Little Squirrels, Shrawley

In August 2025, woodland walks, garden harvesting and yoga gave Little Squirrels, Shrawley a recognisable character: movement and outdoor exploration sat alongside stories and conversation. At its August 2025 inspection, Ofsted judged the nursery Good overall.

The nursery accepts children aged 3 to 60 months at Walnut Cottage Nursery, School House, Worcester. The clearest picture of its daily life comes from August 2025, when children’s interests shaped activities and family experiences helped staff choose what happened next.

In August 2025, babies practised moving through tummy-time play, toddlers tackled low climbing equipment and preschool children explored movement through yoga. These were different physical challenges for different stages, rather than one activity stretched across the age groups.

The early years foundation stage sets the requirements for children’s learning, development and care. Here, the August 2025 activities connected those requirements with play: songs, conversations and signing supported language, while children investigated floating and sinking by making boats after a family’s regatta visit.

Books also gave children choices. In August 2025, babies shared stories while cuddling their key person, and preschool children voted on which story to hear. Outside, children took woodland walks and grew produce in the garden before harvesting it. These experiences connected exploration with practical learning about food.

At the August 2025 inspection, Ofsted found safeguarding effective and children with special educational needs and/or disabilities well supported, with developmental assessments, collaboration with parents and referrals for specialist help.

In August 2025, home visits helped children meet staff before starting, and key persons passed on information when children changed rooms or settings. Toddlers used The Colour Monster story and photographs to talk about feelings; babies explored family photographs. Emotional support had concrete tools behind it.

Communication extended beyond progress updates. In August 2025, staff talked with parents daily and held parents evenings each term, while home learning bags addressed tooth brushing, giving up a dummy and welcoming a new sibling. Fresh vegetables and fruit featured in snacks. Staff also had time away from direct childcare to review learning, and observation by leaders and colleagues informed their training.

The address is Walnut Cottage Nursery, School House, Worcester, WR6 6TT. Opening hours are 8am to 6pm on weekdays, with year-round opening apart from bank holidays and Christmas.

In August 2025, the nursery provided funded early education for eligible children. That is a dated account of participation, rather than a guarantee of a funded place for an individual family.

• Learning about other cultures. In August 2025, children had too few opportunities to explore communities and cultures beyond their own. Ask how this now shapes stories, resources and activities.
• Outdoor plans. In August 2025, leaders intended to redevelop the outdoor space and add a baby area alongside the garden used by toddlers and preschool children. A visit is the opportunity to see how that plan has developed.
• Starting and settling. Home visits and key-person support featured in August 2025. Ask how these arrangements would work for your child’s start and later room changes.

Little Squirrels, Shrawley suits families who value outdoor exploration, physical play and close communication about everyday childhood milestones. Its August 2025 provision linked learning to children’s interests, from boat experiments to choosing stories. The limitation was clear too: learning about other cultures needed more attention. That makes the breadth of children’s experiences a useful subject for a visit.