Big Adventures Childcare

A mud kitchen, a climbing wall and chicks hatching from eggs give Big Adventures Childcare's May 2022 daily life a recognisable character: practical play, physical challenges and chances to care for living things. This Skegness nursery has capacity for 43 children aged 2 to 60 months.

At its May 2022 inspection, Ofsted rated the nursery Good overall, while asking for more consistent teaching so staff could better extend children's existing knowledge and skills. That is the balance for parents: engaging experiences, with an identified need to strengthen how adults develop the learning within them.

The early years foundation stage sets the requirements for children's learning, development and care: play and everyday experiences are opportunities to develop communication, movement and independence.

In May 2022, babies used the outdoor mud kitchen for pretend cooking, while toddlers explored quantity by filling containers with sand and counting scoops. Preschool children tended chicks they had helped hatch. These were concrete experiences with different purposes, from imaginative play to early mathematics and care for animals.

A purpose-built stage also gave preschool children opportunities to sing in May 2022. Older babies tackled a climbing wall with staff nearby, and superhero play prompted children to invent roles and join games. Books brought another kind of participation: staff asked questions about stories, and children discussed the people who write and illustrate them.

Outdoor activity extended beyond the premises in May 2022. Children played outside daily and visited the beach, shops and nearby woodland, connecting nursery experiences with the wider community.

At the May 2022 inspection, Ofsted found safeguarding effective and described targeted day-to-day help for children with special educational needs or disabilities and developmental delays, with key persons discussing their development regularly with parents.

In May 2022, staff comforted children who were uncertain about separating from their parents and helped children practise sharing and taking turns. These small interactions matter alongside planned activities: learning to wait for a toy is part of learning to play with others.

Child-protection training and quizzes formed part of staff practice in May 2022. A locked front door and fingerprint entry system controlled access to the building at that time.

The address is 3 Saxby Avenue, Skegness, PE25 3JZ. Opening hours are 8am to 6pm, Monday to Friday, throughout the year.

In May 2022, the nursery provided funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-olds. That dated provision should be kept separate from a family's current funding and attendance arrangements.

• Teaching consistency. The May 2022 improvement priority concerned how staff extend children's learning. On a visit, ask how practitioners now decide the next step during play.
• Outdoor experiences. The May 2022 activities included climbing, caring for chicks and outings beyond the nursery. Consider how this practical style fits your child's interests.
• Attendance and funding. The weekday opening window spans 8am to 6pm. Ask which booking pattern and current funded-hours arrangement would fit your family.

Big Adventures Childcare suits families drawn to practical play and outdoor exploration, with weekday opening hours that can accommodate working routines. Its May 2022 picture combines imaginative activities, early independence and community outings with a clear teaching-development priority. Parents should weigh that dated picture alongside the nursery's present practice.