Little Manor Nursery School

Ginger-scented play dough, biscuit-making and links with the village carnival give Little Manor Nursery School a recognisable community character in its October 2022 account of nursery life. Everyday experiences carried the learning: children discussed textures, measured ingredients and practised doing things for themselves.

At its 18 October 2022 inspection, Ofsted rated the nursery Good and judged safeguarding effective. Little Manor takes children aged 3 to 60 months at 90 Railway Road, Adlington, Chorley, PR6 9RB, with 45 places in total. That is whole-nursery capacity, rather than the size of an individual group.

The early years foundation stage sets the requirements for children's learning, development and care, linking education with their everyday needs. Here, the October 2022 examples show how practical activities brought language and early mathematics into play.

Babies and toddlers explored slugs and woodlice in October 2022, with staff introducing words to describe what they discovered. Preschool children weighed butter and flour for biscuits. These were concrete ways to connect new vocabulary and measurement with something children could examine or make.

Sensory play also featured in October 2022. Sand and ginger-scented play dough prompted conversations about smell and touch, while songs and familiar story phrases became part of play. Learning extended beyond an adult-led activity: children could use language while following their own interests.

Outdoor space mattered too. By October 2022, changes to the garden had given babies more room outside. Connections to the village carnival and the local library supported community outings, planned to help children practise social interaction after the disruption of the pandemic. These examples give the nursery's community emphasis a practical meaning.

At the October 2022 inspection, Ofsted found that a designated member of staff observed children with special educational needs and/or disabilities, worked with colleagues to identify developmental concerns and followed advice from other agencies. This describes a mechanism for responding to individual needs, rather than a general promise about support.

In October 2022, children practised independence by serving food and pouring drinks, while asking an adult for help when needed. Staff responded calmly to behaviour and recognised children's achievements. Preschool meditation sessions involved breathing exercises and copying arm movements, adding a quieter activity to the day.

Communication with families was a mixed picture in October 2022. Newsletters and a parents hub had been introduced, including meetings to discuss ideas, but information about children's next learning steps did not reach parents consistently. That distinction matters: knowing what a child enjoyed is useful, but knowing what they are learning next helps families continue it at home.

Staff supervision and team meetings were also in place in October 2022. Observations of staff practice were relatively new, and performance management needed sharper procedures for spotting and addressing weaknesses promptly. Both improvement points deserve attention alongside the positive judgement.

Sessions and Attendance

Little Manor opens Monday to Friday from 7.30am to 6pm. Its full-day pattern runs from 7.30am to 6pm, making the start and finish times useful for families arranging work around childcare.

Attendance runs across the year, with closures on bank holidays and for one week at Christmas. Families need to account for those breaks in their childcare planning.

Funding and Paid Extras

In October 2022, the nursery provided funded early education for children aged two, three and four. Current prices come in the nursery's written quotation.

• Learning updates. In October 2022, parents did not consistently receive children's next learning steps. At a visit, ask to see how these are shared with families now.
• Oversight of practice. October 2022 improvement work included identifying staff weaknesses more promptly. Ask how supervision and observations lead to specific changes in practice.
• Your child's daily routine. For a baby starting within the 7.30am to 6pm full-day pattern, discuss settling, sleep and how the day is organised before choosing an attendance pattern.

Little Manor suits families seeking year-round attendance with a full-day pattern, and parents who value practical learning and community experiences. The October 2022 picture combines sensory exploration, everyday independence and outings with two clear priorities: better learning updates for families and sharper oversight of staff practice. Those priorities provide useful questions for a visit.