Wiggles & Giggles Oldbury

Garden chalk play, animated stories and affectionate staff relationships characterised children's experience at Wiggles & Giggles Oldbury in April 2024. At its April 2024 inspection, Ofsted judged the nursery Good, found safeguarding effective and recognised good progress for children, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities.

The nursery accepts children aged 2 to 60 months at 634 Hagley Road West, Oldbury, B68 0BS. Its practical appeal includes weekday opening from 7.30am to 6.30pm, all year apart from bank holidays.

The early years foundation stage sets the framework for children's learning, development and care: play and everyday experiences help children build communication, physical and social skills. In April 2024, activities were planned around children's interests and their next steps in learning. Chunky chalks took mark-making into the garden, with children drawing on walls and the floor.

Storytelling gave language a clear place in the day. In April 2024, staff varied their voices, discussed what might happen next and introduced unfamiliar words. Books became opportunities for conversation, rather than simply something to listen to.

Outdoor activity also featured daily in April 2024. Children practised balancing and used scooters and cycles in the garden. The important qualification concerns teaching: staff did not consistently extend children's learning as far as they could.

In April 2024, key persons knew children's interests and development, while staff offered physical comfort and reassurance when needed. This connected activity planning with the relationships children relied on throughout the day.

Communication included daily updates through an online app and meet-and-greet sessions with staff in April 2024. These gave parents both information about the day and opportunities to build a relationship with their child's key person.

Freshly prepared food supported mealtimes in April 2024, and older children helped themselves to food and cleared up afterwards. Younger children had fewer opportunities to attempt tasks they could manage independently. That difference matters: everyday care can also give children chances to practise doing things for themselves.

The address is 634 Hagley Road West, Oldbury, B68 0BS. Opening hours are 7.30am to 6.30pm, Monday to Friday, with year-round opening except bank holidays.

In April 2024, the nursery provided funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-olds. That dated offer should be kept separate from decisions about a new booking.

• Extending learning. The April 2024 improvement priorities included developing staff teaching so activities stretched children's learning further. On a visit, ask how practitioners now extend an activity when a child is ready for more.
• Independence for younger children. In April 2024, younger children needed more chances to tackle manageable tasks. Ask for examples from current mealtime and care routines.
• Matching the working day. The 7.30am to 6.30pm opening window spans a substantial weekday. What attendance pattern and funded-hours arrangement would fit your child's age and your working week?

Wiggles & Giggles Oldbury suits families seeking year-round weekday childcare. Planning around children's interests was observed in April 2024. Its April 2024 account gives useful substance to that fit: garden activity, conversational storytelling and regular parent updates. The balance lies in how staff extend learning and help younger children become more independent, the two areas that deserve attention when considering the nursery.