All Saints Children's Ventures

Apple and pear trees, colour experiments and children making their own play dough give All Saints Children's Ventures a hands-on character in its July 2023 account of daily life. Ofsted rated the setting Good at its 12 July 2023 inspection. The emphasis was on children trying things for themselves.

Based at All Saints Church in Liverpool, the nursery accepts children from two to under five and has capacity for 32 children. It operates during term time.

The early years foundation stage sets the framework for children's learning, development and care, connecting practical experiences with growing communication, independence and physical skills.

In July 2023, younger children mixed play dough ingredients, while older children investigated colour combinations using coloured cellophane. These were opportunities to take turns, test ideas and see what happened. Counting songs and familiar book passages brought language into those activities, with staff listening to children's news and opinions.

The garden supplied another kind of discovery that July. Children watched strawberries and tomatoes develop and picked fruit from apple and pear trees. Caring for plants connected growing food with eating it. Obstacle courses, football, bicycles and tricycles also gave children different ways to practise balance and movement outdoors.

At the July 2023 inspection, Ofsted found effective safeguarding, good developmental progress and SEND support involving parents, other professionals and referrals to outside agencies. These are dated judgements rather than assurances about today's practice.

In July 2023, a sensory den helped children explore feelings, with additional funding supporting their development. Close relationships with staff and other children were evident, and sharing resources was part of everyday play.

Communication with parents that July included developmental updates and ideas to use at home. The grab bags supported toilet training, linking home routines with nursery learning. At snack time, children laid the table, used tongs to serve food and washed their plates, turning ordinary tasks into opportunities for independence. Allergies and dietary needs were catered for at that time.

The address is All Saints Church, 93a Forefield Lane, Liverpool, L23 9TQ. Opening hours are 7.50am to 3.20pm, Monday to Friday, with closure during school holidays. That term-time calendar is central to planning care across the year.

In July 2023, the nursery provided funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-olds. That describes participation at the time of the visit.

• Group instructions. In July 2023, unclear directions sometimes left children unsure what to do during group activities. Ask how practitioners now make expectations clear for children of different ages.
• Staff development. The July 2023 improvement priorities included more individualised training and stronger supervision. How has this changed the support practitioners receive?
• Term-time planning. The nursery closes during school holidays. At a visit, ask which attendance pattern would fit your child's routine and your term-time commitments.

All Saints Children's Ventures suits families seeking term-time care for children from two to under five. Its July 2023 strengths lay in practical learning, outdoor movement and everyday independence, supported by communication with parents. Clearer group instructions and more tailored staff development were the areas needing attention. The garden and home-learning links give families concrete aspects of the experience to explore at a visit.