Paper Moon Day Nursery

Dough shapes, garden creatures and a first bus journey give Paper Moon Day Nursery’s April 2023 account its character: learning grew from ordinary experiences that children could explore for themselves. At its April 2023 inspection, Ofsted judged the nursery Good overall and across education, behaviour, personal development and leadership.

Based at The Clock Tower, Compton Acres, West Bridgford, NG2 7PA, it has capacity for 70 children. The children attending in April 2023 were aged 0 to 4. That dated picture combines practical play with two clear priorities: giving children more room to manage tasks themselves and improving staff’s language support.

The early years foundation stage sets requirements for children’s learning, development and care; here, the April 2023 examples included counting during everyday routines and exploring shapes through dough. Mathematics had a practical purpose, with children sharing portions rather than only reciting numbers.

In April 2023, pretend cooking used vegetables and dried pasta, with conversations about tastes and smells extending children’s ideas. Outdoors, older children searched for centipedes, toddlers practised balancing on crates and babies exercised their legs on ride-on toys. These were different ways to explore, move and investigate.

A first bus journey also featured in that April 2023 account. Staff used information from families to introduce unfamiliar experiences, connecting learning about transport with something children could actually do.

At the April 2023 inspection, Ofsted found safeguarding effective and SEND support well coordinated, with the coordinator working alongside families and professionals and staff understanding children’s support strategies. This gives families a dated assessment of how support operated, rather than a promise about today’s arrangements.

In April 2023, babies developed affectionate connections with staff, while small-group play encouraged children to cooperate. For children learning English alongside another language, staff used familiar words from home and picture prompts to help them communicate.

Parents contributed menu ideas, which the nursery chef incorporated into children’s food in April 2023. Staff also shared safer-sleep information with families and invited parents to discuss teaching and support.

The address is The Clock Tower, Compton Acres, West Bridgford, NG2 7PA. In April 2023, opening hours were 7.30am to 6pm on weekdays, with year-round operation except public holidays and a Christmas closure lasting a week.

Funded early education for children aged two, three and four formed part of the April 2023 provision. That is a dated account of participation, rather than a current entitlement or booking promise.

• Doing things independently. In April 2023, staff sometimes intervened before children could try tasks themselves. Ask how practitioners now balance help with opportunities for children, including those ready for greater challenge, to manage independently.
• Time to talk. April 2023 practice sometimes restricted children’s answers through the questions staff chose or insufficient waiting time. Ask how staff now encourage fuller responses and children’s own ideas.

Paper Moon suits families who value practical exploration, everyday mathematics and cooperation between children. Its April 2023 picture contains useful examples of all three, alongside coordinated support and clear improvement priorities. The strongest decision points are how independently children can act and how much space their conversations receive.