Scallywags Day Nursery

Hatching chicks, textured books and a bear taken home gave children concrete things to explore and talk about at Scallywags Day Nursery in April 2024. These small experiences give a clear picture of its approach: conversation, practical discovery and growing independence.

Scallywags serves children aged 0 to 60 months at Church Street in Bocking, Braintree. At its April 2024 inspection, Ofsted judged the nursery Good and found safeguarding effective, while asking for better organisation of activities and stronger guidance for young children's behaviour.

In April 2024, the curriculum built learning in steps from children's existing knowledge. The early years foundation stage is the framework for children's learning, development and care; here, stories, singing and practical play put those elements into daily activities.

Babies explored textured books while adults supplied words for what they felt. Older children talked with staff who extended their vocabulary. Eggs hatching into chicks offered another starting point for conversation: children compared the birds and learnt about their care and life cycles.

Physical activity also had concrete forms in April 2024. Babies used low furniture to pull themselves upright and practised walking with staff encouragement; older children climbed the slide steps. At lunch and snack time, children practised serving food, cutting fruit and pouring drinks. Everyday tasks became opportunities to do more for themselves.

In April 2024, a key person comforted newly attending children before they began exploring. This made settling a relationship-led process, with a familiar adult providing the starting point.

Home and nursery experiences were connected through book borrowing and a bear children took home. Children returned with photographs and talked about their experiences with the bear, giving them a personal subject to discuss. Staff encouraged handwashing and nose wiping, and explained the importance of drinking water.

The address is 48-54 Church Street, Bocking, Braintree, CM7 5JY. Opening hours are 07:00 to 19:00, Monday to Friday, across the year, with bank holiday closures.

In April 2024, the nursery provided funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-olds. That is a dated account of its funding provision, separate from the current age range above.

• Concentration during play. In April 2024, noise sometimes interrupted children's concentration. Ask how activities are now arranged to give children time for sustained play.
• Guidance for younger children. In April 2024, praise did not consistently help some children choose appropriate behaviour. Discuss how staff explain the effect of a child's actions on others.

Scallywags merits consideration for families seeking care across a broad weekday opening window. Its April 2024 experiences linked language with tangible discoveries, from textured books to hatching chicks, while everyday food routines encouraged independence. The decision should also take account of the two improvement priorities: calmer conditions for concentration and clearer behavioural guidance.