The Old Vicarage Nursery

At its March 2023 inspection, storytelling, practical independence and outdoor challenges shaped children's experiences at this Blackburn nursery. The Old Vicarage Nursery, at 32 Rutland Street, Blackburn, BB2 1UY, has capacity for 62 children aged three months to five years.

At its March 2023 inspection, Ofsted rated the nursery Good and found that children made steady learning progress, with support that included children with special educational needs and/or disabilities and those learning English as an additional language. That judgement provides a dated assessment of care and education, rather than a promise about each child's experience today.

In March 2023, The Gruffalo supplied more than a story: preschool children used props, performed familiar lines and explored descriptive vocabulary. Storytelling gave them concrete reasons to practise speaking and listening. Children also worked carefully on pencil movements, linking concentration with the physical skills needed for writing.

The March 2023 storytelling examples went beyond remembering a plot. Children described the textures of props and experimented with expressive speech, bringing vocabulary into an activity they enjoyed. Staff also encouraged children to notice sounds outdoors and connect the opening letter of their name with its sound. These were concrete routes into early literacy: listening, recognising familiar words and exploring how spoken sounds relate to print.

The early years foundation stage sets the framework for children's learning, development and care. Here, the March 2023 examples included counting cups for lunch, noticing when another was needed, and recognising written names. Everyday routines became opportunities to develop early number and literacy skills.

Outdoor learning had a physical dimension. In March 2023, a forest school session, an outdoor learning activity, included balancing across a bridge above a stream. This gave children an opportunity to test their movement skills and judge manageable risks.

During March 2023, movement also featured in storytelling and music, including pretending to be a butterfly. Physical learning therefore extended across imaginative activities and outdoor exploration. The bridge over the stream supplied a specific challenge, while moving to music gave children another way to practise controlling their bodies.

Planning at that inspection addressed individual children's next steps. Practitioners identified missing skills or knowledge and adjusted learning to address them. The curriculum concern was more specific: staff did not share a sufficiently clear understanding of its aims and how those aims should shape their work. For parents, individual planning and a consistent curriculum are separate considerations, and both matter to the activities a child experiences.

In March 2023, preschool children laid out cutlery and helped themselves to food at lunchtime. Those small responsibilities put independence into practice. Communication between staff and parents also helped staff respond to children's emotional needs.

During March 2023, collaboration with families had a practical role for children learning English as an additional language. Staff and parents developed ways for children to express what they needed. That is a useful distinction: support involved helping a child communicate during everyday care, alongside learning new vocabulary through play.

The same dated account described children responding positively to warm interactions with practitioners. Lunchtime responsibilities gave preschool children opportunities to take an active part in their care, rather than having every task completed for them. Emotional support and practical independence appeared together in these examples: adults responded to children's needs while allowing them to attempt familiar tasks themselves.

At the March 2023 inspection, Ofsted judged safeguarding effective, while identifying a breach in the handling of allegations relating to a historical incident; steps had been taken to learn from it, and there was no impact on children. Both parts of that finding matter when considering the dated safeguarding assessment.

The nursery opens Monday to Friday, from 7am to 6pm, across the year, with closures for bank holidays and Christmas. Its Blackburn address is 32 Rutland Street, BB2 1UY.

In March 2023, the nursery provided funded early education for children aged two, three and four. This is an inspection-era account of participation in funding, rather than a current entitlement or charge structure.

• Consistency of learning. In March 2023, curriculum aims were not understood consistently across the staff team. Families should ask how practitioners now translate those aims into activities for their child.
• Settling a younger child. The accepted age range starts at three months. On a visit, ask how settling and daily routines would be organised for your baby's individual needs.

This nursery suits Blackburn families seeking opening hours that span the working day, with an inspection-era picture of storytelling, outdoor challenge and practical independence. The clearest question is how consistently the curriculum is now put into practice. The March 2023 examples give families useful, concrete starting points for that conversation.