Small Wonders Nursery

Weekly sensory play for babies and Friday swimming for preschool children give Small Wonders Nursery a recognisable rhythm. At Arkwright Mill in Preston, the offer spans children aged 0 to 5, with capacity for 74 children in total. Activities change with age, giving families something concrete to weigh alongside the practical childcare arrangements.

At its 10 January 2024 inspection, Ofsted rated the nursery Good and judged safeguarding effective. The strongest everyday details include books borrowed for home reading, opportunities for physical play and conversations with parents about what children are learning. Language teaching needed greater consistency, a useful point to explore before choosing the setting.

Morning, afternoon and full-day bookings serve different attendance needs. The nursery describes itself as having supported Preston families for almost 30 years, and its current approach centres on play, resources children can use in different ways and learning journeys adapted to individual interests.

Learning and Activities

The early years foundation stage provides the framework for children's learning, development and care: play and everyday activities help children build communication, movement and early reading skills. Small Wonders adds age-specific sessions to that foundation. Weekly Bloom Baby Classes use gentle sensory activities for under-twos, giving younger children experiences suited to their stage of development.

For two-year-olds, Sports Sessions take place weekly, with activities intended to develop coordination and confidence. Preschool children have Swimming Lessons on Fridays at a local pool, with water confidence and safety as their purpose. These are concrete additions to the nursery week rather than a curriculum name that leaves parents guessing about the activity behind it.

In January 2024, early writing developed through different materials as children grew: babies rolled cars through paint, toddlers pressed tools into dough, and preschool children experimented with pens on whiteboards. That progression gives a practical picture of how an interest in making marks can develop into using them deliberately.

Books also connected nursery and home in January 2024. Children selected reading material from a designated library to borrow, while a take home bear prompted families to write about shared adventures. Both activities gave print a purpose beyond a nursery exercise and created something parents and children could do together.

Outdoor and Community Life

Two outdoor areas and a purpose-built extension for two-year-olds are part of the Hawkins Street setting. The outdoor spaces give physical activity a place alongside indoor play; the extension provides a separate physical setting for the two-year-old stage.

In January 2024, toddlers practised moving around large climbing equipment, while older children danced and joined team games. Experiences beyond the setting included meeting a university archaeology team and visiting a gospel church. Those visits introduced children to people and places beyond their usual nursery activities; their frequency should not be read as a weekly commitment.

Relationships and Communication

Individual learning journeys are tailored to children's preferences, and open-ended resources allow them to explore in different ways. For parents, the useful distinction is the attention to the individual child's interests rather than expecting every child to engage with the same activity in the same way.

In January 2024, staff used coffee mornings and stay-and-play sessions to discuss new topics with parents. They joined children's play and helped children settle by responding to their particular needs. Older children could select their own artwork for display, giving them a say in how their achievements were represented.

The communication concern was specific. In January 2024, some adults asked questions with narrow answers, spoke at excessive length or supplied answers themselves. Children had singing, stories and conversation, but these adult habits reduced opportunities to practise expressing their own ideas. Families should distinguish the presence of language activities from how effectively adults use them.

Inclusion and Wellbeing

At the January 2024 inspection, Ofsted found that children with special educational needs and/or disabilities received good support, with needs recognised promptly and referrals made without unnecessary delay. In January 2024, a sensory room gave children another space for exploration and imaginative activity, while staff considered what additional help individual children needed.

Physical activity also supported behaviour in January 2024. Staff considered how the environment affected children's responses, offered opportunities to move and helped older children discuss feelings. Leaders worked alongside children and supported practitioners through mentoring and coaching, connecting staff development with everyday practice.

Sessions and Attendance

Opening hours are 7.30am to 6pm on weekdays. Morning sessions run from 7.30am to 1pm, and afternoon sessions from 1pm to 6pm; full-day bookings are also offered. The minimum weekly booking is two sessions or one full day, and childcare is sold through those bookings rather than by the hour.

Fees are calculated across 52 weeks and paid monthly before the care takes place. Bank holidays are closure days but remain chargeable, and sickness or family holidays do not bring refunds, credits or replacement attendance. These terms matter when comparing the cost of a regular booking with the days a child actually attends.

Getting There

The address is Arkwright Mill, Hawkins Street, Preston, PR1 7HR, near the University of Central Lancashire. For satnav, use PR1 7JS, the nursery's specified postcode for reaching the setting.

Enquiries can be made through the contact form or by calling 01772 556900. Informal visits can be arranged.

Funding and Paid Extras

Funded childcare is offered from 9 months old, subject to eligibility. The funding and fees page explains the charge structure; current prices come in the nursery's written quotation.

Meals are included in private session prices, but charged separately during funded hours; breakfast, lunch, snacks and tea depend on the booking. Non-food essentials such as nappies, wipes and sun cream remain separately payable where applicable, as do extra hours and trips, so funding should be considered alongside the complete booking cost.

• Language teaching. January 2024 practice included adults supplying answers and limiting children's opportunities to respond. During a visit, ask how practitioners now extend conversations and give children time to form their own answers.
• Weekly commitment and absences. The minimum is two sessions or one full day per week, with bank holidays charged and no refunds or credits for holidays or illness. Assess these terms against the attendance pattern your family can sustain.
• Funded-hour costs. Meals cost extra during funded hours, and other essentials remain payable where applicable. Request a written quotation showing the charges attached to your proposed booking.

Small Wonders suits families seeking morning or afternoon sessions as well as full-day care, especially those drawn to sensory activities for babies, weekly sport for two-year-olds and preschool swimming. Its outdoor spaces and home-reading activities give the offer substance. The January 2024 language-teaching concern deserves a direct conversation, while the minimum booking and absence terms need to work for the family's budget.