St John's Nursery

Language and social skills give St John's Nursery its clearest character: in April 2024, staff used communication checks, songs and visual prompts to help children express themselves and understand their day. Small interactions mattered, from questions during creative play to support when a change of activity felt difficult.

At its April 2024 inspection, Ofsted rated the nursery Good and judged safeguarding effective. The setting has capacity for 36 children aged 24 to 60 months, at St. Johns Church Hall in Cannock.

The early years foundation stage sets the framework for children's learning, development and care, bringing communication, physical development and learning through play into the day. In April 2024, ribbon dancing gave children opportunities to practise movement and imagination, while sand play involved questions and demonstrations from staff.

Learning also connected nursery and home. In April 2024, children recalled earlier experiences during play, joined in a song while putting toys away and repeated activities at home, including searching for objects with a particular initial sound. These examples give families a concrete picture of the activities children encountered.

Concentration was less consistent. In April 2024, some boys needed their energy redirected, but teaching methods and routines did not always help them stay engaged. Independence needed attention too: children chose activities and collected lunch boxes, yet adults sometimes handled food wrappers and served toast rather than letting children try.

At the April 2024 inspection, Ofsted found that staff understood individual needs and supported children with special educational needs and/or disabilities, including help when they felt overwhelmed and one-to-one time with key persons where possible.

In April 2024, two special educational needs coordinators were in post, and a communication passport brought together information about children who found communication difficult. Staff understood referral procedures. Songs and visual prompts helped explain the current activity and what would follow, giving changes in routine a clearer shape.

Parent communication in April 2024 combined conversations, online assessments and newsletters. Staff also exchanged information with children's earlier settings and explored the expectations of their future schools to inform planning. Behaviour training and targeted intervention plans supported staff responses, while meetings allowed colleagues to share learning from training.

St John's Nursery operates at St. Johns Church Hall, Hednesford Road, Cannock, WS12 3DZ. Opening hours are 9am to 3pm, Monday to Friday, during term time; it closes for school holidays.

In April 2024, the nursery provided funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-olds. Funding also supported extra attendance for some disadvantaged children, including sessions across the year to provide greater continuity.

• Concentration and engagement. April 2024 teaching and routines did not consistently sustain some boys' attention. On a visit, ask how activities now respond to children's energy and engagement.
• Everyday independence. In April 2024, adults sometimes completed manageable food tasks for children. Ask how children now practise opening wrappers, serving food and doing more for themselves.
• Term-time hours. The 9am to 3pm opening window and school-holiday closure make the nursery a closer fit for families whose childcare needs follow that calendar.

St John's Nursery suits families seeking term-time daytime care, with language development and individual communication needs central to its April 2024 practice. Communication passports, visual prompts and exchanges with parents give that picture substance. The balance rests on two practical improvement priorities: sustaining concentration and giving children more opportunities to manage everyday tasks themselves.