TicTots Day Nursery & Creche Ashton

Sensory play for babies, construction for toddlers and fire-engine role play for preschool children give TicTots Ashton a recognisable early-years character. Those examples come from December 2021, so they offer a dated picture of nursery life rather than a promise about today's activities. The Ashton branch has capacity for 56 children, accepting ages from three months to 59 months.

At its December 2021 inspection, Ofsted rated the nursery Good, judged safeguarding effective and found that children with special educational needs and/or disabilities received support that met their needs. That judgement is useful, but its age matters when choosing care now. The current Ashton room layout includes a Baby Room, Main Room and Preschool Room, with preschool outdoor space and an outdoor play area.

Rooms and Ages

The Baby Room gives the youngest children a separately named space within the nursery's layout. The Main Room and Preschool Room complete the room list, while Preschool Outdoors and the Outdoor Play Area identify outdoor provision. For parents, this makes the relationship between indoor care and outdoor activity a useful part of a visit, especially when considering where their child will spend the day.

In December 2021, babies explored books, bricks and sensory toys, toddlers built with construction resources, and preschool children used fire engines in pretend play. These were different experiences for different developmental stages: looking and handling for babies, building for toddlers, and making up situations for older children. They should be read as examples from that period.

Learning and Activities

The early years foundation stage sets the requirements for children's learning, development and care; in everyday terms, play and interaction support children's developing skills. In December 2021, staff responded to babies' sounds, used songs and stories with younger children, and held conversations with older children. Language was part of ordinary activity rather than confined to a separate lesson.

At the December 2021 inspection, Ofsted identified that some children learning English as an additional language needed stronger support with English and more opportunities to use their home language. This is the main educational reservation for families to weigh, especially where a child uses another language at home.

Choice also had a practical place in the December 2021 day. During a relaxation activity, children voted for the book they wanted to hear, counted the votes and worked out the result together. Craft activity included decorating a Christmas jumper made from card. These examples combined decision-making, counting and handling materials in activities children could understand.

Independence was visible in small routines in December 2021. Children prepared their place for lunch, took a napkin and served food themselves. Tidying toys and getting ready for group activities also formed part of the day. These examples matter because nursery care includes learning to manage familiar tasks, as well as joining organised activities.

Communication with families in December 2021 included information about children's learning and activities to continue at home. Staff also worked with other professionals around children's needs. This provides a dated picture of how nursery and home connected, rather than an assurance about the present communication system.

Ashton's team structure includes a designated nursery manager, a deputy manager, a cohort leader and key carers. Its branch team description connects the manager's work with children's development from baby care through the move towards school, while a key carer's role includes following the progress of their key children. That gives parents concrete roles to discuss when considering continuity of care.

The nursery's address is Sure Start Preston West, Ainsdale Drive, Ashton-on-Ribble, Preston, PR2 1TU. Opening hours are 7.30am to 5.30pm, Monday to Friday. It operates across the year, closing on bank holidays and for two weeks at Christmas. Those closures matter for families arranging cover alongside work.

The contact form includes TicTots Ashton as a nursery selection and asks for preferred days and times and a preferred start date. Families can use that route to make an enquiry for this branch. Opening hours describe the operating window; they should not be treated as a requirement to book the whole day.

• Language support. The December 2021 finding concerned both English development and opportunities to use children's home languages. On a visit, ask how staff now include your child's languages in play and communication.
• Room transitions. The Ashton layout names the Baby Room, Main Room and Preschool Room. Ask which space your child would use and how moves between rooms are handled.
• Working-day cover. The 5.30pm closing time, bank holidays and Christmas closure need to fit your family's arrangements. Consider the full working day when planning collection and alternative care.

TicTots Ashton merits consideration by families seeking care from infancy through the preschool years in Ashton-on-Ribble. Its room layout and dated examples of sensory play, pretend play and everyday independence give parents useful points to explore. The December 2021 Good judgement is a positive historical assessment; language support remains the clearest issue to discuss. The weekday opening window will suit families whose collection arrangements fit a 5.30pm finish.