Partou Brambley Hedge Day Nursery & Pre-school

Garden exploration and close attention to each child's next steps give Brambley Hedge its character: in May 2022, babies practised balancing on a low bridge while toddlers turned water play into imaginary firefighting. This Spurstow nursery has capacity for 44 children aged 0 to 60 months.

At its 26 May 2022 inspection, Ofsted rated the nursery Outstanding, finding exceptional progress, including for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities, and effective safeguarding. That is a strong dated assessment, rather than a description of today's daily practice.

The early years foundation stage sets the framework for children's learning, development and care, bringing those strands together in their everyday experiences. In May 2022, learning followed children's interests while building specific skills: finger exercises and making marks developed the hand control needed for writing, and handling potatoes became a conversation about how lunch was prepared. Ordinary materials had a clear educational purpose.

Outdoor play in May 2022 offered physical challenges as well as imaginative ones. Children propelled themselves on swings and attempted the climbing frame, with staff helping when needed. Older children explored lavender and buttercups while making mud pies, giving adults opportunities to extend their vocabulary through things they could touch and smell.

Reading also reached beyond story time. In May 2022, a book-lending library gave families books to take home, and a local library bus visited regularly. Those arrangements connected reading at nursery with reading together at home.

In May 2022, flexible introductory sessions gave children time to become familiar with their key person. Photographs of children appeared around the nursery, and each child had a family book to look through for comfort. The practical emphasis was on making familiar relationships part of the nursery day.

Communication in May 2022 combined daily conversations, an app and parents' meetings, alongside ideas for learning at home. Room changes were prepared gradually: babies practised sitting on chairs for meals, while preschool children worked on dressing themselves before moving to school. Staff also exchanged information with schools and other providers to support continuity. Preparation meant practising useful everyday skills, rather than simply marking a leaving date.

The address is Peckforton Hall Lane, Spurstow, Tarporley, CW6 9TG. Opening hours are 7.30am to 6pm, Monday to Friday, across the year, with closures for bank holidays and Christmas. Families needing care through school holidays should account for those closure periods.

In May 2022, the nursery provided funded education for children aged two, three and four. This is a dated account of its funding provision.

• A dated quality judgement. The Outstanding assessment comes from May 2022. On a visit, explore how the garden challenges, individual learning and gradual room transitions work now.
• Your attendance and costs. The weekday opening window runs from 7.30am to 6pm. Which booking pattern would fit your family, and how would its written quotation separate funded care, additional hours, meals and consumables?

Brambley Hedge merits consideration for families drawn to practical outdoor learning and careful preparation for changes between rooms and school. Its May 2022 picture was persuasive because of concrete experiences: balancing, experimenting with water, borrowing books and practising independence. The weekday opening window also suits families whose childcare needs span the working day. Keep the age of that assessment in view when judging the present fit.