The Wolds Day Nursery

Village walks, books borrowed from a visiting library bus and science experiments give The Wolds Day Nursery a recognisable character. Its rural setting on Old Melton Road in Normanton-on-the-Wolds brings countryside into the picture, while the learning described in February 2022 connected children's interests with practical experiences. This is a nursery to consider for families who value reading, conversation and opportunities to explore.

Ofsted rated the nursery Outstanding at its 11 February 2022 inspection, finding that its carefully planned curriculum helped children take their next learning steps. That judgement belongs to that date. The current age range is 2 to 60 months, and attendance options include full-day, working-day and school-time sessions.

Learning and Activities

The early years foundation stage provides the framework for children's learning, development and care: in parent language, education and everyday care belong together, with play providing opportunities to practise new skills. The February 2022 examples make that concrete. Babies joined songs by making sounds and imitating movements, and selected props from a bag themselves. Participation began with what the youngest children could do, rather than requiring spoken answers.

Reading had a physical presence in February 2022. Cushions, rugs and subdued lighting furnished comfortable places to share books. Story boxes paired a book with related objects and went home regularly, giving families something tangible to use together. A lending library in reception extended that connection between nursery and home.

Older children followed safety instructions during science experiments in February 2022. The golden rules, a set of expectations shaped around children's interests, gave behaviour a shared reference point. For younger children, getting ready for a village walk involved finding their coats and waiting for help. These were different ways to practise independence: choosing resources, managing familiar routines and following instructions during an activity.

Outdoor and Community Life

In February 2022, the community library bus visited monthly, and children boarded it to select books for the nursery. That added a real borrowing experience to reading activities. Choosing a book from somewhere beyond their usual room also gave children a part in deciding what the nursery would read.

Village walks were another part of life in February 2022. They brought the surrounding community into children's day rather than leaving learning entirely within the building. The rural location remains a practical part of this nursery's identity, with access from the A606 (Melton Road) and A46 (Fosse Way).

Relationships and Communication

In February 2022, babies sought comfort by smiling, vocalising and leaning into familiar staff. Those small interactions matter to families choosing care for a child who cannot yet explain how they feel. They describe relationships through children's actions, rather than through a general promise about the atmosphere.

Home activities were sent out regularly for children of different ages in February 2022. Alongside the story boxes, they gave parents a way to join in with learning beyond nursery hours. The Parent Forum Group, a parent feedback group, met each term and gathered other families' views to share with the owner. It also raised funds for the nursery and community. This was a structured route for feedback, with a purpose beyond an occasional conversation.

Inclusion and Wellbeing

At its February 2022 inspection, Ofsted found safeguarding effective and support for children needing additional help highly effective, with staff breaking learning into achievable steps and working with other services. These are dated judgements, not assurances about an individual child's present arrangements.

In February 2022, a speech and language therapist supported children and coached staff during a couple of days each week. The arrangement connected specialist input with practitioners' everyday interactions. Families considering language support have a useful, specific subject to discuss, rather than relying on a broad statement about inclusion.

The February 2022 team comprised 24 staff, of whom 21 worked with children; 16 held relevant qualifications at level 3 or above, including three at level 6. Staff training also included opportunities for colleagues to lead sessions and give leaders feedback. These figures describe the team at that time and should not be read as today's deployment or a room-size measure.

Sessions and Attendance

The nursery opens Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm, with earlier starts by request. Three booking windows serve different routines: the full-day session runs from 8am to 6pm, the working-day session from 8.30am to 5pm, and the school-time session from 9am to 3.30pm. Full-time and part-time attendance are catered for.

The operating year is 48 weeks. Closures cover bank holidays, May half term, two weeks in August and the Christmas/New Year period. Those breaks are a significant planning point for parents whose own work continues through school holidays. The shorter school-time window does not mean the nursery operates only during term time.

Getting There

The address is Old Melton Road, Normanton-on-the-Wolds, Keyworth, Nottingham, NG12 5NH. Enquiries can be made by telephone on 0115 937 6030 or by email to office@woldschildcare.co.uk.

Funding and Paid Extras

Breakfast, lunch and tea are included in both the full-day and working-day sessions; the school-time session includes a morning snack and lunch. That makes the meal pattern part of the attendance decision, rather than a separate choice about the length of the day.

In February 2022, the nursery provided funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-old children. That describes participation at the inspection date, rather than establishing a current funding package.

• Holiday cover. The 48-week year includes May half term, two August weeks and a Christmas/New Year closure, as well as bank holidays. Match these breaks against the care your family needs during working weeks.
• Choosing a session. The working-day option ends at 5pm, while the full day continues until 6pm and school time finishes at 3.30pm. Consider the collection time you can sustain, as well as the activities and meals within each window.
• Care for the youngest children. The accepted age range starts at 2 months. On a visit, ask how many babies share the room and how their sleep and settling routines are organised; those details will help you judge the fit for your child.

The Wolds suits families choosing the Full-day session, Working day session or School time session who value a rural setting and a book-centred nursery experience. Its February 2022 judgement carries weight, and the detail beneath it is useful: shared reading, practical independence, specialist language input and an organised parent feedback group. The holiday calendar deserves equal attention. A strong educational history and a workable attendance pattern both matter when choosing care.