Red Wellies Nursery & Out of School Club

Outdoor suits, a conservatory and a baby room with its own outdoor space give Red Wellies a clear character: fresh air is part of the ordinary nursery day. Its Nature Nursery approach centres on exploring outdoors in different weather, with a commitment to going outside at least twice daily for a minimum of three hours. For families who want nature to shape their child's routine, that is a substantial practical promise.

The nursery occupies The Paddock, a two-storey brick building in the grounds of Foolpenny Hall, in Stapeley, Nantwich. It accepts children aged 1 to 60 months. Separate provision for babies, toddlers and children approaching school means the experience changes as children grow, rather than expecting the youngest and oldest to follow the same routine.

At its October 2021 inspection, Ofsted rated Red Wellies Good, identifying more precise planning for individual children's next steps and completion of planned outdoor improvements as priorities. That judgement provides a dated assessment of the provision, alongside the current outdoor emphasis, room arrangements and parent communication described below. Full days, shorter sessions and term-time attendance are offered, with a minimum weekly booking for new starters.

Rooms and Ages

The baby room has outdoor space of its own and a separate sleep room, giving younger children somewhere to rest away from their play area. Regular walks add another way to explore the surroundings. Movement matters in the transition to the toddler room: babies begin that move once they are mobile and starting to walk, so the change is linked to development.

Games, messy play and outdoor exploration shape the toddler room's day, giving children opportunities to experiment physically and socially. The move towards the Tweenies room generally begins shortly before a child's second birthday. There, growing friendships, language and independence receive attention, matching the stage when children begin asserting preferences and taking more initiative.

Older children move upstairs after their third birthday, usually in the following term, although some move during their birthday term. Pre-School is the group preparing to start school the next September; Mini Pre-School, also called Minis, is for those starting the year after. Those labels distinguish stages of preparation rather than making school readiness a single deadline for everyone.

Learning and Activities

The early years foundation stage is the statutory framework for learning, development and care: children's play supports their communication, physical development and wider learning. Red Wellies adds an emphasis on discovering children's interests and strengths, using play and practical exploration as starting points. If an activity fails to engage a child, the approach is to reconsider the activity rather than treat the child as the problem.

In October 2021, children persisted with craft tasks, winding materials around sticks to make wands and discussing how weaving worked. Staff also introduced descriptive vocabulary during meals, using the texture and sound of carrots as conversation starters. These are useful examples of learning embedded in ordinary experiences: hand movements, experimentation and talk can happen together, rather than being separated into formal lessons.

Pre-School children take part in Nativity plays, graduation ceremonies and sports day. Each brings a different experience of participating with others, from performance to physical activity. Parent workshops address school readiness, phonics, fine motor control and maths, giving families concrete topics to connect with the preparation taking place at nursery.

Outdoor and Community Life

Nature Nursery gives outdoor play a defined place in the timetable, rather than leaving it dependent on fine weather. Outdoor suits are used for play, and the conservatory provides an alternative for children who do not want to remain outside. That combination matters when judging whether the outdoor emphasis fits an individual child: the commitment is substantial, but there is also an indoor option.

In October 2021, children used boots and rain suits for outdoor exploration. Planned additions to outdoor print and literacy resources had yet to be completed. The improvement priority was therefore about extending what children could learn outside, including those who preferred that space, rather than simply increasing time outdoors.

Relationships and Communication

The Daily Webdiary gives each child a private online profile, with email alerts when photographs, comments or audio are added. Updates cover eating, toileting, individual and group activities, outings and newly demonstrated skills. Parents can contribute too, making it a channel for exchanging information rather than only receiving photographs.

For families, the useful distinction is the combination of everyday care information and learning observations. A meal update answers an immediate practical question; a description of something newly achieved helps parents understand development over time. The diary can connect those two sides of the nursery day in one place.

In October 2021, children sought adults' help and invited them into their games. A bell signalled that it was time to listen, while a yellow circle prompted tidying. These concrete cues show how expectations were communicated to young children at that point, with familiar signals supporting the movement between activities.

Inclusion and Wellbeing

At the October 2021 inspection, Ofsted found safeguarding effective and children with additional needs well supported by the special educational needs coordinator, with external professional advice used when needed. Those findings belong to that inspection date. The separate baby sleep room and development-led move into toddler provision are current practical features relevant to younger children.

Food is prepared using an equipped kitchen with a steam oven, with local purchasing and menus prioritising fruit and fresh vegetables. During funded sessions, both snacks and meals carry separate charges, so food needs to be considered alongside the attendance pattern when assessing the overall arrangement.

In October 2021, links with local schools supported children as they moved on. Alongside the current parent workshops, this gives school preparation a practical dimension: communication about the next stage accompanies activities developing language, movement and independence. It is transition support, with no named onward-school relationship claimed here.

Sessions and Attendance

Red Wellies is at The Paddock, London Road, Stapeley, Nantwich, CW5 7JL. Opening hours are 7.30am to 6pm, Monday to Friday, with closures for public holidays and Christmas week. The distinction between opening hours and booked attendance matters: the nursery sells several patterns within that window.

Morning sessions run from 8am to 1pm, afternoon sessions from 1pm to 6pm, and the Extended School Day runs from 8.30am to 4pm. Full Days are also offered. For new bookings, attendance must total at least 22.5 hours weekly, whether through one pattern or a combination; the minimum is not a requirement stated for existing bookings.

Term-time-only attendance covers 38 weeks and carries a holiday retainer. Families can also spread childcare costs into equal monthly payments, including chosen holiday care, so a steady payment schedule should be distinguished from the weeks a child actually attends. Additional sessions can be booked subject to availability; an administration charge applies when they are arranged with less than a week's notice.

Funding and Paid Extras

Funded childcare includes 15- and 30-hour arrangements, with the working-family entitlement extending to children from nine months upwards. The Extended School Day can accommodate 15 hours over two days or 30 over four days, but new bookings still have to meet the 22.5-hour weekly minimum. That condition is especially relevant to a family considering only 15 funded hours.

Funding is organised around term-time entitlement, with holiday childcare paid separately and an option to spread its cost. Meals and snacks are charged separately during funded attendance. Current prices come in the nursery's written quotation; the fees page explains the attendance and payment arrangements.

The holiday-cost scheme allows families to leave with accrued money repaid, subject to one term's notice under the stated funded-entitlement policy. Exceptional circumstances are considered at Cheshire East's discretion, with a possible charge related to holidays already used. That is a scheme-specific condition, rather than a general notice rule for every booking.

Getting There

A large car park serves the nursery in the grounds of Foolpenny Hall. Enquiries can be made by telephone or by emailing the office with a contact number for a return call, and showround booking is offered.

• Outdoor commitment. Nature Nursery promises at least two outdoor periods and a minimum of three hours outside daily. At a showround, discuss how this works for your child's preferences and clothing needs, including use of the conservatory.
• Minimum attendance. New bookings must reach 22.5 hours a week, including combinations of shorter sessions. A family planning to use 15 funded hours needs to weigh the additional booked time and funded-session food charges together.
• Individual learning plans. October 2021 improvement priorities included sharper next-step planning and completing outdoor developments. A useful visit question is how a child's interests now become specific learning goals, indoors and outside.

Red Wellies suits families who want outdoor exploration to be a substantial part of nursery life, with separate baby sleeping space and detailed digital communication about care and activities. Its attendance choices serve both full-day arrangements and morning or afternoon sessions, alongside the Extended School Day and term-time attendance. The deciding practical condition is the minimum booking for new starters. The dated Good judgement supports the overall picture, while the individual-planning priority gives families a focused question to take into a visit.