage tasks independently and extending their mathematical understanding.

The early years foundation stage is the required framework here; in February 2022, its everyday expression included making fruit kebabs, practising number words during play and attempting letters from children's names. These examples connect learning with things children can handle, make and attempt themselves.

In February 2022, younger children transferred peas with tweezers, exercising the small movements needed for careful hand control. Children persisted with their chosen activities, while staff planned around their interests. Counting and recognising quantities featured in play, but opportunities to explore shape, pattern and size needed further development.

Community participation also had practical substance in February 2022. Children contributed food-bank donations and helped prepare food for homeless people, giving them concrete ways to take part in helping others.

The February 2022 activities also put healthy eating into children's hands: alongside fruit kebabs, they made play-dough strawberries. For families, these are useful examples of how a familiar subject could bring together conversation, making and manipulation. The name-writing activity gave children a reason to attempt letters connected to their own identity. Both details make the learning easier to picture.

Mathematics deserves equal attention. In February 2022, using number words and identifying quantities were part of play, but extending these experiences into size, shape and pattern was an improvement priority. The distinction matters: practising counting was only part of the mathematical learning children needed.

In February 2022, children had close relationships with their key persons, and multilingual staff supported children learning English. That combination gave communication and familiar relationships an important place in their day.

Emotional wellbeing received practical attention in February 2022: children discussed their feelings daily and practised slow breathing through mindfulness activities. Yoga and movement activities added physical participation. Staff explained expectations and helped children practise sharing and taking turns.

The same February 2022 account identified a useful boundary for adult help. During colour mixing, practitioners prepared paint and handed over brushes when children could have attempted more themselves. Kindness needed to leave room for independence.

Staff development had a regular rhythm in February 2022. Practitioners discussed children's learning each week and considered the activities offered, alongside training opportunities. That gives parents a concrete subject for discussion: how staff use their reflections to change what children experience, especially around the two improvement priorities.

Safeguarding practice in February 2022 included training, quizzes and discussions of possible situations. Staff understood how to respond to worries about a child and concerns involving a colleague. These details explain the work behind the dated safeguarding judgement, rather than treating the grade alone as the whole account of care.

Daily conversations about feelings in February 2022 helped children recognise emotions and consider other people's feelings. Alongside sharing and turn-taking, this gave social learning a practical place in ordinary interactions. For families, the relevant detail is how adults helped children put feelings into words and participate with others.

Palm Tree Nursery is at 58-60 St Silas's Road, Blackburn, BB2 6JX. Opening hours are 8.30am to 3.15pm, Monday to Friday; it operates throughout the year and closes on bank holidays. The afternoon closing time is an important planning detail for families organising work and childcare.

• Independence and mathematics. February 2022 improvement priorities concerned children doing more for themselves and receiving greater mathematical challenge. Look for opportunities to prepare their own materials and explore shapes, sizes and patterns during a visit.
• Attendance around the closing time. The day ends at 3.15pm. Which booking pattern would fit your child's routine and your working hours?

Palm Tree Nursery suits families seeking childcare for children aged 24 to 60 months whose schedules fit a 3.15pm finish. Its February 2022 account combines practical learning, attention to feelings and participation in helping others. Independence and mathematical challenge are the useful tests to keep in mind when considering how that experience has developed.