Daisy Chain Day Nursery

An outdoor slope for climbing, puppet storytelling and woodland outings give Daisy Chain Day Nursery's March 2022 account a recognisable character: practical learning through movement, conversation and play. The setting accepts children aged 12 to 60 months, at Billinghay Church of England Primary School on Fen Road, Billinghay.

At its March 2022 inspection, Ofsted rated the nursery Good and judged safeguarding effective, while identifying inconsistent staff support for taking children's learning further. That balance matters: engaging activities were a strength, but the teaching within them needed greater consistency.

In March 2022, outdoor play included a slope added to help children practise climbing and build physical strength. Puppets brought a familiar story about goats and a troll into shared play, giving children opportunities to take turns and use remembered language. Woodland outings also introduced children to surroundings beyond the nursery.

The early years foundation stage sets the framework for children's learning, development and care. Here, the March 2022 examples show what that meant in practice: construction became a chance to count, compare sizes and predict how a tower might change. Staff used a tape measure to introduce numbers through something children could handle and explore.

There was a clear limitation alongside those examples. In March 2022, some staff missed opportunities to deepen children's understanding during play with toy medical equipment. Providing an activity and helping a child learn more from it were not consistently the same thing.

In March 2022, children involved staff in their games and spoke confidently about their play. Conversations with parents covered children's achievements, with suggestions for encouraging speech at home. This connected nursery experiences with family conversations rather than leaving learning within the setting.

The pamper someone special day was another March 2022 example of that connection: family members joined children for hair brushing, nail painting and hand massages. At snack and meal times, children practised everyday independence by peeling bananas, opening packaging and spreading butter safely.

Staff training in March 2022 addressed special educational needs and/or disabilities, including ways to help children express their needs and manage behaviour. Children also discussed safer ways to climb on crates, with time to think through getting up and down. These were practical opportunities to rehearse decisions about safety.

The address is Billinghay Church of England Primary School, Fen Road Billinghay, Lincoln, LN4 4HU. In March 2022, the nursery operated independently within the school's grounds; attending the nursery does not guarantee a Reception place, and families apply through the local authority admissions process.

Opening hours are 9am to 3pm, Monday to Friday, during term time, with closure in school holidays. Morning sessions run from 9am to noon and afternoon sessions from noon to 3pm, with additional hours on request. These separate sessions allow families to choose either part of the nursery day.

Funded hours operate between 9am and 3pm; additional hours are invoiced privately. In March 2022, funded early education was provided for children aged two, three and four.

A separate voluntary service charge covers a balanced snack, tapestry photo and observation sharing, and experiences outside the setting to extend learning. It therefore supports both food and communication with families, alongside outings. Current prices come in the nursery's written quotation.

• Teaching within play. The March 2022 improvement point concerned staff extending children's understanding consistently. During a visit, ask how practitioners now develop children's ideas during activities such as role play.
• School-calendar care. Term-time opening and school-holiday closures make the calendar a central part of the decision. Families needing care through the holidays will need a separate arrangement.
• Additional hours and charges. Funding operates between 9am and 3pm, with additional hours invoiced privately and a voluntary service charge supporting snacks, photo sharing and outings. Ask how these terms would apply to your proposed attendance pattern.

Daisy Chain suits families seeking term-time morning or afternoon sessions within the school-day window. Its March 2022 account combines hands-on number work, outdoor physical challenges and everyday independence, with family participation adding another connection between home and nursery. The dated Good judgement provides a useful assessment, alongside a specific teaching issue to explore on a visit.