Whickham Cottage Nursery

Ice blocks, hammers and pasta threading give Whickham Cottage Nursery a recognisable character: practical exploration alongside small steps towards independence. These were activities in September 2023, when children experimented with tools, took turns in games and learnt to look after their toys. The detail matters more than a broad promise of learning through play.

At its September 2023 inspection, Ofsted rated the nursery Good and found that children progressed well from their starting points, with effective safeguarding arrangements. There were also two clear priorities: sharper learning intentions for individual children and more opportunities for children to express themselves.

The nursery has capacity for 108 children, with an age range of two months to five years. Full-day, morning and afternoon bookings give families different ways to use the setting.

The early years foundation stage sets the framework for children's learning, development and care, bringing play, communication and everyday independence into the nursery day. In September 2023, learning included counting, comparing shapes and exploring measurements during activities and routines. Mathematical ideas were put to use rather than kept separate from play.

Hands-on experiences gave children something concrete to investigate. In September 2023, children used hammers to explore breaking ice, while discussion about safe handling linked discovery with responsibility. Babies threaded dry pasta; other children worked dough or chose pens and paper for mark-making. These activities exercised the hand movements needed for later writing and self-care.

Books and songs supplied another strand. In September 2023, staff revisited familiar stories, sang rhymes and encouraged children to join in with remembered phrases. Repetition gave children a way into shared storytelling. A lotto game also provided practice in matching pictures and numbers, waiting and taking turns with friends.

The improvement priorities put useful limits on that positive picture. In September 2023, staff sometimes lacked clarity about what an individual child should learn from an activity, and conversation did not consistently give children enough opportunity to contribute. For parents, the distinction is between a busy day and a day with a clear next step for their child.

Relationships with families were a substantial part of care in September 2023. Staff gathered information from parents when children started, then exchanged updates at the beginning and end of the day and through an app. That combination connected home information with planning and gave parents more than a single channel for following their child's experience.

Everyday independence was taught through small actions. In September 2023, staff guided younger babies through putting toys away and explained to older children why sharing or careful listening mattered. Playful practice with gripping and lifting spoons also helped babies work towards feeding themselves.

Food had a practical place in the day too. In September 2023, a cook working on site prepared fresh meals, and staff talked with children about what they were eating. The current charging arrangements distinguish nursery meals from the prepared baby food and formula that parents supply until their baby can manage the blended menu.

Sessions and Attendance

The address is Nursery House, Sands Road, Swalwell, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE16 3DN. Opening hours run from 7.30am to 6pm, Monday to Friday; the contact form and general telephone number, 0191 4960016, provide enquiry routes.

Full Day bookings run from 8am to 6pm for one to four days a week; Full Time means five full days with the same hours. Morning Session bookings run from 8am to 1pm, and Afternoon Session bookings from 1pm to 6pm. A 7.30am start can be requested for an additional charge, making the early opening an extra rather than part of the standard day.

The nursery operates for 51 weeks, closing from Christmas Day to New Years Day inclusive and on public bank holidays. Families need to account for that Christmas break when planning care.

Funding and Paid Extras

Funded hours are offered, with terms referring to 15 / 30 hours. Meals attract a separate charge alongside funded hours; for privately paid sessions, breakfast and lunch are included in the morning, afternoon tea in the afternoon, and all three in a full day. Parents supply prepared baby food and formula until babies can accept the blended menu, as well as nappies, wipes and creams.

Fees are invoiced monthly and paid in advance. Booked open days remain chargeable when a child is absent through illness or holiday, and missed days cannot be exchanged or credited against extra attendance. A retainer is offset against the first month's fees but is not refunded if the family declines the place. Current prices come in the nursery's written quotation.

• Individual learning and conversation. The September 2023 priorities concerned clearer next steps and more chances for children to speak. At a visit, ask how these now shape activities for your child.
• Christmas cover and missed days. The Christmas closure needs separate care planning, while illness and holidays on booked open days remain chargeable. This matters for families whose working calendar changes.
• Settling arrangements. The September 2023 account described staff gathering detailed information from families at the start. How would settling visits and the key-person relationship work for your child?

Whickham Cottage Nursery suits families seeking either full-day attendance or shorter morning and afternoon sessions, with an optional earlier start. Its September 2023 account offers concrete examples of practical play, early independence and parent communication. The clearest question for a visit is how those experiences now connect to individual learning goals and give each child room to speak.