Buttons Day Nursery, Edlington

In July 2022, planting, take-home learning bags and Makaton gave Buttons Day Nursery, Edlington a recognisable character: practical exploration sat alongside support for language and family learning. At its July 2022 inspection, Ofsted rated the nursery Outstanding, judging its education highly effective and finding children deeply engaged in their learning. That is a dated judgement, rather than a description of today's practice.

The nursery is based at The Hill Top Centre in Edlington, Doncaster. In July 2022, it cared for children aged 0 to 4, with early reading and mathematics prominent in the educational programme.

The early years foundation stage sets the framework for children's learning, development and care. Here, the July 2022 examples show what that meant in practice: children selected activities, moved between indoor and outdoor play, and received staff support to develop their own ideas. Independence was built into ordinary choices.

Outdoor learning had a tangible centrepiece. In July 2022, children watered plants in the planting and growing area and discussed how they would develop. This connected conversation with something children could observe and care for themselves.

Language support was equally concrete. In July 2022, practitioners used rhymes, songs, repeated words and modelled sentences; Makaton provided an additional way to communicate. These were practical ways to help children participate in conversation and play. A bell signalled tidying time, while staff reinforced turn-taking and sharing throughout the day.

At the July 2022 inspection, Ofsted found safeguarding effective and support strong for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities and those learning English as an additional language, with carefully monitored intervention plans. The findings covered both protection and access to learning.

In July 2022, staff knew children closely and children developed strong attachments to them. Parents received photographs and daily updates online, alongside termly parents' evenings; learning bags carried activities home for families to share. Communication therefore extended beyond a summary of the nursery day.

Freshly prepared meals came from the nursery cook in July 2022, and parents could take recipe cards home. Discussions and visual resources also helped children learn about oral care and healthy eating.

Leadership work in July 2022 included reviewing practice and supporting staff development. Managers tested safeguarding knowledge with scenarios and questions, while staff assessed risks and helped children begin to recognise risks themselves.

The address is The Hill Top Centre, Edlington Lane, Edlington, Doncaster, DN12 1PL. Opening hours are 7.30am to 6pm, Monday to Friday, and the nursery opens all year.

In July 2022, session times ran from 7.30am to 6pm. At that time, the nursery also provided funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-olds. These are historical attendance and funding details, separate from the current opening window.

• The age of the assessment. The Outstanding judgement dates to July 2022. Families should weigh its detailed findings as an account of practice at that time.
• Matching the nursery to your week. The opening window runs from 7.30am to 6pm on weekdays. At a visit, which booking pattern, funded-hours arrangement and written quotation would fit your child's attendance, including meals and consumables?

The July 2022 account makes Buttons worth considering for parents who value practical outdoor learning, language development and activities that connect nursery with home. Its July 2022 assessment provides substantial reasons to consider it: child-led choices, planting experiences and purposeful parent communication all had concrete examples. The weekday opening window also makes it relevant to families planning care around working hours.