The Children's House

Child-led choices and hands-on exploration give The Children's House its character: dressing-up clothes, sensory play and a Montessori approach featured in its July 2022 provision. Ofsted rated the nursery Outstanding on 5 July 2022, finding an ambitious curriculum tailored to children's needs.

On Station Road in Stallingborough, Grimsby, it has capacity for 121 children, with an accepted age range of 3 to 60 months. The inspection offers a detailed picture of nursery life at that date.

The early years foundation stage sets requirements for children's learning, development and care, including communication, physical skills and personal, social and emotional development. In July 2022, Montessori sat alongside that framework, with children choosing resources for themselves and practising independence through activities such as dressing up.

Sensory experiences matched different stages of development in July 2022: babies explored foam, toddlers handled play dough and preschool children painted with their fingers. Live caterpillars, books and small-group conversations helped children investigate how butterflies develop. These were concrete subjects to explore, rather than learning confined to adult explanations.

In July 2022, staff built activities around children's interests, introducing equipment such as a computer operated with a mouse. Conversations gave children opportunities to express preferences and encounter more complex words. This linked practical exploration with communication: children could try something, explain what interested them and listen to others. The emphasis extended beyond handling materials to talking about the experience.

Independence in July 2022 involved everyday decisions as well as planned activities. Children chose equipment and resources themselves, and could select dressing-up clothes and put them on. That gave them a practical role in shaping their play. Physical activities also involved different kinds of control: kicking and throwing balls, steering wheeled toys, cutting along printed lines and balancing on chalk markings. For parents, these examples make the learning tangible, showing how ordinary play brought together movement, concentration and opportunities to do things for themselves.

Outdoor play in July 2022 included a sandpit, mud kitchen and climbing apparatus. Wheeled toys, ball play and balancing along chalk lines gave children different ways to practise movement. Using scissors and paint supported more precise hand movements.

At the July 2022 inspection, Ofsted found effective safeguarding and exceptional support for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), including individual speech and language help, visual prompts and collaboration with other professionals.

In July 2022, parents contributed family photographs and significant events to children's special books, giving staff material for conversations about home life. Families also received updates on learning and daily care. Moves between rooms took account of children's readiness and independence, rather than age alone.

Healthy meals and snacks featured in July 2022. At that time, three staff held a Montessori qualification, connecting the approach with specific staff training.

Relationships in July 2022 included close bonds with staff and friendships between children. Children helped one another with tasks and welcomed others into their play. Personal, social and emotional development was part of the daily emphasis, alongside activities involving materials and movement. Independent choices in July 2022 sat alongside shared play: children worked together, helped each other and included others in their activities.

Safeguarding practice in July 2022 included staff training and exercises using scenarios, quizzes and questionnaires. Recruitment and induction procedures sat alongside continuing reviews of staff suitability. These details explain the work behind the dated safeguarding judgement, rather than treating it as a label alone.

The address is Station Road, Stallingborough, Grimsby, DN41 8AJ. Opening hours are 7am to 6.30pm, Monday to Friday, across the year, with closures for bank holidays and Christmas.

In July 2022, the nursery provided funded early education for children aged two, three and four. That is a dated account of its funding provision.

• The inspection date. The Outstanding judgement dates from July 2022. On a visit, explore how the Montessori activities, individual support and safeguarding arrangements described then work today.
• Choosing an attendance pattern. The opening window runs from 7am to 6.30pm. Which booking patterns and funded-hours arrangements would fit your family's week?

The Children's House suits families interested in Montessori and practical independence, with a July 2022 account rich in examples of children choosing, exploring and developing skills. Its opening hours also suit parents whose working day starts early or finishes later. The strongest case rests on that dated inspection: individual support, hands-on learning and thoughtful room transitions.