Strawberry Fields Nursery and Preschool

Weekly preschool swimming and outings to Astley Park give Strawberry Fields Nursery and Preschool a recognisable character: physical activity and learning beyond the nursery sit alongside interest-led play. Its purpose-built premises on Euxton Lane in Chorley have age-based rooms, outdoor space and a separate outdoor area for the youngest children. There is plenty here for children who enjoy movement and exploration.

Ofsted rated the nursery Good on 4 April 2024, with staff development and support for communication and language identified as priorities for improvement. The nursery caters for children from birth to five years. Weekday opening runs from 7.30am to 6pm, with Saturday care also offered.

Rooms and Ages

The Blueberry Room, for children under two, has full-height glazing and bifold doors, giving its youngest children a light-filled space where relationships with key workers begin through taster sessions.

For two- to three-year-olds, the Blackberry Room combines a predictable daily rhythm with activities shaped around individual interests, while bifold doors open onto the secure outdoor area and an interactive whiteboard supports yoga and rhymes.

Upstairs, the Strawberry Room serves three- to five-year-olds, with its own outdoor access, a structured routine and an interactive whiteboard used to introduce phonics as children prepare for school.

These are different stages of nursery life, rather than interchangeable rooms. The toddler routine helps children anticipate what happens next; preschool adds more deliberate preparation for the move into education. Outdoor access remains part of the picture as children grow.

Learning and Activities

The early years foundation stage provides the framework for children's learning, development and care: play, conversation and everyday routines all contribute to learning. Alongside that framework, In the Moment Planning shapes activities around children's interests, with practitioners adjusting what is offered as those interests change. A child's current enthusiasm can therefore influence the day's experiences.

Weekly preschool swimming follows the Swim England Framework, with a qualified instructor teaching in the water and children attending in small groups during the nursery day. This makes swimming part of nursery attendance rather than a separate family journey. Monday PE includes catching, throwing and balance work; visiting music sessions bring instruments and props for younger children to explore sounds and songs.

In April 2024, mathematical learning moved from counting songs towards shapes and mathematical vocabulary in play. Books supported both enjoyment and practical discovery, including using recipes for information. Dough work and handling objects with tweezers gave children opportunities to practise the coordination needed for writing.

The same April 2024 findings identified uneven teaching confidence among less-experienced practitioners. Recent language training had yet to translate consistently into introducing vocabulary across different situations. That distinction matters: appealing activities are only part of the offer, and the adult interaction within them needs to be consistent too.

Outdoor and Community Life

Astley Park provides opportunities for walks and nature exploration, with discoveries brought back for discussion. The under-twos also make regular library visits for shared stories. These outings extend children's experiences beyond the room and give practitioners something concrete to talk about afterwards.

Two- to three-year-olds use local transport for workshops with Park rangers, exploring the natural world. Preschool outings include spotting letters and numbers in shops and buying ingredients for cooking. Everyday places become material for learning, with different experiences matched to each age group.

Relationships and Communication

Taster sessions introduce children to their key workers before nursery becomes familiar. For a young child, that relationship is the useful starting point: settling is connected to a person as well as a room.

In April 2024, staff encouraged babies to attempt feeding themselves and older children to manage personal care. Children also practised sharing through activities such as taking turns with biscuit ingredients. These small responsibilities brought independence into ordinary routines rather than keeping it for a separate lesson.

Inclusion and Wellbeing

At the April 2024 inspection, Ofsted found safeguarding effective and SEND support effective, including collaboration with families and professionals and the use of British Sign Language to help children express their needs and feelings. That is a dated assessment of practice, with a concrete communication mechanism behind it.

The current team includes a SEND lead and designated safeguarding roles. Practitioners' training includes safeguarding, paediatric first aid and food safety, giving families identifiable responsibilities and areas of preparation to discuss during a visit.

Food also contributes to independence: older children are encouraged to serve themselves, and menus are adjusted around healthy eating. Saturday care includes lunch in its charge.

Sessions and Attendance

The address is Euxton Lane, Chorley, PR7 1PS. Weekday opening is 7.30am to 6pm, Monday to Friday, and the nursery operates across the year. Full-day care is offered alongside Saturday bookings with a minimum duration of two hours.

Saturday bookings must be made by 5pm on the preceding Thursday, with payment when booking. Children can attend Saturday care even if they do not use the nursery on weekdays. That makes it a separate option for families whose childcare needs extend beyond the working week.

Applications can be made using an application form, and enquiries can be made by telephone or through the contact form. Tours are offered for families considering the setting.

Funding and Paid Extras

In April 2024, funded early education was provided for two-, three- and four-year-olds. Families should obtain current prices in the nursery's written quotation, keeping the chosen attendance pattern and any funded hours together when comparing costs.

• Saturday timing. Two Saturday opening windows are given: 9.30am to 3.30pm and 9am to 3pm. Confirm the applicable hours before committing to a booking, especially if care is needed at either end of the day.
• Language teaching. April 2024 improvement priorities concerned communication skills and focused staff development. During a visit, ask how practitioners now extend vocabulary during play and how newer staff receive support.
• Swimming arrangements. Preschool swimming takes place weekly in small groups. Ask how children are supported when unfamiliar with the water and how the session fits their nursery day.
• The written quotation. Saturday lunch is included in the charge. Request a written quotation for your chosen attendance pattern before joining.

Strawberry Fields suits families seeking weekday full-day care or shorter Saturday bookings, especially those who value swimming, outdoor exploration and activities shaped by children's interests. The Blueberry, Blackberry and Strawberry rooms give each age stage a clear identity, while community outings add practical experiences beyond nursery play.

The April 2024 Good judgement provides a useful quality reference, balanced by specific priorities around language teaching and staff development. The strongest decision rests on those concrete details: how children move through the rooms, how adults extend their learning and which attendance pattern fits family life.