Croston Acorns Nursery and Pre School

Story-led messy play, memory games and children sharing their own interests give Croston Acorns a recognisable character. Its October 2022 experience combined adult guidance with room for children to make choices, including helping prepare for dinner.

Ofsted rated the nursery Outstanding on 17 October 2022, finding carefully sequenced teaching and excellent progress. It has capacity for 49 children aged 12 to 60 months, at Dob Bridge Cottage in Croston.

In October 2022, children followed the early years foundation stage, the framework for learning, development and care: here, play gave children opportunities to practise language, remember ideas and become more independent. Activities took account of their interests and what they were ready to learn next.

Room on the Broom supplied a link between storytelling and messy play with paint, glitter and glue. The magic tray activity involved remembering an object after it was removed, giving children a reason to practise recall and learn vocabulary such as vanished.

Literacy developed in stages. In October 2022, babies encountered songs and signs, toddlers practised rhythm by clapping their names, and older children worked towards early phonics. During expert of the week, children shared interests such as trains and board games. Their own knowledge became something worth explaining to others.

At the October 2022 inspection, Ofsted found safeguarding effective, with staff recognising warning signs, knowing how to raise concerns and undertaking regular training. Recruitment checks and routine assessments of the environment also formed part of those arrangements.

In October 2022, a key person helped children settle and build familiar relationships. Younger children received help with sharing, while older children discussed safe knife use when buttering bread: independence came with guidance.

Parents understood their children's individual learning targets and received help to continue learning at home. Behind that communication, leaders used staff discussions, peer observation and supervision to review practice, while keeping planning and assessment manageable so practitioners could spend time with children.

The address is Dob Bridge Cottage, Brick Croft Lane, Croston, LEYLAND PR26 9AA. The nursery opens throughout the year, Monday to Friday, from 7.30am to 5.30pm.

In October 2022, funded early education was offered for children aged two, three and four. That dated participation is separate from the current financial terms families need when choosing their attendance pattern.

• Age of the judgement. The Outstanding rating dates to October 2022. It provides a strong historical assessment; a visit should explore how today's practice compares with the examples described here.
• Attendance and funding. The opening window runs from 7.30am to 5.30pm. Which booking patterns and funded arrangements would suit your child, and how are meals and consumables treated in the written quotation?

Croston Acorns suits parents who value language-rich play, growing independence and children contributing their own interests. The October 2022 examples are concrete: remembering objects, connecting stories with materials and sharing personal expertise. Its year-round weekday opening window also suits families whose childcare needs extend beyond term time.