Precious Times Childcare Services Riverside

Sensory bags placed high enough to encourage babies to reach, and music followed by chalk mark-making for preschool children: hands-on learning shaped Riverside's day in March 2024. These examples connect physical movement with early learning rather than treating activities as isolated entertainment.

Precious Times Childcare Services Riverside has capacity for 54 children on Yarrow Road in Grimsby. At its March 2024 inspection, Ofsted rated it Good overall and judged safeguarding effective.

The early years foundation stage sets the framework for children's learning, development and care, bringing play, communication and physical development into their day. In March 2024, babies explored scarves and bubbles during short group activities, with staff adding words to the movements. Story sacks helped babies engage with story time, while older children revisited a book across the week to build familiarity with its language.

Preschool children moved fabric to music before practising similar movements with chalk on the floor. Painting gave older children opportunities to experiment with colour mixing. For children aged two to three, rolling a car between participants made waiting and taking turns part of a simple game.

At the March 2024 inspection, Ofsted found that individual and small-group support helped children with special educational needs and/or disabilities develop attention, listening and communication. Describing objects taken from a bucket was one practical example: the activity gave children something concrete to talk about.

In March 2024, quieter children joined activities at their own pace, and older children received preparation for changes in routine. Staff celebrated achievements, while managers used questions, coaching and training to support practice. Parents received updates through conversations and online communication, and stay-and-play sessions helped them understand activities they could continue at home.

The address is Yarrow Road, Grimsby, DN34 4HD. In March 2024, children attending ranged from birth to age 10; this was the age range at that visit.

At that time, the nursery operated Monday to Friday throughout the year, closing for bank holidays and a week at Christmas. Session times were 7.30am to 6pm. It also provided funded early education for children aged two, three and four. These arrangements describe the March 2024 offer.

• Toddler snack time. In March 2024, floor-based picnic snacks for children aged two to three offered fewer opportunities for conversation and independence than other activities. Ask how snack seating and staff interaction now support these skills.
• Children's own solutions. In March 2024, staff sometimes supplied an answer before children could develop their own approach during play. Ask how practitioners now give children time to experiment and solve problems.
• Your attendance pattern. The March 2024 session window ran from 7.30am to 6pm. At a visit, ask which booking pattern would fit your working day and your child's age.

Riverside merits consideration for families who value practical, movement-based learning and communication between home and nursery. The March 2024 picture combines sensory play, storytelling and early mark-making with targeted support. The decision points are concrete: how toddler snacks work and how readily staff leave room for children's own ideas.