Queens Gardens Childcare Centre

Wooden-block castles, animated storytelling and library resources that supported learning at home give Queens Gardens Childcare Centre a practical, play-led character in its October 2024 account of daily life. These are experiences children can build on: making something themselves, finding words for a story and taking learning home.

At its 3 October 2024 inspection, Ofsted rated the nursery Good, judged safeguarding effective and found that children with special educational needs and/or disabilities received well-coordinated support. The centre has capacity for 54 children, with an accepted age range of three months to five years.

The early years foundation stage sets the framework for children's learning, development and care, bringing play and everyday routines into their education. In October 2024, activities were planned around children's individual learning and care needs, rather than treating everyone as ready for the same task.

Wooden blocks became houses and castles as children pursued their own ideas. Younger children explored lift-the-flap books; older children dramatised an owl story, recalling its sequence and trying out new vocabulary. Musical instruments also provided opportunities to practise sharing and waiting for a turn.

Health learning had concrete examples. In October 2024, staff explained the connection between exercise and a faster heartbeat, alongside handwashing and toothbrushing. That linked healthy habits with an explanation children could understand.

In October 2024, babies' feeding and sleep routines followed their individual needs. Staff helped hesitant children explore gently and responded to babies' different ways of communicating. Older children played cooperatively and developed independence.

Family communication extended beyond a daily account. In October 2024, the nursery's library supported learning at home, while staff coordinated additional help with parents and professional services. Information was also shared with other settings attended by the same children, helping care remain consistent across different days.

School preparation included contacting the schools children were due to attend. This was transition work, helping the next setting understand the child.

The development of staff's teaching skills was the clear improvement priority in October 2024: leaders monitored education and children's progress, but had no further teaching-development plan in place. Safeguarding and first-aid training were already part of staff training.

The address is Queens Gardens Site, Wilberforce Drive, Hull, HU1 3DG. Opening hours are 8am to 5.45pm, Monday to Friday.

In October 2024, the nursery offered government-funded childcare places. That dated participation is useful context for families considering funded care, rather than a promise of a particular entitlement or attendance arrangement.

• Teaching development. The October 2024 improvement priority was a more deliberate approach to developing staff's teaching skills. On a visit, ask how that work now shapes activities and staff feedback.
• Individual baby routines. Feeding and sleeping followed babies' needs in October 2024. Discuss how your child's existing routine would fit into the nursery day.
• Attendance planning. The opening window runs from 8am to 5.45pm on weekdays. Which booking patterns and annual attendance calendar would apply to your family?

Queens Gardens suits families who value child-led construction, storytelling and continuity between home and nursery. Its October 2024 account gives concrete substance to that appeal, from wooden-block projects to library resources. Individual baby routines and coordinated additional support also matter, while the teaching-development priority deserves attention when choosing.