Mosscroft Childcare

Water play, songs and an on-site library give Mosscroft Childcare's June 2023 picture its character: babies washed toy cars, while older children tested which objects floated. This is childcare at Hilltop Childrens Centre in Huyton, with capacity for 51 children in total.

At its June 2023 inspection, Ofsted rated the nursery Good, found safeguarding effective and judged that children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) made good progress. The children attending then were aged 0 to 4. Those findings describe that period rather than today's daily arrangements.

The early years foundation stage sets expectations for children's learning and care, with play providing opportunities to develop language, physical skills and understanding. In June 2023, practical exploration made that learning tangible: water became a way to investigate floating, and scooping pasta became an opportunity to count.

Mathematics also reached the meal table that June. Children counted their companions and worked out how many plates were needed. These were useful connections between numbers and everyday tasks, rather than counting detached from a purpose.

Conversation, singing and vocabulary-building threaded through play in June 2023. Staff introduced words connected with herbs, and used signs and visual prompts to help children communicate. The on-site library provided another setting for learning how to move calmly and consider others.

There was a clear limitation. In June 2023, questioning sometimes stopped short of encouraging children to reason more deeply; the improvement priority was to make delivery of the planned curriculum more consistent. For parents, the distinction matters: engaging activities need adults who also extend children's thinking.

In June 2023, children showed affection towards staff, and practitioners sought permission before helping with personal care. Children were also encouraged to respect another child's choice about receiving a hug. These examples put bodily boundaries into everyday interactions.

The SENCo worked with professionals from different services in June 2023. Signs and visual prompts offered practical communication support, while conversations between staff and parents helped connect home and nursery routines, including approaches to sleep.

Health habits were part of daily life that June: children paused for water, practised handwashing with a song and discussed how food helps bodies grow. Staff handling food had received relevant training.

The address is Hilltop Childrens Centre, Bedford Close, Huyton, Liverpool, L36 1XH.

In June 2023, opening hours were 7.30am to 5.45pm on weekdays, with operation throughout the year. Funded early education was provided then for children aged two, three and four. These are dated arrangements, rather than a current booking offer.

• Thinking beyond the activity. The June 2023 improvement priority concerned consistent curriculum delivery. On a visit, ask how practitioners use questions to extend children's ideas during play.
• Matching care to your week. The June 2023 opening window covered weekdays throughout the year. What attendance patterns and funded-hour arrangements would apply to your family now?

Mosscroft's June 2023 picture suits parents who value conversation, practical number work and respectful personal care. The on-site library adds a concrete resource to that account. The Good judgement carries weight, but so does the curriculum improvement point: the strongest choice would be one where today's practice sustains those relationships and gives children's thinking room to develop.