First Footsteps, Norris Green

Tree-bark rubbings, tyres for balancing and outings to a local park give First Footsteps, Norris Green a practical, outdoor thread. These were features of children's experiences in September 2024, rather than just an ambition for their learning. At its 24 September 2024 inspection, Ofsted rated the nursery Good overall.

The nursery is based at Fairwinds on Broad Lane in Liverpool, L11 1AD, and has capacity for 52 children aged from 1 to 60 months. Baby Room, Toddler Room and Pre-School provide its named room structure. There is also a spacious area for play, giving physical activity a place alongside the care and learning within the rooms.

A useful distinction for parents is between an appealing activity and the conversation that makes it educational. The September 2024 findings gave examples of both, while identifying questioning as the area needing further work. That balance matters more than the grade alone.

Rooms and Ages

Baby Room, Toddler Room and Pre-School organise the nursery's spaces around different stages of childhood.

Learning and Activities

The early years foundation stage provides the framework for children's learning, development and care. In parent terms, learning and everyday care belong together: play, communication and growing independence are part of the educational day.

In September 2024, staff planned experiences around what children could already do and the next steps in their learning. Bark rubbing made this concrete. Children used crayons over paper against a tree, then discussed the patterns they produced. It connected making marks with observing something in the natural world.

Babies also used songs as opportunities to practise communication. The important point was the interaction around the activity, rather than simply having singing on the timetable. However, staff sometimes moved past opportunities to develop children's ideas, and children needed more time to consider questions and respond. For parents, the useful distinction is whether adults leave space for a child's answer rather than carrying the conversation themselves.

Outdoor and Community Life

In September 2024, children used the garden regularly, encountering different surfaces and balancing on tyres. Those physical details gave them opportunities to practise strength, coordination and balance through movement.

Regular community outings included walks to a local park. Road safety formed part of those experiences, with children learning about crossing roads and recognising risks beyond the nursery. The outings therefore connected physical activity with practical lessons about being out in the community; they were not simply a change of scenery.

At the September 2024 inspection, Ofsted found safeguarding effective, the key-person arrangements successful and support for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities responsive, with staff working alongside other professionals and children making good progress.

Each child's key person understood their care requirements, learning and home circumstances at that time. Observations of play informed assessment and subsequent planning. That connection between knowing a child and planning for them is useful for families whose priorities include both everyday care and individual development.

Communication has several routes. Parents can share feedback through everyday conversations, questionnaires and parents evenings, rather than relying on a single formal opportunity. In September 2024, information exchanged with families included advice about behaviour and toilet training, helping parents and staff take a consistent approach.

Staff also modelled respectful behaviour during that period. Children practised sharing resources and solving problems together in their play. This made relationships part of the learning experience, with everyday disagreements providing opportunities to practise cooperation.

Sessions and Attendance

Opening hours are 7.30am to 6pm, Monday to Friday. Norris Green operates for 50 weeks each year and closes on bank holidays. Families planning regular childcare need to account for both the daily opening window and the annual closure pattern.

Getting There

The address is Fairwinds, Broad Lane, Norris Green, Liverpool, L11 1AD. Enquiries can be made by email, telephone or the contact form, giving parents a choice between a written enquiry and a conversation.

Funding and Paid Extras

In September 2024, the nursery provided funded early education for children aged two, three and four. Families arranging paid childcare should obtain a current written quotation so that their own attendance plan has a clear price.

• Conversation during play. The September 2024 improvement point concerned questioning and giving children enough thinking time. On a visit, ask how staff now extend children's ideas during activities such as bark rubbing.
• Attendance across the year. The nursery opens for 50 weeks and excludes bank holidays. Ask how its closure dates and booking arrangements fit your working pattern.
• Choosing a room. Baby Room, Toddler Room and Pre-School are the named spaces. Ask which room would suit your child and how moves between rooms are organised.

First Footsteps, Norris Green suits families seeking weekday childcare with opportunities for physical play and a room structure spanning babies through preschool children. Its September 2024 experiences made good use of simple resources: trees, tyres and a local park provided material for observation, movement and practical learning.

The Good judgement is useful context, but the detail gives parents a clearer basis for choosing. Individual knowledge through the key person, several routes for parent feedback and the improvement point about questioning are the features to weigh alongside the opening hours and annual attendance pattern.