Merseybank Nursery

Chickens, giant chalk and journeys to the library give Merseybank Nursery's February 2024 account its character: children had opportunities to explore, care for animals and experience their local community. This Glossop setting has capacity for 71 children aged 3 to 60 months.

At its February 2024 inspection, Ofsted rated the nursery Good overall and found safeguarding effective. The practical strengths were accompanied by two clear priorities: more chances for children to do things themselves, and more thinking time when adults asked questions.

The early years foundation stage sets the requirements for children's learning, development and care; here, its February 2024 examples included counting during play, storytelling and exploring outdoors. Numbers were woven into activities through comparisons of size and conversations about shapes, giving mathematical language a practical purpose.

In February 2024, Makaton sign language accompanied nursery rhymes, linking gestures with the words children sang. Footy Cub classes provided physical activity through an outside agency. Bus journeys and train trips to the local library extended experiences beyond the nursery, with children choosing books to take back.

Outdoors that February, children splashed in puddles, made marks with oversized chalk and considered how water changed the colours. Feeding sweetcorn to the chickens brought care for living things into the day. These were concrete experiences rather than learning confined to adult-led discussion.

In February 2024, staff spent time getting to know children and used their interests to plan activities. Adults encouraged sharing and turn-taking through gentle explanations and praise, making everyday interactions part of learning how to live alongside others.

At the February 2024 inspection, Ofsted found that children with special educational needs and/or disabilities received early support, with parents and external professionals involved in targeted plans and participation across the curriculum.

School preparation that February included choosing resources, handwashing and using the toilet independently. However, adults sometimes intervened too soon with coat zips and wiping noses. The distinction matters: helping a child complete a task can also remove an opportunity to practise it.

Merseybank Nursery's address is Mersey Bank Day Nursery, Mersey Bank Lodge, Chapel Lane, Glossop, SK13 1PG.

In February 2024, the nursery operated throughout the year on weekdays, with session times of 7.30am to 5.45pm. It then provided funded early education for children aged two, three and four. These are dated arrangements rather than a description of today's booking terms.

• Independence in everyday care. Adults sometimes completed small tasks for children in February 2024. On a visit, look at how children are encouraged to attempt coats and personal care themselves.
• Time to answer. Questions sometimes followed too quickly that February. Notice whether practitioners pause and let children form their own responses.
• Your attendance pattern. How would the nursery organise sessions and funded hours around your family's intended routine?

Merseybank suits parents who value practical outdoor experiences and communication woven into play. Its February 2024 account combines chickens, Makaton and community journeys with individual planning. The balance to examine is how those adult-led interactions leave room for children's own answers and attempts.