Wind In The Willows

A house built from tyres and drainpipes, shared stories and babies exploring household objects give Wind In The Willows its character in August 2021. This Gamesley nursery has capacity for 20 children and accepts ages from 4 to 60 months.

At its August 2021 inspection, Ofsted judged the nursery Good, found safeguarding effective and reported good progress towards children's next stages, including school. That judgement is dated: the practical learning examples below belong to August 2021.

In August 2021, babies explored spoons, sponges and pasta-filled bottles, handling different textures and turning objects in their hands. Staff rearranged furniture and introduced equipment to encourage early walking. These were concrete opportunities to explore movement and touch.

Stories brought toddlers and older children together that month. Familiar passages encouraged children to join in, while conversations about books introduced the different jobs of authors and illustrators. The early years foundation stage provides the framework for learning, development and care: here, the dated examples show children learning through play, stories, conversation and physical exploration.

Outdoor play in August 2021 included building a house from tyres, plastic sheets, crates and drainpipes, then incorporating it into imaginative play. A bug hotel activity involved selecting boxes, comparing their sizes and working out how to join them. Both examples gave children something tangible to build together.

There were limits to this approach. In August 2021, materials were sometimes cleared between meals and outdoor time, interrupting opportunities to revisit new skills; adult questions also sometimes left too little room for children to develop and explain their own ideas.

In August 2021, younger children's routines reflected their individual needs and home patterns. Familiar adults offered cuddles and reassurance. For a young child, that continuity connects care at home with care at nursery.

Older children that month reminded one another about agreed behaviour rules and concentrated during group discussions about the weather and days of the week. Staff also identified gaps in learning and planned activities to address them, rather than giving every child the same next step.

The address is 59 Glossop Road, Gamesley, Glossop, SK13 6JH. Opening hours are 7.30am to 6pm, Monday to Friday, across the year, with bank holiday closures.

In August 2021, session times ran from 7.30am to 6pm and funded early education covered children aged two, three and four. That funding information describes the offer at that date.

• Time to revisit learning. Activities were sometimes cleared too soon in August 2021. Ask how children now return to unfinished construction and practise newly learned skills.
• Children's own ideas. Adult questioning sometimes restricted independent thinking in August 2021. Look for conversations that give children space to explain their choices.
• Care for the youngest children. The accepted age range starts at 4 months, while the August 2021 examples describe sensory exploration and home-linked routines. How would settling and daily care be organised for your baby's age?

Wind In The Willows suits families seeking a small nursery with an inspection-era emphasis on shared storytelling, practical construction and familiar care routines. Its weekday opening window supports families needing care across the working day. The August 2021 examples have substance, but opportunities to repeat learning and express independent ideas are the key points to explore.