Ladybirds Neighbourhood Nursery

A pretend coffee shop and a wet-tarpaulin slide give Ladybirds Neighbourhood Nursery a recognisable character: children's interests shape play, and adults help them explore manageable risks. Both were part of daily life in September 2024 at Ladybirds, based in Runcorn's Halton Lodge Children's Centre.

At its September 2024 inspection, Ofsted rated the nursery Good and found that its ambitious curriculum helped children stay curious, participate and make progress. The current age range is 2 to 60 months. The strongest practical examples concern language, imaginative play and emotional support, alongside two clear priorities for improving assessment and evaluating teaching strategies.

The early years foundation stage sets expectations for children's learning, development and care: play, communication and growing independence belong together in the nursery day.

In September 2024, staff adapted activities to children's interests. When autumn play prompted an interest in making hot drinks, they introduced a pretend coffee shop. This gave children another way to develop imaginative play.

Language received deliberate attention. During that same month, practitioners talked through children's play, asked questions and introduced vocabulary for children to try themselves. Outdoors, adults joined children in puddle suits to slide down a hill on wet tarpaulin. The activity gave children practice in considering risks with an adult nearby.

In September 2024, children had a main key person and a second practitioner who could step in. Staff knew children's individual needs and offered emotional support, making continuity of relationships a useful part of the care arrangements. A structured progression between rooms helped children understand their surroundings and settle into changes.

At the September 2024 inspection, Ofsted found safeguarding effective and SEND support effective, with staff agreeing targets and plans with parents while children awaited further professional help. This meant support could begin before that additional input arrived.

Other September 2024 examples included activities for parents led by partner agencies on healthy living and oral health, online training for staff, and explanations that helped children understand rules. However, assessment information was not understood consistently by every key person, limiting how precisely learning could be tailored.

The address is Halton Lodge Children's Centre, Grangeway, Runcorn, WA7 5LU. The nursery operates throughout the year, closing for bank holidays and one week at Christmas.

In September 2024, opening hours ran from 8am to 6pm, Monday to Friday. At that time, the nursery offered government-funded places for children aged nine months to four years.

• Assessment and next steps. In September 2024, some key persons needed a clearer understanding of assessment information. Ask how observations now translate into your child's next learning steps.
• Checking what works. The September 2024 improvement priorities included evaluating curriculum strategies more closely. Families should look for concrete examples of how staff judge whether an activity is helping their child.
• Care for younger babies. The current age range begins at 2 months, while children attending in September 2024 were aged 1 to 4. Ask how settling and daily care are organised for a younger baby.

Ladybirds suits families who value learning shaped by children's interests, purposeful conversation and support from familiar practitioners. Its September 2024 examples make those priorities tangible. The September 2024 priorities on assessment and evaluation give families specific points to explore in relation to their child's individual needs.