Highmore Hedgehogs Nursery

Cardboard birdhouses, rhythmic songs and experiments with sand and water give Highmore Hedgehogs Nursery's June 2023 provision a recognisable character: practical play with room for children to make choices. Based at Westfields Community Hall in Hereford, it has capacity for 30 children.

At its June 2023 inspection, Ofsted rated the nursery Good, judged safeguarding effective and found that children made good progress, including those receiving support for special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). Children attending then were aged two to four; that age range belongs to the inspection snapshot.

The nursery must follow the early years foundation stage, the framework for children's learning, development and care. In June 2023, this took practical form through stories, imaginative play and activities that developed movement and early mathematical understanding.

Children recognised their names on cards and joined familiar story refrains. A tambourine supplied rhythms for movement, while painting at an easel exercised younger children's arms. Older children constructed cardboard birdhouses, discussing how to join the pieces. These were opportunities to use language while making something together.

Outside, the garden supported exploration of capacity and size through filling and emptying containers. Children could choose their play, and staff used assessments and children's interests to decide what learning should follow.

In June 2023, key persons built relationships with children and their families, although time specifically devoted to their own key children needed strengthening. Parents contributed information about learning before nursery and activities at home; photographs and assessments in online learning records kept that exchange going.

Additional support included resources and extra staffing paid for through funding, alongside work with families and external agencies. Support for children learning English needed further development, especially opportunities to express needs and wishes.

Health arrangements in June 2023 included gathering dietary information and individual care plans, with a healthy-eating policy shared at induction. Staff supplied healthy snacks, but mealtime routines were not consistently used to extend learning.

The address is Westfields Community Hall, Highmore Street, Hereford, HR4 9PG.

In June 2023, the nursery operated Monday to Friday across 48 weeks of the year, with session times of 8am to 4pm. It also provided funded early education for children aged two, three and four. These arrangements describe that period.

• Key-person time. The June 2023 improvement priority was more time specifically with each practitioner's key children. Ask how that time now fits into the day.
• Learning through routines. In June 2023, everyday routines needed better organisation to extend learning. Mealtimes were one example, making this a useful topic for a visit.
• Communicating in English. The June 2023 findings called for more opportunities for children learning English to express what they wanted and needed. Discuss how this would work for your child.
• Attendance planning. The June 2023 session window was 8am to 4pm. What booking patterns and funded-hours arrangements would apply to your family now?

Highmore Hedgehogs will appeal to families who value hands-on play and an exchange of learning information between home and nursery. Its June 2023 provision combined creative construction, garden exploration and early literacy, with clear improvement priorities around individual key-person time, everyday routines and communication in English.