Inside Out Day Nursery

Play, conversation and room to move shape the day at Inside Out Day Nursery, based in Providence Church on Mellor Road in New Mills. Children can follow their own interests with open-ended resources, spend time outdoors and pause for rest when they need it. The routine provides structure while allowing activities to change with children’s energy and interests.

The nursery has capacity for 70 children, with a current age range from birth to five. At its May 2023 inspection, Ofsted rated it Good overall and found safeguarding effective. That is a dated assessment of practice, rather than a description of every aspect of the nursery today.

Attendance can combine a full day with flexible hourly bookings or term-time sessions. The choice between term-time and stretched funding also gives families different ways to organise childcare around their working year.

Learning and Activities

The EYFS guides children’s learning and care, including communication and language, social skills and physical development; children build these skills through play, conversation and everyday activities. Practitioners work alongside children, extending an idea or joining an activity rather than relying solely on activities directed by adults. Open-ended resources allow children to decide how to use them and what to explore.

Morning play combines children’s own choices with adult support. In the afternoon, activities respond to their interests and energy levels. This makes the routine useful for children who need a familiar pattern but whose appetite for active play changes during the day.

In May 2023, language, social development and physical coordination were central to the learning planned across the nursery’s rooms. Babies had furniture positioned to support their attempts to pull themselves upright. Play with model sea creatures introduced unfamiliar vocabulary and conversations about what the animals ate. These examples show how movement and talk could grow from an ordinary play activity.

There were also clear teaching improvements to make in May 2023. Some activities carried too many intended outcomes, making the teaching less precise. Adults sometimes substituted diminutives for accurate words, while mathematical conversations concentrated on numbers and counting more than shape or size. These were specific weaknesses in how activities were used, rather than a reason to overlook the useful experiences children received.

Outdoor and Community Life

Outdoor play is a regular part of the current routine, giving children opportunities for movement and exploration beyond indoor activities. In May 2023, children investigated leaves through touch, and staff used a child-initiated game of hide-and-seek to extend counting. The practical value was the connection between children’s curiosity and the learning adults brought into their play.

Relationships and Communication

Information passes between parents and practitioners at the beginning and end of the day. Staff support children as they settle, then share important moments with families before children go home. That gives parents a daily connection with their child’s experiences and helps link home routines with nursery life.

Rest is part of the timetable too. Younger children, and others who need a break, have calm spaces for sleeping or resting; quieter activities offer another way to pause. The provision accommodates different energy levels rather than treating the afternoon as uninterrupted active play.

Inclusion and Wellbeing

A SENCO lead role covers identifying needs, working with families and external professionals, and reviewing individual support plans. The team’s training includes paediatric first aid, food allergy awareness and safe sleep, alongside speech and language support training for younger children. These are concrete staff responsibilities and training areas, rather than a blanket assurance about care.

At the May 2023 inspection, Ofsted found that staff worked with families on consistent strategies for children with SEND and recognised when children needed help managing their emotions. In May 2023, familiar activities helped children calm down and return to the group. The useful detail for parents is the combination of family involvement and responses tailored to a child’s needs.

Seasonal meals follow a four-week cycle, with fruit and vegetables offered daily and freshly prepared purées progressing towards lumpier food as babies become ready. Parents are involved in decisions about introducing meat and fish and moving through weaning stages, so food texture can develop alongside the child’s readiness.

Sessions and Attendance

The address is Providence Church, Mellor Road, New Mills, High Peak, SK22 4DP. Telephone enquiries go to 01663 742226, and a viewing can be booked.

A Full Day runs from 7.30am to 6pm. The funded-hours opening window is 8am to 6pm, Monday to Friday, with an Early Morning Start from 7.30am to 8am. Flexible hourly care has no fixed session boundaries; paid hourly bookings require at least six hours unless used with funding. This distinction matters for families comparing a complete day with a shorter, funded arrangement.

Term-time sessions, flexible day bookings and bookings arranged around shift work are also offered. The nursery operates across the year, closing for bank holidays. School collection covers New Mills Primary School only; this is a collection service, rather than an admissions relationship.

Funding and Paid Extras

Funded childcare includes Nursery Education Grant provision for children aged two, three and four, with 15 - 30 hours of funded sessions. Families can use up to 30 funded hours a week in term time, paying separately for attendance during school holidays, or stretch funding across 51 weeks to receive 22 hours and 35 minutes each week. A maximum of 10 funded hours can be claimed per child per day.

Extra hours beyond the funded entitlement are paid childcare. Healthy snacks are free; nursery meals are charged separately, or families can send healthy food that complies with the nursery’s food policies, including its allergy precautions. The same meal choices apply when using funded childcare.

Nappies are supplied for children attending the setting. Current prices come in the nursery’s written quotation; the funding and price information explains the attendance options and meal charging structure.

• Teaching precision. In May 2023, improvement points concerned accurate vocabulary, mathematics beyond counting and clearer aims for activities. During a viewing, ask how these changes now shape everyday play.
• The booking pattern. The Full Day starts at 7.30am, while the funded-hours window starts at 8am, and paid hourly bookings have a minimum unless combined with funding. Discuss the exact pattern you need, especially for shift work.
• Food choices. Nursery meals attract a separate charge, while healthy snacks are free and food from home must meet nursery policies. Families managing allergies should confirm current food-handling arrangements before choosing either option.

Inside Out suits families seeking either a full day or flexible, term-time attendance, with funding that can follow the school year or be spread across it. Its current routine combines child-led play, regular outdoor time, rest and daily communication with parents. The May 2023 Good judgement provides a useful quality benchmark, alongside concrete teaching improvements that deserve attention when choosing the setting. The decision rests on both parts: how the day fits your child and how the attendance pattern fits your family.