The Shutters Village Private Day Nursery

Picture books, paint and children helping their friends give Shutters Village its clearest character. At its January 2023 inspection, Ofsted rated the nursery Good and judged safeguarding effective. That is a dated judgement, rather than an assessment of today's practice.

The Shutters Village Private Day Nursery, on Phoenix Street in Spotland, Rochdale, has capacity for 54 children aged 3 to 59 months. Its inspection account combines sociable play and close adult relationships with specific work needed on teaching feedback, cultural understanding and support for learning at home.

In January 2023, younger children explored paint on large pieces of paper while adults supplied words for the movements and effects they created. Older children practised concentration and taking turns through a board game. These examples connect language and social learning to activities children could take part in directly.

The early years foundation stage sets requirements for children's learning, development and care: education and everyday care belong together. At the January 2023 inspection, Ofsted found that learning was planned around assessed developmental needs, children made progress, and activities were adjusted so children with different needs could participate.

Books brought different ages together with adults in January 2023. Babies shared picture books while cuddling staff; older children retold stories with one another. Emergency-service books and a firefighter play set also introduced people who help others. However, opportunities to explore the cultures represented within the nursery needed further development.

In January 2023, the key-person arrangement gave each child a close connection with an adult, including children who found separation from parents difficult. Older children helped agree behaviour rules, and children encouraged friends to attempt unfamiliar experiences. Relationships were part of the daily learning.

At that time, staff exchanged information with parents verbally at the beginning and end of the day. The weakness was the learning detail: parents did not consistently understand what children had been exploring or how to extend it at home.

In January 2023, children ate nutritious food and chatted with adults and friends during meals, combining healthy eating with social interaction. Staff also rehearsed evacuation procedures regularly, helping children become familiar with what to do in an emergency.

Phoenix Street, Spotland, Rochdale, OL12 7DW is the nursery's address. Opening hours are 7.30am to 6pm, Monday to Friday, with year-round operation and closures for bank holidays and Christmas. That opening window is useful for planning work and travel.

In January 2023, the nursery provided funded early education for children aged two, three and four. This describes participation at that date, rather than establishing a current funded booking arrangement.

• Teaching consistency. In January 2023, feedback to staff needed to be more precise about improving teaching. Consistency between practitioners matters alongside the appealing activity examples.
• Understanding other communities. The January 2023 improvement priorities included broader learning about cultural similarities and differences. Families may value how this develops beyond learning about helpful occupations.
• Learning at home. In January 2023, daily conversations did not consistently equip parents to continue children's learning. Useful communication needs to explain learning as well as the day's events.
• Matching attendance to family life. The weekday opening window runs from 7.30am to 6pm. Which booking pattern and funded-hours charge arrangement would apply to your child?

Shutters Village merits consideration for families seeking weekday, year-round nursery care. Its January 2023 account gives concrete examples of shared reading, creative play and close adult relationships. The decision also needs to weigh the three improvement priorities: consistent teaching, broader cultural learning and clearer guidance for parents.