Kids Planet Fazakerley

Separate outdoor areas, Udeskole accreditation and the Kids Planet Eco Award give Kids Planet Fazakerley an outdoor identity worth exploring. On Field Lane in Liverpool, this nursery cares for babies through to preschool children and has 88 places in total. The physical separation of its outdoor spaces is a useful detail for parents comparing how younger and older children spend time outside.

At its March 2023 inspection, Ofsted rated the nursery Good, judged safeguarding effective and recognised strong literacy provision, while identifying a need for more opportunities to develop mathematical understanding and vocabulary. That gives families a clear educational question to take into their decision: how does number learning now sit alongside books and stories?

Full-day, morning and afternoon attendance are offered, alongside hourly care.

Learning and Activities

The early years foundation stage provides the framework for children's learning, development and care: everyday play supports communication, movement, relationships and early learning. Outdoor accreditation sits alongside that framework rather than replacing it. Fazakerley has Udeskole accreditation, although the practical question for a visit is how that accreditation shapes children's activities. Its Kids Planet Eco Award adds another reason to explore the environmental side of the day.

In March 2023, babies explored a water tray and practised standing and balancing while holding on. Older children followed a sports coach's movement instructions, combining physical activity with listening. These examples show different developmental demands: a baby gaining control of their body and an older child responding to a shared activity.

Books also had a physical place in the day. In March 2023, each room contained a quiet space where children could share books with an adult or look at them independently. The mathematical provision was less consistent: opportunities involving number were restricted, and adults did not regularly demonstrate mathematical vocabulary. The improvement required more opportunities to explore mathematical concepts and hear mathematical language.

Outdoor and Community Life

Separate outdoor areas are part of the current setting. For families comparing nursery environments, that is a more concrete starting point than an outdoor-learning slogan: it makes the organisation of outdoor play a useful part of a tour.

In March 2023, children used a telescope during an imaginative treasure hunt and practised crossing a bridge with adult encouragement. Staff followed ideas that children introduced into their play. Indoors, children added twigs to a pretend cake made with dough, drawing earlier experiences into a new activity. Exploration connected movement, imagination and conversation.

Relationships and Communication

The group-wide Famly app is used at Fazakerley for updates as children's days unfold. This offers a practical connection between nursery and home, especially for parents whose children cannot yet tell them much about their activities. Sports activities are also included within the group's fee package at this branch.

In March 2023, staff used their knowledge of their key children, assessments and children's interests to adjust the environment and plan subsequent learning. The important mechanism was responsiveness: what interested a child could influence the resources and experiences they encountered next.

Everyday independence received attention too. In March 2023, children practised managing coats and shoes, pouring drinks and handling eating utensils; younger children used spoons to feed themselves. Adults praised and encouraged children as they attempted activities. These small routines gave children opportunities to practise skills they could also use at home.

Inclusion and Wellbeing

At the March 2023 inspection, Ofsted found that communication assessments and screening informed targeted support for children with SEND, with parents and other professionals involved where needed. That is a concrete support mechanism, rather than a general promise of inclusion: identifying a difficulty led to activities directed towards it.

In March 2023, adults helped children handle disagreements over toys and understand that their turn would come. Leaders also supported staff through training, supervision and observation of colleagues' practice. For parents, these details put relationships and staff development alongside the physical facilities when assessing care.

Freshly prepared snacks and meals cater for dietary needs. They are included in private fees, while meals are charged separately on days when early years funding is applied.

Sessions and Attendance

The nursery opens Monday to Friday, from 7am to 6pm, across 52 weeks of the year, with bank holidays excluded. Its address is Field Lane, Liverpool, L10 0AG, on the corner with Copplehouse Lane.

A Full Day runs from 7am to 6pm. Morning attendance runs from 7am to 1pm, while Afternoon attendance runs from 1pm to 6pm. A Full Time option uses the same daily window as Full Day, and ad hoc hourly care is also offered. The funded hourly option has an 8am to 6pm window, which differs from the nursery's opening hours.

These patterns serve different family routines. Morning attendance includes the earlier part of the day; afternoon attendance starts later; the full-day window covers both. The distinction matters when matching nursery care to work, family commitments or a gradual increase in attendance.

Enquiries can be made by telephone or email, and tours can be booked. Applications also have an online route.

Funding and Paid Extras

Funded childcare and privately paid care are both offered. Current prices come in the nursery's written quotation.

The group's all-inclusive private fee package at Fazakerley includes formula, wipes, nappies and sun cream, as well as food and sports activities. On days with early years funding applied, meals, consumables and activities are charged separately. The additional-charge structure distinguishes between shorter attendance and longer days, so the relevant comparison is the complete booking cost for a family's chosen pattern.

Private fees and funded-day charges therefore need to be read together. A family combining funded childcare with paid attendance should distinguish the childcare hours from food, everyday supplies and activities when considering the total quotation.

• Mathematical learning. In March 2023, number experiences and mathematical vocabulary needed more attention. During a visit, ask how counting and mathematical conversation now feature alongside books and stories.
• Outdoor accreditation. Udeskole accreditation and the Kids Planet Eco Award sit alongside separate outdoor areas. Ask how the accreditation and award translate into activities for your child's stage of development.
• Funded-day extras. Meals, consumables and activities attract separate charges on days using early years funding. Compare a written quotation for your intended attendance pattern, including each of those categories.

Kids Planet Fazakerley suits families choosing between full-day care and shorter morning or afternoon attendance, with hourly care adding another option. Its separate outdoor areas and environmental credentials give it a recognisable character, while the March 2023 findings provide concrete examples of physical exploration, independence and targeted support. Mathematical learning is the educational point to explore closely. The financial decision rests on distinguishing the private fee package from funded-day extras.