Tudor House Day Nursery, Feniscowles

Kindness, children’s choices and close relationships shaped daily life at Tudor House Day Nursery, Feniscowles in July 2023. At its 3 July 2023 inspection, Ofsted rated it Good overall. Children helped choose activities and whether to play indoors or outside, giving them a say in how their day unfolded.

On Preston Old Road in Blackburn, the nursery has capacity for 98 children from birth to 60 months. The practical scale is worth keeping separate from the individual attention described in July 2023: staff used children’s interests and development to plan activities.

In July 2023, learning connected books, conversation and hands-on exploration. Younger children paired colours and experimented with marks on paper; older children anticipated what would happen when making hot chocolate. Pine cones prompted children to connect objects with things they remembered reading. These were opportunities to use knowledge, rather than simply repeat it.

The early years foundation stage sets the framework for children’s learning, development and care. Here, the July 2023 examples included learning through play, talking about discoveries and practising physical skills.

Indoor and outdoor activities that July included ball games and shaping dough into pretend pizzas. Babies practised standing and stepping towards staff, while older children controlled pencils to draw family pictures. Different stages of physical development had different activities. Singing also brought children together, including signing their friends’ names during a welcome song.

At the July 2023 inspection, Ofsted found safeguarding effective and children with special educational needs and/or disabilities well supported, with good progress from their starting points. The SENCo worked with families and external professionals to identify needs and arrange additional help.

In July 2023, key persons observed children’s interests and development, then used that knowledge in planning; parents valued detailed updates. Staff offered reassurance to children needing help to settle, and conversations about families gave children space to express what made them individual.

Regular safeguarding training, risk assessments, supervision and accident and medication procedures formed part of care that July. Staff also reviewed their practice with leaders and discussed how professional development affected their work. Early years pupil premium funding bought resources matched to individual learning needs.

Health routines in July 2023 included toothbrushing each day and handwashing. Nutritious lunches were accompanied by conversations about vegetables and looking after the body, connecting care routines with learning.

The address is Preston Old Road, Blackburn, BB2 5EP. Opening hours are 7.30am to 6pm on weekdays, across the year.

In July 2023, closures included bank holidays and a Christmas week. Funded early education was provided for children aged two, three and four at that time.

• Extending conversation. In July 2023, staff sometimes lacked confidence in developing children’s learning through their interactions, especially language and communication. More consistent extension of learning was the improvement priority.
• Planning attendance. The weekday opening window spans early starts and late finishes. Ask which booking patterns and funded arrangements now apply, including the treatment of meals and consumables.

Tudor House suits families who value children having a voice in their play and adults knowing their individual interests. Its July 2023 strengths lay in relationships, practical learning and support tailored to children; the counterweight was inconsistency in extending learning through conversation. The weekday hours offer a useful starting point for families planning care around work.