Little Cherubs Day Nursery and Preschool

Separate rooms for babies, toddlers and preschool children give Little Cherubs a clear shape, while play spaces can change with children's interests. This Crewe setting takes children from birth to five, with creative activities and child-led play forming the everyday offer. The practical attraction is choice across stages of early childhood, rather than a single preschool age group.

At its 14 August 2023 inspection, Ofsted judged Little Cherubs Good overall and found safeguarding effective. That is a dated judgement: the detail from that visit gives families useful questions about today's care, rather than a description of every current routine. Communication was a strong thread in the nursery day, with adults helping children find words during play, books and meals.

Attendance options include all-day care as well as morning and afternoon sessions. The different patterns matter for families fitting childcare around work or looking for a shorter period of play and company.

Rooms and Ages

Babies, toddlers and preschool children have separate rooms, equipped for their stages of development. Spaces and resources can change as children's interests develop, giving play a starting point in what catches their attention. For a family choosing care from infancy onwards, the separation between stages is a useful part of the physical arrangement.

Learning and Activities

The EYFS framework guides learning through play, with activities supporting language, early number skills, literacy and the small hand movements children need for practical tasks. Little Cherubs combines imaginative play with cooking, art, dance and music. Children can explore resources independently or alongside others, so the day includes both their own investigations and shared experiences.

Development is assessed periodically and activities are planned around each child. This makes the connection between observation and the next experience important: an interest in a resource can become a starting point for further learning, rather than simply another activity to complete.

In August 2023, communication shaped much of the day. Adults introduced vocabulary and brief phrases during play, while children joined familiar parts of songs and enjoyed books with staff. These were small, repeated opportunities to practise speaking. Concentration was less consistent: some children became distracted when adults did not sufficiently help them manage their responses to situations.

Outdoor and Community Life

In August 2023, children used an outdoor play area for movement and fresh air. Staff also helped them practise sharing and taking turns and understand the effects of their behaviour on others. The outdoor space was part of the daily experience at that time, rather than an occasional outing.

Reassurance featured in everyday care in August 2023. Adults stayed near children during play and responded when they were tired or unsure, giving them support as they explored resources and became more independent. Before children started, staff gathered information from parents and combined it with observations to plan experiences around their interests.

At the August 2023 inspection, Ofsted found that SEND support included individual plans, staff training led by the manager acting as special educational needs coordinator, links with other professionals and access to early help. These are concrete support mechanisms for families to discuss, rather than a general promise that one approach fits every child.

Routine changes needed more care in August 2023. Some children found transitions difficult, and staff sometimes concentrated on completing the routine rather than adjusting it around the child. Management support helped staff respond, but adapting these moments remained an improvement priority.

Meals also provided social and language practice during that visit: children ate either a home-cooked meal or a packed lunch, with adults joining them at tables. Children had opportunities to try feeding themselves while talking with staff.

Sessions and Attendance

Little Cherubs operates for 51 weeks across the year, with opening hours of 7.30am to 6.30pm. Its all-day options run from 7.30am to 6.30pm or 8am to 6pm.

Morning sessions offer three choices: 7.30am to 12.30pm, 8am to 1pm, or 8.45am to 11.45am. Afternoon options are 12.30pm to 5.30pm, 1.30pm to 6.30pm, or 12.15pm to 3.15pm. That is a meaningful spread of start and finish times, allowing families to compare a shorter attendance pattern with a full day.

Getting There

The address is St. Stephens Methodist Church, Ruskin Road, Crewe, CW2 7JX. Contact is by telephone on 07817232149 or email at littlecherubsps@gmail.com.

Funding and Paid Extras

Funded childcare is offered for eligible two-, three- and four-year-olds through 15 or 30 hours. Eligibility remains a condition of that offer; the session choices should be considered separately from the funded entitlement.

• Concentration during play. Developing children's attention and self-control was an August 2023 improvement priority. On a visit, explore how adults help a child stay engaged when an activity becomes difficult.
• Changes of routine. In August 2023, some children struggled with transitions and routines were not always adapted around their needs. Discuss how the move between activities would work for your child, including during settling.
• The funded attendance package. The nursery offers 15 or 30 hours for eligible children alongside several session patterns. What would your chosen pattern include, and how would meals, consumables and any additional hours be charged?

Little Cherubs suits families seeking all-day care, morning sessions or afternoon attendance, with separate rooms spanning babies through preschool children. Child-led resources and creative activities give the current offer substance. The August 2023 judgement provides a positive inspection foundation, while the priorities around concentration and transitions deserve close attention when assessing the fit for an individual child.