MadHatters Pre School Nursery

Paint, planting and stories give MadHatters Pre School Nursery a practical, playful character. At its April 2025 inspection, Ofsted rated it Good and found safeguarding effective. The setting has 34 places in total, accepting children aged 0 to 60 months, at 55a Nelson Street in Scarborough.

The April 2025 picture was of children choosing their play, building friendships and becoming more independent. There were also three clear priorities: adapting group teaching, improving communication between staff and strengthening support for children learning English as an additional language.

The early years foundation stage provides the framework for children's learning and care, with play supporting language, physical development and other areas of learning. In April 2025, younger children chased bubbles and joined rhymes, while older children explored water and paint. Staff introduced vocabulary during play and allowed thinking time before expecting answers.

Numbers had practical uses. In April 2025, children counted building blocks, connected quantities with numerals and explored shapes through drawing. Outdoors, planting and scooping soil exercised small hand movements; apparatus gave children opportunities to practise jumping and balance. Books and storytelling added another route into language.

Group teaching was less consistently matched to children's development. In April 2025, some activities demanded too much of some children, making it harder for them to remain involved. That matters when considering how a mixed developmental range shares an activity.

In April 2025, settling sessions were adjusted to individual children, and the key-person arrangement helped children build close relationships with staff. Familiar routines made the day more predictable. Older children practised serving snacks, using cutlery and managing the bathroom themselves, giving independence a place in everyday care.

At the April 2025 inspection, Ofsted found that additional funding for individual children was used effectively to address gaps in learning. Staff shared updates about children's development with parents, but communication within the team needed attention: colleagues did not always know a child's learning priorities when their key person was away. Support for children learning English as an additional language also needed more consistent strategies.

In April 2025, children ate home-cooked food and snacks, and daily toothbrushing formed part of learning about health.

The address is 55a Nelson Street, Scarborough, YO12 7SZ. Current opening hours are 8am to 6pm, Monday to Friday, across the year, with bank holidays and one week at Christmas closed.

In April 2025, session times ran from 8am until 6pm and the nursery provided government-funded childcare. These describe the arrangements at that visit.

• Group activities. In April 2025, some teaching was pitched beyond some children's developmental stage. During a visit, how are shared activities adapted so your child can participate?
• Continuity between staff. April 2025 findings identified incomplete sharing of children's learning priorities. Consistency across the team matters when a child's key person is absent.
• Additional-language support. In April 2025, strategies for children learning English as an additional language needed strengthening. This is a material consideration for families whose child is developing English alongside another language.

MadHatters suits families seeking care for babies and preschool children, with weekday opening across the year. Its April 2025 strengths lay in practical play, familiar routines and growing independence. The balance is clear: appealing everyday experiences, alongside specific improvements needed in group teaching and the consistency of individual support.