First Steps First High Wycombe

A nursery tortoise, live caterpillars and a world map connecting children with their families gave this setting a recognisable character in March 2022. Despite its current name, First Steps First High Wycombe is at 1 Pond Road in Greenwich, London, SE3 9JL. That distinction matters when choosing the right location.

At its 28 March 2022 inspection, Ofsted rated the provision Good and found that children settled comfortably, made good progress and received effective support with communication and language. Today, the nursery has capacity for 32 children, with an age range of 3 to 60 months.

The early years foundation stage sets the framework for children's learning, development and care: play and everyday experiences help children build language, relationships and practical skills.

In March 2022, children chose resources independently and practitioners used their interests and existing knowledge to plan activities. Live caterpillars gave new vocabulary a concrete connection. A welcome song used English and Spanish, while children also talked about their feelings and listened to one another.

Nature and family identity supplied further starting points. In March 2022, children helped care for a tortoise and explored recycling; a world map linked family connections with country flags. These were tangible ways to explore living things, environmental responsibility and the wider community.

At the March 2022 inspection, Ofsted found safeguarding effective, recognised the manager's understanding of support for additional needs and judged progress for children learning English as an additional language positively. Staff used resources supporting both English and children's home languages, with development tracked by the manager.

In March 2022, practitioners exchanged information with parents at the beginning and end of the day. Staff also discussed their teaching daily and received supervision, training and coaching. Children explored dental health through activities and conversations about toothbrushing, alongside opportunities for exercise and fresh air.

The address is 1 Pond Road, London, SE3 9JL. Opening hours are 8am to 6pm, Monday to Friday, throughout the year except bank holidays.

In March 2022, the setting operated during term time, opening from 9.30am to 3pm, with sessions running from 9.30am to midday and midday to 3pm. Those times describe its operation at that date. It also offered funded places for two-, three- and four-year-olds then.

• Location. The High Wycombe name belongs here to a Greenwich address. Use 1 Pond Road, SE3 9JL, when planning a visit.
• Time to think. In March 2022, some practitioners repeated questions too quickly, reducing children's opportunity to consider an answer. During a visit, look for adults allowing children time to respond before prompting again.
• Attendance and costs. With an all-year opening schedule now and term-time sessions at the March 2022 visit, which booking patterns and funded arrangements would apply to your child, and what would a written quotation include for meals and consumables?

For families seeking all-year weekday care in Greenwich, the current opening window is useful. The March 2022 picture adds substance: child-led choices, language activities connected to real experiences and attention to family identity. The balance is the dated concern about questioning. Children's opportunity to think deserves as much attention as the activities themselves.