Tick Tock Daycare

Outdoor play and a primary-school setting give Tick Tock Daycare its character. Based on the Tockwith Primary School site, it cares for children from six months to school age and has capacity for 70 children. Its day combines creative play, shared meals, movement and quieter periods, giving children opportunities both to be active and to slow down.

At its November 2022 inspection, Ofsted rated the nursery Good, found that children made good progress and judged safeguarding effective, while identifying improvements needed in group teaching and the sharing of individual learning needs. That is a positive assessment with practical qualifications: relationships were a strength, but quieter children and communication about next steps needed more attention.

Full-day, short-day and term-time attendance sit alongside KidZone, the out-of-school club for older children.

Rooms and Ages

The nursery's learning environments are named The Den, Tenny Tinies, Tiddlers, Explorers and Pre School. These names sit within an overall offer running from six months to school age. Indoor and outdoor spaces support exploration throughout the day; the practical emphasis is on play, routine and growing independence.

In November 2022, each room had direct outdoor access, allowing children to choose to continue their play outside. Waterfall trays supplied a concrete problem-solving challenge: children worked out how to move water from a tap to the trays. Climbing and balancing added physical challenges. These examples show how outdoor space contributed to learning rather than serving solely as a break from indoor activities.

Learning and Activities

The early years foundation stage is the framework for children's learning, development and care. In parent terms, this means that play, conversation, movement and everyday routines contribute to learning, rather than education being confined to a formal lesson.

Creative activities include construction, art and pretend play. Movement activities develop balance and coordination, while stories and quieter periods make space for listening and rest. Shared play gives children opportunities to practise taking turns and maintaining friendships. The day therefore has several different rhythms, with active exploration balanced by calmer activities.

In November 2022, children chose activities according to their interests, including a shared jigsaw that required cooperation and careful handling of the pieces. Books also had a regular place in the day: each room contained a book corner, and staff used story props to encourage conversation. A lending library let children take books home, extending the opportunity for shared reading beyond the nursery.

Outdoor and Community Life

Gardening forms part of the current outdoor offer, alongside noticing nature and exploring outside. Sustainability is approached through everyday actions: children help care for their surroundings, while the nursery aims to reduce food waste and single-use plastics. This gives environmental learning a practical connection to the spaces and materials children use.

In November 2022, daily walks took children to a nearby wooded area and into the village community. The combination of outdoor access and outings widened the settings in which children could explore. That frequency belongs to the inspection period.

Relationships and Communication

Relationships with children and their families are central to the nursery's approach. Staff take time to understand individual children and support development at their own pace. The SEND offer also includes regular contact with parents and carers, updates and opportunities to discuss what matters to the family.

In November 2022, key people knew children well, and information gathered before attendance helped establish starting points for learning. Siblings could spend time together during the day. These arrangements offered continuity between home, familiar adults and family relationships within the nursery.

Communication about learning was less consistent. In November 2022, staff working with a child did not always know that child's precise next steps, and individual learning information was not consistently shared with parents. This distinction matters: warm relationships and useful daily updates do not automatically give every adult the same understanding of what a child needs to learn next.

Inclusion and Wellbeing

Support mechanisms include adjusting activities, offering additional help and working at the child's pace. Routine and relationships are used to build confidence. These are concrete ways to adapt the day, rather than a promise that one arrangement will meet every child's needs.

Stories and quiet periods provide time to rest. In November 2022, preschool children also practised everyday independence by managing their coats and shoes, choosing snacks and clearing away afterwards. These small tasks gave children opportunities to take responsibility for themselves within familiar routines.

Meals are prepared fresh each day, with seasonal ingredients used where possible. Eating together is part of the daily routine and provides another opportunity to practise independence.

Sessions and Attendance

Daycare opens Monday to Friday from 7.45am to 6pm, for 49 weeks each year. Attendance options include full time or term time, with full-day and short-day patterns. The contact form and telephone number, 01423 359 188, provide enquiry routes.

KidZone caters for children aged five to eleven, combining play and time with friends around the school day and during holidays. Morning care begins at 7.45am, with breakfast available; after-school care runs from 3.15pm to 6pm and includes time for tea. Holiday play days extend that offer into school holidays.

Getting There

The address is Tockwith C of E Primary School, Southfield Lane, Tockwith, York, YO26 7RP. Sharing the primary-school site gives the nursery a direct physical connection with the school setting. Attendance at the nursery does not guarantee a Reception place; families still apply through the local authority admissions process.

Funding and Paid Extras

In November 2022, the nursery provided funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-olds. Current prices come in the nursery's written quotation.

• Quieter children. In November 2022, less-confident children sometimes had fewer opportunities to contribute during group activities, and teaching checks did not consistently catch weaknesses. At a visit, ask how staff now draw quieter children into conversation and review their participation.
• Shared learning plans. The November 2022 improvement points included clearer communication of individual learning needs between staff and parents. Ask how a child's next steps follow them when their key person is working elsewhere.
• Address details. The nursery's contact address uses YO26 7PR, while its official address uses YO26 7RP. Confirm the destination when arranging a visit.
• School-site expectations. The nursery shares the Tockwith Primary School site, but attendance does not guarantee Reception admission. Treat the nursery choice and the school application as separate decisions.

Tick Tock Daycare suits families seeking either full-day or short-day attendance, including those who want a term-time pattern. KidZone adds a useful option for families with school-age children. Outdoor play, gardening and practical independence give the offer substance, while the November 2022 assessment provides a positive starting point for judging care and education. The most useful visit discussion is about how quieter children participate and how learning information is shared between adults.