Little Apples Nursery

Books, sensory play and growing fruit give Little Apples Nursery's April 2022 account its character: babies explored textures with their feet as well as their hands, while older children harvested produce in the garden. These are concrete examples of learning through doing.

At its 6 April 2022 inspection, Ofsted rated the nursery Good and found safeguarding effective. Little Apples has capacity for 75 children, with an age range of 3 to 59 months, at Cunningham House in Cheltenham.

The early years foundation stage sets the framework for children's learning, development and care, bringing everyday play and care into their education. In April 2022, books and storytelling were prominent, with older children beginning to recognise and write letters from their names. School preparation began with familiar, meaningful marks.

Learning also followed children's interests. In April 2022, key persons concentrated observations and teaching on a small selection of children each week; parents contributed information about interests and significant events at home beforehand. This connected planning to children's lives beyond nursery.

Physical exploration had substance too. In April 2022, children practised balancing and climbing on a large tyre and swinging from ropes, with staff encouraging attempts and responding as needed. The garden supplied opportunities to harvest strawberries, raspberries and marrows, linking growing with food.

In April 2022, key persons gathered children's preferences and care information from parents, then used those details in planning. Everyday independence received patient attention: younger children practised dressing and eating for themselves, while older children managed toileting and some brushed their teeth after meals.

At the April 2022 inspection, Ofsted identified communication between the SENCo, parents and key persons about agreed targets, but called for closer professional links to obtain earlier support for children with SEND and more individually tailored staff supervision. These findings matter for families needing coordinated help and for staff carrying additional responsibilities.

In April 2022, staff used clear expectations around behaviour and had training in recognising triggers and calming difficult situations. Fresh fruit and vegetables were served as snacks, and parents were encouraged to supply healthy prepared lunches.

Cunningham House, Christowe Lane, Cheltenham, GL53 7BY is the nursery's address. Opening hours are 7am to 6pm, Monday to Friday, across the year, with bank holidays closed. The opening window gives working families a useful measure of the day it covers.

In April 2022, the nursery provided funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-old children. That is a dated funding position rather than a promise of an individual funded place.

• Additional support. The April 2022 improvement point concerned earlier access to outside professionals. Families whose children need coordinated support should ask how the SENCo now connects with those services.
• Staff support. In April 2022, absences had increased senior staff responsibilities, and workload distribution needed attention. At a visit, discuss how supervision supports staff with additional roles.

Little Apples suits families seeking care across the working week, with an all-year opening pattern. Its April 2022 account gives useful detail about interest-led learning, early literacy and practical independence. For families needing additional support, the arrangements for timely professional involvement deserve particular attention.