Children's Choice Day Nursery

Tummy time, first steps towards standing and outdoor exploration give Children's Choice Day Nursery in Poynton a clear early-years character. In March 2026, its day centred on babies and very young children, with physical development threaded through play and everyday care.

At its 18 March 2026 inspection, Ofsted awarded Strong standard judgements for achievement, welfare and wellbeing, curriculum and teaching, inclusion, and leadership and governance; behaviour, attitudes and establishing routines reached Expected standard, and safeguarding standards were met. The nursery has 58 places in total.

In March 2026, children attending were aged 0 to 2. Babies practised lifting themselves towards standing, while outdoor play included ride-on toys, balls and exploring different ground surfaces. The garden gave physical learning a practical setting: children could practise movement through exploration.

The early years foundation stage sets the requirements for children's learning, development and care. Here, the March 2026 activities translated those requirements into stories, conversation, movement and play: staff introduced counting and comparisons through blocks of different shapes and sizes.

Regular storytelling, singing and movement accompanied these experiences. Messy play brought textures to explore, while yoga activities involved copying adults' movements and joining interactive games. These were opportunities to practise communication and participation alongside physical skills.

In March 2026, key persons gathered detailed knowledge of children's personalities and developmental needs, and settling arrangements emphasised building relationships. Everyday care also encouraged small steps towards independence: older babies helped themselves to fruit and identified their place mats, while children practised washing their hands around meals.

At the same inspection, Ofsted found that children with SEND and those facing other barriers made excellent progress, with support including smaller communication groups, contributions from parents and professionals, and additional staffing funded through early years pupil premium. This linked targeted help with opportunities to take part in outdoor experiences.

Songs and visual cues helped children explore feelings in March 2026. An app supported contact with families, including when children were absent. Leaders also checked in with staff daily about children's learning, helping concerns reach those responsible for arranging further support.

The nursery is at 97 Park Lane, Poynton, Stockport, SK12 1RB. Its total capacity is 58 places.

In March 2026, provision primarily served children under 2. Families choosing care for this stage should weigh the baby-centred activities and settling arrangements alongside how their child responds to changes within the day.

• Changes between activities. In March 2026, some children became unsettled during changes in the daily routine, and consistent ways to help them anticipate the next activity needed further development. Ask how practitioners now prepare children for these moments.
• Settling for very young children. The March 2026 approach prioritised relationships and attachments. Discuss how settling would be paced around your child's care needs and familiarity with other adults.

Children's Choice merits consideration for families seeking baby-centred care, with the March 2026 account offering concrete examples of movement, communication and growing independence. The strongest decision value lies in that detail: garden exploration, attentive everyday care and targeted communication support. Helping children manage changes within the routine remains the key point to explore.