Kindergarten Day Nursery

Tape measures beside children's towers and beans grown from seed give Kindergarten Day Nursery a practical, hands-on character in its March 2022 account. Small moments matter here: helping a friend fasten a coat, choosing a story and learning to feed oneself.

At its 8 March 2022 inspection, Ofsted rated the nursery Good, judged safeguarding effective and found that children, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities, made good progress. The nursery has capacity for 20 children aged 3 to 60 months, at 6 Ashton Drive, Liverpool, L25 0NP.

The early years foundation stage sets the framework for children's learning, development and care: play supports language, movement, independence and early understanding of numbers. In March 2022, children measured their construction towers with tape measures, while older children explored the sounds within their names. These activities connected early mathematics and literacy with something children were already doing.

Physical exploration also featured in March 2022. Children practised balancing, climbing and digging; babies squeezed noisy, crinkly materials, and younger children explored pasta through touch and taste. Drawing gave older children another way to practise hand control. Children growing beans could explain why their plants needed water and sunlight, linking an everyday activity with an understanding of living things.

There was a clear limitation: in March 2022, staff did not consistently identify the learning they intended an activity to develop. Enjoyable play needed more precise educational planning.

In March 2022, family photographs were accessible throughout the rooms, older children chose stories by voting, and birthdays received individual attention. These details gave children opportunities to recognise their families, express preferences and feel included. Children also helped one another with everyday tasks and encouraged friends to join physical games.

At the March 2022 inspection, Ofsted found that staff used information from parents to plan individual support, worked with the special educational needs coordinator and outside agencies, and kept parents informed about nursery life. Independence was part of daily care: children attempted to feed themselves, while older children practised washing their hands and faces.

Opening hours are 8am to 5.30pm, Monday to Friday. Closures include bank holidays, two weeks during summer and two weeks at Christmas, so families need to plan care around those breaks.

In March 2022, the nursery employed a part-time cook and provided funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-olds. Those are dated arrangements rather than a promise about today's funding or food provision.

• Space for babies. In March 2022, limited indoor floor space restricted opportunities for babies to move. On a visit, look at how space is organised for their physical play.
• Purposeful activities and staff development. The March 2022 improvement points concerned clearer learning intentions and training directed towards nursery priorities, with its effect on children checked. Discuss how these work in practice now.
• Funding and charges. How would the nursery structure funding, additional paid hours, meals and consumables for your intended attendance pattern?

This nursery suits families who value practical play and opportunities for children to manage everyday tasks themselves. Its March 2022 account combines warmth, early language work and hands-on mathematics. The important reservations concern space for babies and the precision of activity planning and staff development, rather than the appeal of the activities themselves.