Abacus Day Nursery

Communication, practical independence and room to move give Abacus Day Nursery its character in the May 2023 account. On Weddington Road in Nuneaton, it has capacity for 49 children, accepting ages from 3 to 59 months.

Ofsted rated the nursery Good on 3 May 2023, identifying language teaching as a strength. That dated judgement provides the clearest picture of its educational work: stories, songs and conversations helped children practise listening and develop their vocabulary.

The early years foundation stage is the framework for children's learning, development and care. Here, the May 2023 examples show what that meant in practice: choosing materials, experimenting with making things and learning to do more independently.

In May 2023, children could reach resources themselves. Older children chose tubes and different papers for their creations, with staff helping them handle scissors. Play dough offered another practical sequence: rolling, choosing cutters and making shapes. These activities gave children decisions to make as well as skills to practise.

Outdoor play in May 2023 included a separate space where babies could crawl and use wheeled toys. Older children practised climbing, pedalling and throwing balls towards a basket. Movement had several forms, with opportunities to repeat a skill and take turns.

At the May 2023 inspection, Ofsted found safeguarding effective and children with special educational needs and/or disabilities making good progress from their starting points. These findings belong to that inspection date.

In May 2023, babies sought comfort from staff, who responded with cuddles and close interaction. Independence developed through everyday care: babies practised feeding themselves, while older children served food, used cutlery and worked on coat fastenings. Handwashing was part of these routines.

Parents received detailed updates about care and learning in May 2023. Staff also collected information about children's existing skills before they started, although this needed to shape early learning plans more effectively. Staff training and support were in place; embedding changes in everyday practice remained an improvement priority.

Abacus Day Nursery's address is Weddington Road, Nuneaton, CV10 0EQ. Opening hours are 7.30am to 6pm, Monday to Friday, across the year, with closures for bank holidays and one week at Christmas.

In May 2023, the nursery provided funded early education for children aged two, three and four. This is a dated participation statement rather than a description of today's funding arrangements.

• Learning from the outset. Using parents' knowledge more effectively in initial learning plans was a May 2023 improvement priority. At a visit, ask how information about your child's interests and abilities becomes their first learning plan.
• Consistency of practice. Embedding staff practice was another May 2023 priority. Look for concrete examples of how training translates into daily interactions.
• Christmas closure. One week at Christmas, as well as bank holidays, falls outside the opening calendar. Families needing care then will need to plan around that break.

Abacus suits families seeking weekday care across the year who value practical play and growing independence. Its May 2023 picture combines language-rich interactions, accessible materials and physical activity. The balance is clear: a Good judgement, alongside specific work to make early planning more individual and staff practice more consistent.