Noah's Ark Nursery

Wooden tracks, stepping stones and a mud kitchen gave Noah's Ark Nursery's outdoor learning a practical character in December 2022. Children tested ideas with everyday materials, rather than simply following an adult's instructions. That freedom was a strength, although indoor learning offered fewer opportunities for children to choose their own direction.

At its 2 December 2022 inspection, Ofsted rated the nursery Good, judged safeguarding effective and found that children made good progress, with helpful support for children learning English and those with special educational needs and/or disabilities. The nursery has capacity for 36 children aged 30 to 60 months in Matchborough West, Redditch.

The early years foundation stage sets the requirements for children's learning, development and care: here, the December 2022 examples included conversation, physical play and practical exploration. Children assembled cars using nuts and bolts, painted rainbows and experimented with rolling differently shaped objects through large pipes. These activities gave them concrete problems to investigate.

Outside in December 2022, the mud kitchen encouraged children to combine sticks and stones in pretend cooking, while wooden tracks and stepping stones offered balancing and stretching challenges. Indoors, adults directed more of the activities. Giving children greater control over their learning was an improvement priority.

Songs, rhymes and books also featured in December 2022. Children could borrow favourite stories to share at home, linking nursery reading with family time.

In December 2022, children had close relationships with attentive staff and spoke confidently to adults. Practitioners supported English learning while making room for children's home languages, and worked with other professionals, including speech and language therapy services.

Handwashing, drinking water and trying foods were part of the December 2022 day. However, adults sometimes helped before children had enough time to try tasks themselves. More opportunities to manage personal care independently were needed.

The December 2022 inspection also identified a failure to notify Ofsted about two new company directors, requiring action to enable its suitability checks; it recorded no effect on children's care or safety. Parents received information about learning and progress, alongside activities to continue learning at home.

The address is Ryton Close, Matchborough West, Redditch, B98 0EW. Opening hours are 8.15am to 4.30pm, Monday to Friday, during term time, with closure during school holidays.

In December 2022, the nursery provided funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-old children. That describes participation at the time of the visit, rather than a promise about an individual child's entitlement.

• Choice indoors. December 2022 activities indoors were more adult-directed than outdoor play. On a visit, ask how children now choose and extend their own activities.
• Everyday independence. Staff sometimes intervened too quickly in December 2022. Ask how practitioners give children time to attempt personal-care tasks themselves.
• Term-time attendance. School-holiday closure makes the nursery's calendar an important part of planning childcare around work.

Noah's Ark suits families seeking term-time childcare for children aged 30 to 60 months. Its December 2022 strengths included practical outdoor exploration, books shared with home and confident relationships with adults. The decision points are specific: children's freedom to direct indoor learning and the time they receive to develop independence.