Stapleford Day Nursery

Bug hunts, books to borrow and fruit chopped with safety knives give Stapleford Day Nursery's October 2022 nursery day a practical, hands-on character. The detail matters: children were exploring living things, choosing reading material and practising skills they could use for themselves.

At its 13 October 2022 inspection, Ofsted judged the nursery Good, found safeguarding effective and identified good support for children with additional needs, including individual targets and work with other professionals. That is a dated assessment of care and education.

The nursery's address is 143 Derby Road, Stapleford, Nottingham, NG9 7AS. It has 54 places in total, a whole-setting capacity rather than the number of children in any one room.

The early years foundation stage is the framework for children's learning, development and care. In everyday terms, that means helping children develop language, movement and independence alongside their play, rather than treating learning as a separate part of the day.

In October 2022, staff assessed children's starting points and planned what they should learn next. Activities drew on children's interests. Preschool children used magnifying glasses to search the garden for insects, then talked about the changes from caterpillar to butterfly. This brought observation and conversation together around something they had found themselves.

Physical activity took different forms for different ages. In October 2022, toddlers practised balancing on steppingstones and jumping from crates, while preschool children handled safety knives to investigate the inside of fruit. The garden and these practical resources gave children opportunities to exercise both larger movements and finer hand control.

Language also ran through ordinary play. In October 2022, adults introduced action words while babies handled bowls and spoons. Older children used pipettes to combine water, paint and glitter, talking about their imaginary mixtures as they worked. Toddlers explored the texture of play dough and handled small pumpkins. These were concrete experiences to talk about, touch and manipulate.

The book share activity added a link between nursery reading and home. In October 2022, preschool children selected books, exchanged them and took them home to enjoy with their parents. Choice was part of the activity, giving children a say in what they read together.

In October 2022, children had close relationships with staff, and newcomers sought comfort when they needed it. Adults acknowledged children's achievements, including babies taking early steps. The emphasis was on recognising small milestones as well as supporting children through unfamiliar routines.

Independence was practised at mealtimes. In October 2022, toddlers received help to pour drinks, and preschool children served themselves pasta. Conversations about toothbrushing connected daily care with children's understanding of healthy habits. These examples show how ordinary routines became opportunities to practise doing things for themselves.

Support for additional needs in October 2022 involved plans tailored to individual children and collaboration with professionals, including health visitors. The useful detail is the mechanism: specific targets gave adults something concrete to work towards together.

Communication in October 2022 included meetings and development reports explaining children's learning and next steps. Ofsted's October 2022 inspection also identified two priorities: staff needed to recognise more opportunities to stretch children's learning, and parents needed more ideas for supporting learning at home. Both matter when choosing care, because an engaging activity and a useful conversation with parents should lead somewhere.

Sessions and Attendance

Opening hours are 7.30am to 6pm, Monday to Friday. The nursery operates throughout the year and closes on bank holidays. That opening window gives families the practical boundaries for planning collection and their working day.

The Stapleford contact route is telephone or email: 0115 949 9090 and stapleford@bearcare.co.uk. An enquiry form also includes Stapleford as a nursery choice and allows families to request a visit.

Funding and Paid Extras

In October 2022, the nursery provided funded early education for children aged two, three and four. This is an inspection-era participation statement, rather than a promise of a funded place or a particular arrangement for a family today. Current prices come in the nursery's written quotation.

• Extending learning. In October 2022, adults sometimes missed chances to take children's thinking further. On a visit, ask how staff now build on a child's answer or discovery during an activity.
• Learning at home. October 2022 communication covered progress and next steps, but parents wanted more practical ideas. Ask for an example of how a nursery activity becomes something a family can continue at home.
• Planning attendance. The nursery opens throughout the year, with bank-holiday closures. Discuss the attendance arrangement you need alongside your preferred start date when enquiring.

Stapleford suits families looking for year-round care; practical exploration was a feature of its October 2022 nursery day. Its October 2022 examples are appealingly specific: garden investigations, shared books and children practising everyday tasks for themselves.

The dated Good judgement supports that picture, while the two learning priorities deserve attention. Families should weigh the hands-on experiences alongside how effectively staff extend them and involve parents.