Selby Cottage Childcare Centre

Woodwork, birdwatching and caring for hens give Selby Cottage Childcare Centre a character built around practical discovery. At its June 2025 inspection, Ofsted rated the nursery Outstanding and judged safeguarding effective. The strongest examples connect learning with things children can handle, investigate and take responsibility for.

Based in Chester-le-Street, the centre accepts children from birth to five. Its June 2025 daily life combined outdoor exploration with carefully chosen stories and conversations. Independence mattered too: children helped prepare tables and learnt to use utensils safely.

In June 2025, babies explored utensils in a walk-in sand pit while practitioners responded to their early sounds. Toddlers learnt new bird names through Nurture through nature, sessions within forest school that involved looking for birds. These examples show how sensory exploration and conversation could develop together, rather than language learning being confined to a separate activity.

The early years foundation stage provides the framework for children's learning, development and care. Here, the June 2025 activities connected those elements through practical play: woodwork involved safe tool use, while stories and adult conversation supported language.

Outdoor learning included gardening, imaginative play and caring for animals. In June 2025, children investigated flowers, grew vegetables and searched trees for insects; the mud kitchen gave them reasons to explain their imaginary cooking. Looking after resident hens introduced responsibility, and supervised campfire activities brought safety into hands-on learning.

The same month's community experiences included an allotment, swimming baths, a community centre and aged miners' homes. That brought children into contact with places and people beyond the nursery. Activities were planned around children's interests and development, with observations helping staff identify what to teach next.

At the June 2025 inspection, Ofsted judged support for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities excellent, highlighting prompt referrals, detailed support plans and work with health visitors, speech and language therapists, portage and the local authority. Those mechanisms matter because support could draw on specialist advice as well as nursery practice.

In June 2025, families received daily feedback and regular updates, alongside opportunities to join stay-and-play sessions. Children also practised consideration for others: older children helped younger ones find seats, and staff encouraged turn-taking and respect.

Mealtimes contributed to independence that month. Children served themselves healthy food, younger children practised buttering crackers safely, and older children helped lay tables. Staff worked closely together, with leadership sharing expertise with other settings and local colleges.

The address is The Close East, Chester-le-Street, DH2 2EY. In June 2025, the centre opened Monday to Thursday from 8am to 6pm and Friday from 8am to 5.30pm, throughout the year. It provided funded early education for children from nine months old.

• Attendance arrangements. What booking pattern, opening hours and funded-hours arrangement would apply to your child?
• Outdoor responsibility. June 2025 activities included tool use, hens and supervised fire-lighting. On a visit, discuss how staff introduce these experiences at your child's stage of development.
• Individual support. Prompt referrals and specialist partnerships were strengths in June 2025. Families needing additional support should discuss how a child's plan would connect nursery activities with professional advice.

Selby Cottage suits families who value practical exploration, outdoor learning and participation in the surrounding community. Its June 2025 examples give substance to the Outstanding judgement: children were learning through tools, nature, conversation and everyday responsibilities. The clearest appeal is that combination of discovery and growing independence.