Grow Learn Play Project

In December 2023, babies used an indoor play frame, toddlers rode bikes and preschool children made dough creations at Grow Learn Play Project. These activities gave children opportunities to move and experiment. At its December 2023 inspection, Ofsted rated the nursery Good and found that children, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), made good progress.

Grow Learn Play Project is based at East Street Centre in Banbury. Children attending in December 2023 were aged 0 to 4; that age range describes the nursery at that time.

In December 2023, the indoor play frame gave babies opportunities to crawl and climb, while toddlers used hula hoops and bikes to develop coordination. Preschool children explored soil and shaped and decorated dough. These were concrete opportunities to move, experiment and use imagination.

The early years foundation stage sets the framework for children's learning, development and care. In everyday terms, this brings learning and care together through play, conversation and routines. In December 2023, staff read stories, sang with children and talked alongside their play. Activities followed children's interests, with observations used to plan their next steps.

At the December 2023 inspection, Ofsted judged safeguarding effective, describing staff who understood how to respond to concerns, checked sleeping children and recorded accidents and injuries. Those findings belong to that visit.

In December 2023, babies received cuddles as they settled to sleep, and staff sought children's agreement before helping with bedtime or nappy changes. The special educational needs coordinator worked with parents, professionals and a family support worker, connecting support around the child.

Parents received spoken updates, daily written diaries and information through an online app. Mealtime routines also supported independence: children washed their hands, helped tidy up and learnt to open their lunch packaging. Small tasks gave them opportunities to practise doing things for themselves.

The address is East Street Centre, Calder Close, Banbury, OX16 3WR.

In December 2023, opening hours were 8am to 6pm, Monday to Friday, throughout the year, and the setting also ran a holiday club. At that time, free early years education was offered for children aged two, three and four. Children brought their meals from home.

• Attendance arrangements. The December 2023 opening window covered the working day; which booking patterns and funded-hours arrangements would fit your family's routine now?
• Support with emotions. In December 2023, some staff gave inconsistent help with understanding behaviour expectations and managing feelings. Explore how practitioners now respond when children struggle with these.
• Staff development. In December 2023, evaluation of practitioners' work needed to identify training needs more precisely. Ask how observation and feedback now translate into improvements in daily care.

Grow Learn Play Project merits consideration for families who value learning through physical play, everyday independence and communication with parents. Its December 2023 picture combines affectionate care with purposeful activities, while the recommendations on emotional support and staff development provide useful points to explore. The strongest detail is ordinary but meaningful: children learning through movement, conversation and manageable tasks.