Mini's Day Care

Early language, number play and growing independence give Mini's Day Care its clearest character. At its October 2023 inspection, Ofsted rated it Good, judged safeguarding effective and found that staff supported children with special educational needs and/or disabilities through work with external agencies.

This Preston nursery has capacity for 31 children aged 0 to 60 months. Its inspection-era experiences included swimming, outdoor climbing and children serving lunch themselves: practical opportunities to develop confidence alongside early learning.

In October 2023, language and early mathematics shaped the activities, with children tackling number problems and practising communication. The early years foundation stage sets the requirements for learning, development and care; here, the examples included stories, child-led play and physical activity.

Babies had a calm space in October 2023, with staff helping them practise sitting and using tummy time to develop their muscles. Older children joined familiar story actions and phrases, drew friends into their play and made stickers to share. These were opportunities to practise both expression and cooperation.

Weekly swimming was part of preschool life in October 2023. Dressing and undressing added self-care practice to the experience. Daily outdoor play included large climbing equipment, scooters and ball games, giving children different ways to use their bodies.

In October 2023, staff gathered information from parents and built relationships with babies and older children as they settled. Learning assessments were shared with families, and emerging gaps prompted joint strategies between home and nursery. That connected everyday care with the next steps in learning.

Home languages had a practical place in October 2023: staff learnt useful words and taught them to other children, while parents were invited to read in their home languages. Play dough faces used different colours and shades to represent the children.

Preparation for school also involved everyday independence in October 2023. Preschool children selected breakfast, served their lunch and talked together over meals. Safeguarding routines included checking who was authorised to collect children and refreshing staff knowledge.

Mini's Day Care is at 60 - 62 Lodge Street, Preston, PR1 8XE. Opening hours are 7.30am to 6pm, Monday to Friday, across the year, with closures for bank holidays and one week between Christmas and New Year. That closure pattern matters when planning work and family cover.

In October 2023, the nursery provided funded early education for children aged two, three and four. This is a dated participation fact rather than a promise of a funded place or an entitlement for an individual family.

• Staff development. In October 2023, training did not consistently address each practitioner's individual development needs. Ask how individual training priorities now translate into activities that benefit children.
• Swimming and independence. Weekly preschool swimming formed part of the October 2023 experience. Families weighing this activity should discuss how it fits into their child's attendance and confidence in dressing independently.
• Attendance and costs. The weekday opening window runs from 7.30am to 6pm. Request a written quotation covering the booking pattern you need, funded hours, food and consumables before making a decision.

Mini's Day Care merits consideration for families seeking weekday childcare and an emphasis on language, early number work and practical independence. The October 2023 examples give that emphasis substance, from story participation to swimming and self-service meals. Individual staff development remains the useful point to explore alongside the attendance arrangement a family needs.