Churchfields Day Nursery

Physical exploration and small choices give Churchfields Day Nursery its character: in October 2024, babies experimented with messy materials, younger children balanced outdoors and older children voted for their lunchtime story. These were practical ways to develop movement, independence and a voice in the day.

Churchfields cares for children aged three months to five years on Recreation Road in Bromsgrove. At its 7 October 2024 inspection, Ofsted rated it Good and judged safeguarding effective, while asking for more consistent learning challenge and stronger support for communication and language.

The early years foundation stage sets the framework for children's learning, development and care, bringing physical skills, language and social development into everyday experiences.

In October 2024, babies explored gloop and experimented with sounds made by tools, while two-year-olds climbed boxes and crossed a balance beam with staff close by. Older children practised cutting out pictures and used their choices to explore what made them happy. The activities connected hands-on exploration with movement and emotional understanding.

Physical practice also threaded through ordinary routines that month. Children moved sand with scoops and spades, made familiar letters and numbers using pins on a board, and served food with ladles. Handling different tools gave coordination a practical purpose.

Staff introduced vocabulary through activities, songs and familiar stories. However, in October 2024, children did not consistently get opportunities to practise the language they heard. Some curriculum elements also needed to become more established following staff changes, so that activities stretched children's learning further.

At the October 2024 inspection, Ofsted found that staff used targeted plans developed with parents and other professionals to support children with special educational needs and/or disabilities, with additional staff training contributing to that work.

Everyday care in October 2024 included comfort for children struggling with separation and choices during personal care. Children learning to use the toilet could choose between a potty and toilet, with handwashing supported afterwards. Those choices gave children some control over intimate routines.

Sharing was taught through calm suggestions and praise: younger children were helped to take turns rolling a toy car. Older children cooperated in play, and coloured cards let them choose a story after lunch. Staff also received feedback through observations of their practice and opportunities for training.

The address is Recreation Road, Bromsgrove, B61 8DT. Opening hours are 7.30am to 6pm, Monday to Friday, across the year, with bank holidays closed.

In October 2024, the nursery received childcare funding for children aged nine months to four years. That is a dated funding position rather than a promise of an individual funded place.

• Learning challenge. The October 2024 improvement action concerned making challenge consistent across the curriculum. Ask how activities now extend children who are ready for their next step.
• Language practice. In October 2024, hearing new words did not consistently lead to opportunities to use them. A useful visit question is how staff encourage children to develop their own conversations.
• Settling arrangements. Comfort during separation featured in October 2024. How would settling visits and the key-person arrangement work for your child?

Churchfields merits consideration by families seeking year-round weekday care and a day built around practical exploration and growing independence. Its October 2024 strengths came through ordinary experiences, from balancing to choosing stories. The decision also needs to account for the two clear development priorities: consistent challenge and more opportunities for children to use language.