Little Weavers Day Nursery

Language runs through Little Weavers’ inspection-era nursery day: songs introduce new words, adults talk alongside children’s play, and questions encourage children to explain their thinking. That gives this Northwich setting a recognisable educational emphasis, with everyday conversation doing much of the work.

At its July 2023 inspection, Ofsted rated Little Weavers Good, identified communication and language as a strength and judged safeguarding effective. Two improvements were required: staff needed a clearer understanding of what children should learn next, and parents needed more precise guidance for continuing learning at home.

The nursery accepts children aged 3 to 60 months at 373 London Road, Northwich. A later regulatory finding also matters to the choice: a June 2025 visit established a failure to notify a significant event.

In July 2023, babies explored illuminated toys and mirrors, while older children made marks in flour. These were practical experiences with different purposes: sensory exploration for the youngest children, and an introduction to the meaning of written marks for older ones. The materials made learning tangible.

The early years foundation stage sets the framework for children’s learning, development and care. Here, the July 2023 examples show what that can mean in a child’s day: exploring objects, hearing stories, practising movement and learning to manage everyday tasks through play and adult support.

Early mathematics also took different forms. In July 2023, adults helped babies notice position and space; children in the toddler room practised counting through stories; older children sorted objects into containers and counted them. The progression moved from noticing the surroundings to using number during play.

Movement had its own place. Babies were encouraged to pull up to stand, and older children practised balancing, jumping and running in a weekly physical education lesson. Cooperation was taught through small shared jobs, including arranging name cards together. These examples show learning woven into both planned activities and nursery routines.

The limitation was the consistency of teaching. In July 2023, some staff were unclear about expectations for children’s next stage, so activities did not always build learning in a sufficiently ordered way. For parents, the important distinction is between an appealing activity and one chosen to extend their particular child’s understanding.

Settling began with relationships in July 2023. Staff got to know babies and their families during settling-in sessions. Emotional reassurance accompanied that process, giving the youngest children familiar support while they explored.

Daily care also included teaching independence. Children practised washing their hands and wiping their noses, while adults modelled kindness and helped them handle emotions. These are useful examples of care and learning overlapping: staff supported children with tasks they would gradually manage themselves.

In July 2023, safeguarding practice included daily checks of the environment, staff understanding of allergy procedures and appropriate knowledge of safe sleep for babies. These are dated observations, rather than a description of today’s routines.

Communication with families used an app to share assessments, including the progress check at age 2. In July 2023, parents received information about development, but advice on extending learning at home was sometimes too general. Updates and useful next steps are different things. The improvement required was to make that guidance more specific to the child.

Little Weavers operates at 373 London Road, Northwich, CW9 8EG. Opening hours are 8am to 6pm, Monday to Friday, across the year, with closures for bank holidays and the Christmas and New Year period. Telephone enquiries can be made on 01606 44499.

In July 2023, session times ran from 8am to 6pm. That historical session window should be kept separate from the current opening hours when considering attendance.

The nursery received funding for early education for children aged two, three and four in July 2023. That is a dated participation fact, rather than a promise of a funded arrangement for an individual family.

• Later regulatory finding. Following concerns received on 2 May 2025, Ofsted found at its 10 June 2025 regulatory visit that the nursery had failed to notify a significant event. Families should weigh this later compliance finding alongside the July 2023 grade; it supports a notification failure, rather than findings on every issue raised in the concerns.
• Teaching next steps. In July 2023, staff understanding of the curriculum needed further development so that teaching consistently matched what children needed to learn next. The choice depends partly on how clearly activities connect to an individual child’s development.
• Useful home guidance. July 2023 assessment updates did not always give parents sufficiently specific ways to continue learning at home. Families who value practical suggestions should give this improvement point weight.
• Settling and attendance. Introductory sessions involved babies and their families in July 2023. At a visit, how would settling and the attendance pattern work for your child now?

Little Weavers suits parents who value conversation, practical play and the gradual development of independence. Its July 2023 day included concrete examples of all three. The decision also needs to account for uneven curriculum sequencing, home-learning guidance and the later notification failure. Those points deserve as much attention as the Good grade.