Squirrels Children Day Nursery, Middleton

Paint mixing, storytelling and a mud kitchen give this Middleton nursery's August 2023 account its character. At its August 2023 inspection, Ofsted judged the provision Good and safeguarding effective. The strongest practical examples centre on children experimenting, talking and building relationships with familiar adults.

Squirrels Children Day Nursery, Middleton has capacity for 93 children, with an accepted age range of 3 to 60 months. Its address is the Former Baptist Church on Green Street, Middleton, Manchester, M24 2HU.

In August 2023, learning progressed from toddlers making marks with broad pens to preschool children drawing people with pencils. That progression gave similar activities different levels of challenge, rather than treating every age alike.

The early years foundation stage sets requirements for children's learning, development and care. Here, the August 2023 examples included counting objects, exploring water quantities and predicting what would happen to melting ice: learning through practical investigation.

Books also supplied opportunities to participate. In August 2023, older children retold stories using masks and soft toys, while younger children brought favourite books to adults. Toddlers filled containers with soil in the mud kitchen. Preschool children explored colour by mixing paint with their hands. These were concrete opportunities to connect words with actions and materials.

At the August 2023 inspection, Ofsted found that the special educational needs coordinator helped practitioners create targeted plans, and that children, including those receiving early years funding, progressed well from their starting points.

In August 2023, children sought familiar staff for comfort and help. The Colour Monster, a story used to discuss feelings, supported older children's conversations about emotions; simple hand signs helped younger children understand instructions. Staff also exchanged information with parents about development and activities to continue at home, connecting nursery learning with family life.

Safe sleep procedures were in use with toddlers in August 2023, alongside procedures for medication, accidents and assessing risks.

Opening hours are 7.30am to 6pm on weekdays. The nursery operates across the year, closing for bank holidays and a week over Christmas. This gives families a clear opening window and a defined seasonal closure to plan around.

In August 2023, funded early education was provided for children aged two, three and four. That is a dated participation statement, rather than a promise of a funded place today.

• Independence needs room. In August 2023, adults sometimes stepped in to pour drinks or complete puzzles when children could attempt these themselves. Ask how practitioners now give children time to try and think through a task.
• Consistency across staff. The August 2023 improvement priorities included making coaching and supervision more established across the team. A visit is an opportunity to discuss how these arrangements shape everyday teaching.
• Funding and attendance. How would a funded booking fit your child's attendance pattern, and what additional charges would apply?

For families seeking care across the year, the weekday opening window is a useful practical foundation. The August 2023 picture suits parents who value hands-on exploration, books and communication with familiar practitioners. The balancing point is equally specific: children needed more chances to attempt tasks independently, some were ready for more demanding questions to develop their thinking, and staff development arrangements needed further embedding. Those are useful subjects for a visit, alongside the nursery's approach to supporting individual children.