Gummy Bears Nursery & Out of School Club, Hilltop

Stories, minibeasts and outdoor construction give Hilltop's September 2023 nursery experience its character. Children developed their own role-play plots, explored insects and built with crates and planks. These were practical opportunities to talk, imagine and test physical skills.

At its September 2023 inspection, Ofsted rated the nursery Good and judged safeguarding effective. The setting has 90 places in total, with a current age range of 0 to 60 months. Its address is 231 Oxford Road, Gomersal, Cleckheaton, BD19 4PY.

The early years foundation stage sets the framework for children's learning, development and care: play and everyday interaction help children develop language, relationships and physical skills.

In September 2023, toddler-room activities connected songs about minibeasts with books and discoveries outside. That gave children different ways to explore the same subject. Preschool role play encouraged children to invent stories, while outdoor construction involved crates and plank obstacle courses. Babies used books outdoors and practised negotiating steps to reach the outdoor space.

Language teaching was uneven. In September 2023, baby-room staff needed to describe children's play more and introduce vocabulary, rather than rely on questions. This matters because conversation with babies also needs adults to supply words for what is happening.

In September 2023, key persons combined their observations with information from parents to plan each child's next learning steps. Settling and room transitions included support from familiar staff and opportunities for parents to talk with them. When disagreements arose, older children were encouraged to explain their feelings before returning to play.

At the September 2023 inspection, Ofsted found that children made good progress and that staff worked with parents over learning or behaviour concerns, and staff understood referral routes to external agencies. However, individual learning priorities were not consistently passed from key persons to other practitioners in the room. A child's support should continue when a different adult takes over.

The nursery opens Monday to Friday, from 7.30am to 6pm, throughout the year, closing on bank holidays. This opening window gives families scope to fit childcare around the working day.

In September 2023, the setting offered funded early education for two- and three-year-old children.

• Baby language development. September 2023 brought a recommendation to improve adults' commentary during babies' play. During a visit, ask how practitioners now build vocabulary in everyday interactions.
• Continuity between adults. Sharing individual learning priorities beyond the key person was another September 2023 improvement point. Ask how room staff keep that information consistent.
• Attendance and costs. With opening hours spanning 7.30am to 6pm, which booking patterns and funded-hours arrangements would suit your family, and what would the written quotation include?

Hilltop suits families seeking childcare across the working week, with year-round opening. Its September 2023 picture combined imaginative play, hands-on outdoor activity and individual planning. The useful distinction for parents is between those strengths and the two specific improvements: richer language interaction for babies and better sharing of children's learning priorities.