First Steps Nursery

A forest garden gives First Steps Nursery a recognisable character: in November 2024, children explored plants and insects, made bird feeders and used pine cones for weighing activities. Nature supplied both the materials and the subject matter for learning.

At its November 2024 inspection, Ofsted rated the nursery Good and found safeguarding effective. Based at Calvary Church in Macclesfield, it has capacity for 19 children aged 24 to 60 months.

In November 2024, learning followed children's existing knowledge, with activities planned to develop their next skills. The early years foundation stage sets the requirements for children's learning, development and care; here, play brought together conversation, physical activity and exploration.

The forest garden connected practical experiences with learning about the environment. Children recycled food waste and switched off unnecessary lights. Outdoor play took place daily, while a bench obstacle course added physical challenge through balancing, hopping and moving backwards. These were opportunities to practise coordination as well as persistence.

Children also voted on the book for story time. That small decision gave them a say in a shared activity. Songs, stories and lunchtime conversations created further opportunities to use language and exchange ideas.

In November 2024, the key-person arrangement helped children build relationships with familiar adults. Staff joined their play with energy and humour, while children practised everyday independence by finding their lunch boxes, recognising their names at the table and feeding themselves. Asking for help was part of that independence too.

Activities and planning were adapted for children with special educational needs or disabilities. Staff worked with speech and language therapists, health visitors and local teachers to address individual needs. These mechanisms connected support within the nursery with professional advice beyond it.

Communication with home needed more attention. Development updates were too infrequent to consistently help parents support learning, and staff needed more regular feedback on their teaching practice. Both were November 2024 improvement priorities.

The address is Calvary Church, 2 Merebrook Road, Macclesfield, SK11 8RH. The nursery operates during term time, Monday to Friday, with opening hours of 8am to 3.30pm, and closes for school holidays.

In November 2024, its session window was also 8am to 3.30pm, and it offered government-funded childcare places. That inspection-era funding position should be distinguished from a current entitlement or booking arrangement.

• Term-time calendar. School-holiday closures make this a choice for families whose childcare plans fit the term-time year.
• Updates and staff feedback. The November 2024 priorities concerned development information for parents and coaching for practitioners. At a visit, ask how both now work in practice.
• Attendance arrangements. Which booking patterns and funded-hours arrangements would apply to your child?

First Steps Nursery suits families seeking term-time care for children aged 24 to 60 months. Its November 2024 picture combined nature-based activities, everyday independence and individual support mechanisms. The forest garden gives the learning a concrete identity; more frequent communication with home and feedback for staff were the points requiring attention.