Cherubs Edwinstowe

Weekly nature-based exploration and a Sensory Theatre give Cherubs Edwinstowe two very different ways to encourage curiosity. Explorers takes children into nature through play, building and discovery; the Sensory Theatre brings together objects and equipment to investigate through touch, sound, sight and smell. There is room here for energetic exploration and quieter investigation.

At its October 2021 inspection, Ofsted rated the nursery Good and judged safeguarding effective, while asking staff to become more confident in taking children's learning further. That dated judgement is useful context, with a clear improvement point alongside the strengths.

Cherubs Edwinstowe cares for children aged 1 to 60 months and has 60 places in total. Its address is 17 Mansfield Road, Edwinstowe, Mansfield, NG21 9NL. Opening hours run from 7.30am to 6pm on weekdays.

Rooms and Ages

The Baby Unit emphasises early exploration through carefully selected resources, while the Toddler Unit combines activities led by practitioners with physical play, creativity, quieter moments and role play chosen by children themselves. Pre-School has an open layout, resources within children's reach and opportunities to serve themselves at mealtimes, making independence part of the daily routine.

These descriptions belong to the group's room model, reproduced for this branch. Their practical value lies in the different arrangements: opportunities to investigate for the youngest children, a balance of activity and quieter play for toddlers, and greater responsibility for preschool children.

Learning and Activities

The early years foundation stage provides the framework for learning, development and care: children build skills through play, conversation, movement and everyday routines. Alongside it, Cherubs uses a group-wide blend of Montessori, Hygge, Reggio and Forest School. The clearest concrete expression here is Explorers, whose weekly sessions introduce children to the natural environment through exploration and play, either at nursery or out in the community.

Sports Coaching gives preschool children a weekly introduction to physical activity, including cricket, fencing and football. It adds another kind of movement to the week, with activities designed for their age rather than simply leaving exercise to free play.

In October 2021, children investigated ice containing autumn objects, using pipettes and water to explore melting while staff introduced vocabulary. Babies practised movement with a crinkly blanket during tummy time; older children worked with dough and spaghetti to make hedgehogs. These examples connect physical skills with investigation and language, rather than treating them as separate lessons.

Outdoor and Community Life

The Garden is arranged around children's developing interests and accommodates climbing, active play and stories. Explorers sessions take place within the nursery or in the local community, giving children opportunities to build, hide and investigate together.

In October 2021, children climbed trees in the local forest, with time to persist at a challenging task. They also harvested onions in a field and watched a tractor working, while technology helped them maintain contact with nursing-home residents. Those experiences brought the wider world into learning through real people, places and practical activity.

Relationships and Communication

Blossom Educational Software lets families follow their child's experiences and learning electronically, with access through a smartphone app and opportunities to add their own contributions. That creates a shared account of nursery life, rather than leaving communication entirely to conversations at collection.

At the October 2021 inspection, Ofsted found strong relationships with parents, who valued regular updates and reported gains in their children's confidence. In October 2021, stories also reflected children's home circumstances, including preparation for a new sibling, giving familiar experiences a place in the nursery day.

Inclusion and Wellbeing

The Family Room provides a private space that can be used for breastfeeding and informal conversations, as well as somewhere for parents to work or have a hot drink. Its usefulness is concrete: families have a dedicated space for needs that do not fit neatly into a child's playroom.

Staff training arrangements include paediatric first aid and safeguarding. In October 2021, staff understood how to raise concerns, management revisited safeguarding knowledge through questions, and children were closely supervised during forest outings. These are dated examples of how the safeguarding arrangements operated.

An on-site chef prepares meals, with menus changing on a three-week seasonal cycle and Meat Free Monday reducing meat use. The nursery accommodates dietary requirements, including allergies, intolerances and cultural or lifestyle preferences.

Sessions and Attendance

Cherubs Edwinstowe opens Monday to Friday, from 7.30am until 6pm. It operates across the year, closing on bank holidays and for one week at Christmas, so families need to plan alternative care around those closures.

The weekday opening window supports an early start and an evening collection. It is the practical span within which care operates; families comparing routines should consider both ends of their working day, rather than looking only at the closing time.

Getting There

The nursery is at 17 Mansfield Road, Edwinstowe, Mansfield, NG21 9NL, with access to the A614 and M1. The branch telephone number is 01623 822440.

Funding and Paid Extras

In October 2021, the nursery provided funded early education for children aged two, three and four.

• Extending learning. In October 2021, less-confident staff sometimes stopped short of developing children's ideas, and children lost interest. During a visit, discuss how practitioners now sustain an activity and adapt it as a child learns.
• The outdoor and sports week. Explorers and Sports Coaching are weekly activities, with the latter for preschool children. A visit is a useful opportunity to discuss how these fit around your child's interests and comfort with physical challenges.
• The cost of your care pattern. What would your written quotation include for childcare hours, meals and non-food consumables, and how would any funded hours affect those charges?

Cherubs Edwinstowe suits families who value outdoor discovery, regular physical activity and ways to stay involved in their child's learning. Explorers, Sports Coaching and Blossom Educational Software make that combination tangible, while the Family Room adds a useful provision for parents themselves.

The October 2021 judgement gives a positive assessment with a specific teaching weakness to consider. For families needing care across the year within the weekday opening window, the combination of practical independence, sensory investigation and outdoor activity gives this nursery a clear identity.