Cherubs Mapperley

Weekly Explorers sessions and preschool sports coaching give Cherubs Mapperley a clear outdoor and physical thread. Children explore nature either at the nursery or out in the community, while older children try sports including fencing, cricket and football. These are concrete additions to the day, with opportunities to investigate, move and play alongside friends.

The nursery occupies 400 Westdale Lane in Mapperley, Nottingham, and has capacity for 73 children aged one month to five years. At its 20 December 2022 inspection, Ofsted rated it Good overall. That judgement belongs to that visit; the detail beneath it includes purposeful sensory play, storytelling and practical independence, alongside improvements required in older babies’ learning, waiting times and communication with parents.

A Family Room gives parents a private space for breastfeeding or informal meetings. Opening hours run from 7.30am to 6pm on weekdays.

Rooms and Ages

The Baby Unit emphasises exploration through a carefully arranged environment intended to engage very young children. The Toddler Unit combines activities led by practitioners with physical play, quieter moments and opportunities for children to develop their own pretend play. Pre-School has an open layout, accessible resources and self-service at meals, with a more structured routine supporting independence before school.

These descriptions show a progression in the nursery day: exploration for the youngest children, increasing choice for toddlers, and more responsibility for preschool children. The practical detail matters more than the stage labels. Resources within reach and opportunities to serve food give children something specific to practise for themselves.

Learning and Activities

The early years foundation stage connects learning, development and care: children build skills through play, conversation and everyday routines. Alongside that framework, the group-wide approach draws on Montessori, Hygge, Reggio and Forest School, influencing room arrangements, daily organisation and how practitioners plan learning. These are influences on the nursery’s approach, rather than a replacement for the framework.

Explorers makes the nature element tangible. Its weekly sessions use Forest School principles to give children opportunities to investigate natural surroundings through exploration, construction and play. Sessions can happen within the setting or in the community, so the programme is broader than time in the garden alone.

Sports Coaching is a weekly preschool activity introducing children to different forms of movement through football, fencing and cricket. The variety gives older children several ways to participate rather than making one sport the centre of the offer.

In December 2022, babies handled sensory tubes, toddlers made temporary artwork with loose materials, and preschool children acted out We're Going on a Bear Hunt outdoors. Stories also prompted conversations about textures and descriptive words. The examples show how handling objects, imaginative play and language could work together; however, older babies needed more consistent support to remain engaged in learning.

Outdoor and Community Life

The garden accommodates climbing, energetic play and storytelling, with its daily arrangement responding to children’s interests. That makes the outdoor area part of the learning environment as well as a place to move.

In December 2022, outings included local shops and the library, giving children opportunities to meet people beyond the nursery. These visits sat alongside sports sessions with a coach. The current weekly Explorers programme provides a separate, continuing connection between nature and the nursery day.

Relationships and Communication

Blossom Educational Software allows families to view their child’s learning and nursery experiences through a smartphone app and add their own contributions. Its practical value is the two-way exchange: parents can see what has happened and share information from home.

In December 2022, staff also offered families ideas for extending learning at home, but information about children’s next learning goals sometimes reached parents late. The distinction matters. A useful account of the day and timely information about what a child is working towards serve different purposes.

The Family Room offers space for private family needs as well as informal conversations. It can also be used by parents waiting for their child, including those wanting to work or have a hot drink.

Inclusion and Wellbeing

At the December 2022 inspection, Ofsted found safeguarding effective and reported that children with special educational needs and/or disabilities were helped to access services, with timely referrals supporting their welfare. Those findings are dated judgements, rather than a promise about every child’s present experience.

During December 2022, children practised personal care, helped prepare tables and took part in yoga led by staff. Everyday responsibilities gave them opportunities to participate in looking after themselves and their surroundings. Organisation was less consistent between activities and around meals, when children sometimes spent too long waiting.

A chef based at the nursery prepares meals, with menus changing on a three-week seasonal cycle and including Meat Free Monday. Dietary needs, including allergies and intolerances, are catered for.

Sessions and Attendance

Cherubs Mapperley opens Monday to Friday, from 7.30am until 6pm. It operates across the year, closing for bank holidays and one week at Christmas. Those closures matter for families arranging care through the working year, especially where annual leave needs to be planned ahead.

The nursery’s address is 400 Westdale Lane, Mapperley, Nottingham NG3 6DG. Direct nursery enquiries can be made on 0115 8556400.

Getting There

Regular buses serve the surrounding area, and the location has direct access to the A52 and A60. These connections make the address relevant both to local families and those combining childcare with a commute.

• Older babies’ learning. In December 2022, staff needed further support to keep older babies consistently involved in learning. On a visit, ask how activities are adapted for children moving beyond the youngest baby stage.
• Waiting and learning updates. December 2022 improvements included reducing pauses between activities and meals, and sharing children’s next learning goals promptly. Ask how these routines now work alongside updates through Blossom Educational Software.
• Your attendance and cost plan. Weekday opening hours span 7.30am to 6pm, with bank-holiday and Christmas closures. Which booking pattern fits your week, and how are funded hours, meals and consumables itemised in your written quotation?

Cherubs Mapperley suits families who value physical activity, nature-based exploration and opportunities for children to take increasing responsibility. Weekly Explorers and Sports Coaching make that character concrete, while the Family Room and Blossom Educational Software give parents useful ways to stay involved.

The Good judgement from December 2022 provides a dated assessment, with clear qualifications around older babies’ engagement, waiting and learning updates. Families choosing this nursery should weigh those points alongside its weekday opening window and year-round calendar. The strongest appeal is the combination of active experiences and practical independence.