Hollies St Mary's

Stories, conversation and small discoveries give Hollies St Mary's its character: in April 2026, babies copied sounds from Farmyard Tales, while outdoor exploration included searching for caterpillars with magnifiers. These are concrete examples of learning woven into play.

At its April 2026 inspection, Ofsted judged achievement, behaviour and routines, welfare, curriculum and teaching, inclusion, and leadership to meet the Expected standard, with safeguarding standards met. The nursery has 29 places in total. Children attending at that inspection were aged 1 to 2; that is a dated picture of attendance.

In April 2026, stories helped children practise sounds, water play introduced comparisons of size, and counting accompanied a caterpillar-feeding activity. The early years foundation stage provides the framework for learning, development and care: here, those examples show how play can bring language and early mathematics into the same day.

The baby room introduced routines associated with the toddler room, including sitting at a table to eat. Familiar experiences helped make the move between rooms less abrupt. Activities also drew on interests shared from home, including space-themed play, giving children a recognisable starting point for exploration.

Outdoor experiences in April 2026 included a climbing frame and bug hunts using magnifiers. Balance bikes had been introduced to support physical development. Visits to a local supermarket brought fruit and vegetables into children's learning beyond the nursery. However, some free-play activities stopped short of extending what children could do next. More precise planning was an improvement priority.

At the April 2026 inspection, Ofsted found that children, including those with SEND, made steady progress, with effective individual support through language screening, individual learning plans when needed, and signs and symbols to aid understanding. These mechanisms matter because support can address a specific communication difficulty rather than rely on a general activity.

In April 2026, settling sessions gathered information about children's existing skills and possible barriers to learning. Staff shared information about routines when moving between rooms, helping maintain continuity of care. Training and information shared with parents supported a consistent response to individual needs.

Daily toothbrushing and handwashing formed part of health education at that time. Personal care needed more consistent reinforcement, though: children did not reliably wash their hands after blowing their noses, and older children were not always encouraged to manage self-care independently.

The address is St. Marys Care Centre, on Hillingden Avenue in Liverpool, L26 9TY. In April 2026, opening hours were 8am to 5pm, Monday to Friday. These are dated opening hours rather than a session timetable.

• Learning during free play. More precise next-step planning was required in April 2026. At a visit, ask how staff now extend an activity when a child has mastered its first challenge.
• Independent personal care. April 2026 findings called for more consistent hygiene routines and encouragement of self-care. Ask how these habits are reinforced across the day.
• Attendance arrangements. The April 2026 picture was of children aged 1 to 2 attending a nursery opening from 8am to 5pm on weekdays. Which current age groups and booking arrangements would fit your child?

Hollies St Mary's merits consideration by families who value conversation, stories and practical exploration, and who want individual learning needs addressed through specific tools and plans. Its April 2026 strengths sit alongside clear work to do on extending free play and establishing independent personal care. Those two priorities should shape a visit.