Ash Green Nursery

Inclusion training and close links with families give Ash Green Nursery its character. At the Vicarage site in Mixenden, indoor and outdoor play space sits alongside the practical support of Ash Green Family Hub. The nursery has capacity for 15 children, with a current age range from birth to two years.

At its December 2022 inspection, Ofsted rated Ash Green Outstanding and found that children made substantial progress through teaching and care that addressed barriers to learning. That judgement gives families a strong dated assessment of the nursery's work, rather than simply a description of its facilities.

The current offer includes the Dingley’s Promise mark of achievement, earned through staff training in inclusion, transitions and communication with families. Full days and separate morning and afternoon sessions give parents different ways to arrange attendance.

Learning and Activities

The early years foundation stage provides the framework for children's learning, development and care: play, communication and physical exploration contribute to learning rather than sitting apart from it. Through the group-wide Famly App, families receive observations linked to this framework, helping them connect a photograph or activity with their child's development.

In December 2022, babies explored homemade bottles containing different materials while staff demonstrated movements and sang. Toddlers investigated foam and reflective objects, and a tissue box became a posting activity in response to their interests. These were simple resources with a clear purpose: giving children things to handle, investigate and repeat, with an adult helping to extend the play.

Physical learning also had concrete equipment behind it. In December 2022, toddlers used a ballet bar to help themselves stand. Sensory books and singing supported communication, while the lending library and Bookstart programme encouraged families to share books at home. Reading therefore extended beyond the nursery session into activities parents could take part in themselves.

Outdoor and Community Life

Indoor and outdoor space forms part of the current setting. In December 2022, a developing forest school initiative brought parents into outdoor learning, with children exploring natural materials, making water flow and using the space for storytelling. The examples matter more than the label: outdoor play involved investigation and imaginative activity, alongside family participation.

Ash Green Family Hub adds another dimension to the site. Child health and antenatal clinics, baby massage, stay-and-play sessions and family learning activities place childcare alongside services for parents and younger children. These are hub services, rather than an extension of every child's nursery timetable, but the shared site gives families a practical connection between childcare and wider support.

Relationships and Communication

The group-wide Famly App carries photographs, videos, messages and updates through each family's individual account. Parents can also give relatives access to their child's learning journey. That makes communication useful for families whose carers do not all attend the same sessions or receive information directly from staff.

In December 2022, staff began relationships with home visits, gathering information about children and families to inform their care. Cosy spaces supported emotional comfort within the nursery. Family activity sessions included demonstrations of storytelling, while information shared with parents included ideas for activities that did not require spending money. The approach linked nursery experiences with manageable things families could do at home.

Inclusion and Wellbeing

Dingley’s Promise training covers children's own perspectives, challenging behaviour, transitions and difficult conversations with families, as well as inclusive practice. The award identifies concrete staff development rather than a general promise of support.

At the December 2022 inspection, Ofsted found effective safeguarding and strong inclusion, with developmental monitoring leading to referrals, speech and language support and access to intervention funding. For parents considering additional support, the important detail is the connection between noticing a difficulty and taking action with other professionals.

In December 2022, health routines included daily toothbrushing, with songs and visual prompts helping children participate; toothbrushes and toothpaste also went home each term. Children harvested food and took seeds home to grow. Current menus follow guidance from The Food for Life Award, while paid sessions include the meals or snacks specified for that attendance pattern.

Sessions and Attendance

The nursery is at 1 Sunnybank Road, Halifax, HX2 8RX, and opens Monday to Friday from 8am to 6pm throughout the year. A Full Day runs from 8am to 6pm, an A.M. Session from 8am to 1pm and a P.M. Session from 1pm to 6pm. Morning attendance can therefore cover breakfast and lunch, while afternoon attendance includes a snack.

Occasional, irregular and one-off bookings are accepted subject to availability and booking conditions. Bank holidays and staff training days when the nursery closes are not charged. Fees are reviewed annually, usually with an increase in April; current prices come in the nursery's written quotation. The nursery can be contacted on 01422 243941.

Funding and Paid Extras

Early Education Funding is offered for eligible nine-month-olds, eligible two-year-olds and all three-year-olds. Funded sessions may be separate set sessions or form part of a day that also includes paid attendance. Eligibility remains part of the offer, so the funded entitlement and any additional paid hours need to be distinguished in the family's arrangement.

Breakfast, lunch and a snack are included in the Full Day fee. The morning fee includes breakfast and lunch, and the afternoon fee includes a snack. These inclusions make the attendance pattern relevant to food arrangements as well as to the clock times.

Getting There

The shared hub site has limited on-site parking, and services occupy two storeys with no lift. Those building arrangements matter for families using a pushchair or needing step-free access to particular services.

• Age and next steps. The current age range is birth to two years. In December 2022, staff worked with school colleagues each term on skills for the next stage; discuss how the nursery would plan your child's next move.
• Your funded arrangement. Funding can stand alone or sit within paid attendance. At a visit, ask how your proposed pattern would handle funded sessions, meals and non-food consumables.
• Access to the shared site. Parking is limited and the hub has no lift between its two storeys. Discuss which spaces your family would use and how access would work.

Ash Green suits families seeking care for babies and young toddlers through either full days or separate morning and afternoon sessions. Inclusion training, communication through Famly and the shared Family Hub give the current offer clear practical substance. The Outstanding judgement dates to December 2022; its strongest detail is the connection between children's learning, early support and family involvement. For parents weighing childcare alongside wider family support, that combination deserves attention.