Tops Day Nurseries: Gillingham Nursery

Garden bug hunts and children choosing new equipment give Tops Day Nurseries: Gillingham Nursery a practical, participatory character in its July 2023 account of daily life. Based at Middlefield House on Marlott Road, it has capacity for 92 children aged 3 to 60 months.

At its 3 July 2023 inspection, Ofsted rated the nursery Good and found safeguarding effective; compulsory Childcare Register suitability requirements were not met, with actions. The strongest examples involved children doing things for themselves: sharing resources, helping with meals and making choices about their surroundings.

The early years foundation stage is the required framework for children's learning, development and care; here, its inspection-era examples included learning through play, conversation and practical tasks. In July 2023, older children used pictures of insects to record their garden discoveries with pens and clipboards. That brought early writing into an activity with a clear purpose. In July 2023, staff also planned learning around children's existing knowledge and skills, using assessments to decide what to introduce next. The insect activity illustrates how this worked: children had something to investigate and a reason to make marks on paper. Learning connected an outdoor discovery with recording it, giving the writing task a subject children could see and explore.

Children also took part in the school council, helping select toys and equipment in July 2023. Their choices had a concrete subject. In July 2023, practitioners encouraged children to express preferences and contribute their ideas, so participation extended beyond choosing an activity for themselves. Equipment decisions gave those conversations a shared purpose. Staff also developed vocabulary by talking about children's play, introducing words and asking questions. Those exchanges linked language to what children were doing, while the separate concern about younger children's singing sessions showed where this work needed strengthening. Older children used timers to take turns, while younger children explored caring for one another through pretend play with blankets and tents.

Independence ran through ordinary routines in July 2023. Children served themselves water and used tissues and mirrors to manage their noses. These were small, repeated opportunities to practise looking after themselves, rather than leaving every task to an adult.

At the July 2023 inspection, Ofsted found that children made good progress and that the special educational needs coordinator worked with families, colleagues and outside agencies to support individual needs. That joined support at nursery to the people involved beyond it.

In July 2023, staff supported daily toothbrushing and discussed food, teeth and exercise with children. Toilet training involved parents too, with books and toys supplied to help continue the work at home. Practical resources made that cooperation tangible. In July 2023, the health conversations went beyond reminders: older children discussed the effects of sugar on teeth, while staff helped children understand how exercise affected their bodies. Alongside brushing teeth and practising toilet routines, these discussions connected everyday care with reasons children could begin to understand. The books and toys for home also gave parents something concrete to use between nursery days.

School preparation also involved cooperation in July 2023: staff worked with parents and local schools on children's transition. This was support for the move to school, rather than a claim about admission to any particular school.

The address is Tops Nursery, Middlefield House, Marlott Road, Gillingham, SP8 4FA. Opening hours are 7am to 7pm, Monday to Friday, across the year, with closures on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Years Day.

In July 2023, the nursery provided funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-olds. Families should obtain current prices in the nursery's written quotation.

• Quieter learning. In July 2023, older children needed more opportunities to learn away from busier surroundings. On a visit, look at how listening and concentration are supported.
• Younger children's language. Song sessions in July 2023 did not make full use of opportunities to develop younger children's speech. Ask how practitioners now use singing to extend communication.
• Planning the childcare bill. Opening hours span the working day, and funded education formed part of the July 2023 offer. What attendance arrangement and funded-hours terms would apply to your child, including meals and consumables?

Gillingham suits families interested in practical learning and children taking an active role in everyday routines. Its July 2023 examples give that preference substance, from recording insects to choosing equipment. The Good judgement provides a dated assessment; quieter learning for older children and richer song sessions for younger ones remain useful subjects for a visit.