The Longridge Nursery

Books, exploratory play and close relationships give The Longridge Nursery its character in the May 2023 account. Babies investigated sounds with a spoon; older children examined a feather and discussed the bird it might belong to. These small encounters made everyday objects starting points for learning.

At its May 2023 inspection, Ofsted rated the nursery Good, judged safeguarding effective and found that children, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities, made good progress. The nursery has capacity for 75 children. Its address is 104 Higher Road, Longridge, Preston, PR3 3SY.

The early years foundation stage is the required framework for children's learning, development and care: here, the May 2023 examples show learning through play, conversation, movement and stories. Staff had helped shape a curriculum that built knowledge in stages, giving activities a purpose beyond keeping children occupied.

Reading had a visible place in that month's daily life. Children explored books together in cosy corners, babies listened to adults reading nearby, and older children discussed pictures during shared stories. Books supported both quiet companionship and conversation.

Mathematics also emerged through play in May 2023. Children counted during hide-and-seek and considered shapes while completing jigsaws. Ball games and ride-on toys offered practice in coordination, while babies had opportunities to stand and try walking. Different stages of development were reflected in different activities.

In May 2023, each child's key person used information gathered from parents to understand their needs. Staff watched children's play, adjusted their interactions and planned activities around the next steps in development. This connected knowledge of the child with the day's learning.

Communication with families was another substantial part of that month's account: parents understood what their children were learning and the support being provided. Children sought staff out during play, followed familiar routines independently and received encouragement for their achievements.

Language teaching needed greater consistency in May 2023. Conversations, singing and new vocabulary were established practices, but staff sometimes missed opportunities to check understanding or demonstrate accurate language. That distinction matters: frequent talk alone does not ensure that children understand and use words well.

In May 2023, opening hours were Monday to Friday, 7.30am to 5.30pm. The nursery operated across the year, closing for a week at Christmas, a summer week and bank holidays.

Children attending at that time were aged 0 to 4, and funded early education was provided for children aged two, three and four. These are dated attendance and funding details, rather than a description of today's booking arrangements.

• Language development. The May 2023 improvement priority concerned checking understanding and modelling speech accurately. Ask how staff now put those skills into practice during stories and play.
• Your weekly routine. The May 2023 opening window covered weekdays, with Christmas and summer closures. At a visit, ask which attendance pattern and closure calendar would apply to your child.

The May 2023 picture suits families who value shared reading, exploratory play and a key person who connects parental knowledge with daily care. Its appeal rests on those concrete practices. More consistent language teaching was the clear improvement priority, and should remain part of a family's assessment.