Children 1st St Peter & St Pauls

A ballpit ship, hot air balloon and beach themed areas give Children 1st St Peter & St Pauls an imaginative physical character. Woodland spaces add a different kind of play: time outdoors connecting with nature.

At its September 2022 inspection, Ofsted rated the nursery Good and found safeguarding effective, while identifying improvements needed in language teaching and the organisation of older children's learning. Those teaching points deserve attention alongside the attractive environment. The judgement is dated; it should be read alongside the nursery's current arrangements.

The nursery has 147 places in total, with the current age range extending from birth to five years; its joining offer starts at six weeks. Its Chesterfield base is Brambling House on Hady Hill. Attendance choices include Business Days, shorter Nursery days, Mornings and Afternoons, giving families several ways to fit care around their week.

Learning and Activities

The early years foundation stage provides the framework for children's learning, development and care. In parent language, that brings communication, relationships and physical development into everyday play and routines, rather than treating learning as something confined to a formal lesson. The nursery adds activities including cookery and outdoor learning to that foundation.

Cookery sessions involve handling ingredients and trying practical skills, with opportunities to learn about growing food. That gives children something tangible to investigate: the ingredients they use have a story before they reach the plate. The work links learning with an ordinary part of daily life, rather than making food solely an adult responsibility.

Forest School, an approach to learning outdoors in nature, is also part of the activity offer. The woodland spaces give that outdoor element a physical setting. Alongside it, the ballpit ship, hot air balloon and beach themed areas provide imaginative surroundings for play. These are useful points of comparison for a child who enjoys exploring different settings and ideas.

In September 2022, older children took part in woodland den building, dressed themselves for outdoor activities and used a hammer to put a tent peg into the ground with staff guidance. The experience combined practical independence with cooperation: children shared materials, encouraged one another and had to think about using a tool carefully. It was an example of learning through a task with a clear purpose.

At the same date, activities around All About Me and Our Families helped children getting used to the nursery or moving between groups learn about themselves and their peers. Children also explored different countries connected with their families' backgrounds, including through food tasting. These experiences gave personal identity and family life a place in the learning programme.

The September 2022 children's council offered another route for children to contribute. Elected members put forward ideas, and staff acted on requests, including buying a toy vacuum cleaner resembling the one used by adults. That detail matters: children's suggestions could change the materials available for their play, rather than stopping at a discussion.

The teaching limitations were specific. In September 2022, opportunities to use newly learned language were uneven, and vocabulary teaching did not consistently help children learning English as an additional language understand expectations. Older children also needed more reliable opportunities to return to earlier activities and practise skills. An appealing activity is only part of the picture; repetition and well-timed adult interaction matter too.

In September 2022, attentive staff built relationships with new children by talking with them about what they enjoyed outside nursery. Familiar subjects gave children an accessible way into interaction. Support during moves within the setting also placed emphasis on relationships and emotional adjustment, rather than only on the next set of activities.

Everyday independence was visible in September 2022 mealtimes. Babies tried feeding themselves with spoons, while older children used knives and forks to manage their food. These small routines gave children repeated chances to practise hand control and take an active part in caring for themselves. Preparation for school included practical capabilities, rather than being limited to early academic work.

Staff development in September 2022 included mentoring and support from more experienced colleagues. For parents, the relevant point is how practitioners were helped to develop their work with children. The language and curriculum improvement points make the content of that support especially significant.

Food is prepared on site by a chef, using local ingredients where possible, and menus accommodate different dietary requirements. Meals and snacks are included in private fees; funded sessions have separate food charges. Families dealing with allergies should discuss how the menu and daily food arrangements would work for their child.

Sessions and Attendance

The address is Brambling House, Hady Hill, Chesterfield S41 0EF. Enquiries can be made through the nursery's enquiry form or by telephone on 01246 276721. The nursery also offers tours, allowing families to discuss the practical fit of the setting before joining.

Four booking patterns are offered. Business Days run from 8am to 6pm; Nursery days finish earlier, running from 8am to 5pm. Mornings cover 8am to 1pm, while Afternoons run from 1pm to 6pm. The difference is substantial for family planning: a shorter day and either half of the day are separate choices, rather than simply different collection times within one booking.

Care operates across the year, with Christmas week and two staff training days as closures. Monthly invoices use the same amount each month. That makes the payment schedule predictable, although the attendance pattern and funding arrangement still determine the family's own costs.

Funding and Paid Extras

Eligible children aged nine months and above can use the Government's 15 Hours or 30 Hours funding offer. Funding starts from the term following the relevant birthday. The nursery stretches entitlement over 51 weeks, giving up to 11.18 funded hours each week for the 15 Hours offer or 22.35 for the 30 Hours offer. This spreads the entitlement through the year rather than concentrating it into school terms.

Up to 10 funded hours can be used in a day during Nursery or Business day sessions, with remaining entitlement usable towards other regular sessions. Additional hours are paid for separately. These arrangements give families a concrete basis for comparing a morning booking with a longer day, rather than comparing headline funding entitlements alone.

Private fees include meals, snacks, formula and milk, plus nappies, wipes, nappy cream and sun cream. Activities are included too. For funded sessions, food and health and hygiene consumables are charged separately; activity charges apply to children over two, with no activity charge for under-twos. Charges are adjusted proportionately for half-day and partly funded sessions. Current prices come in the nursery's written quotation.

A non-refundable registration charge applies, and a deposit is credited against the first invoice. The branch also supports Ashgate Hospice through fundraising planned throughout the year, including bake sales, dress-up days and sponsored challenges. This gives families a local charitable connection as part of nursery life, with opportunities to participate in activities together.

• Language teaching and repeated practice. September 2022 improvement points concerned communication, including support for children learning English, and opportunities for older children to consolidate skills. During a visit, ask how staff now build vocabulary and revisit learning.
• The environment for a young baby. The joining offer begins at six weeks within a nursery with 147 places overall. Ask to see the baby's usual space and discuss settling, sleep and the group they would join.
• Funding beyond the headline hours. Entitlement is stretched across 51 weeks, while food, consumables and age-dependent activity charges sit alongside funded care. Compare the written quotation for the particular Business Day, Nursery day or shorter session pattern you need.
• Dietary arrangements. An on-site chef and adaptable menus support different requirements. Allergy-affected families should confirm the current preparation and serving arrangements for their child's needs.

Children 1st St Peter & St Pauls suits families wanting a choice between Business Days or Nursery days and morning or afternoon attendance, with themed play spaces and woodland experiences forming part of the day. Cookery and the Ashgate Hospice connection add practical and local substance.

The September 2022 Good judgement provides a useful assessment, with clear teaching questions to carry into a visit. The strongest decision combines the environment and attendance choices with a close look at how language, repeated practice and a child's individual care needs are handled now.