Chatterbox Day Nursery

In February 2025, Chatterbox Day Nursery used family photographs to help babies settle, while its lending library connected learning at nursery with activities at home. At its February 2025 inspection, Ofsted rated the nursery Good, judged safeguarding effective and found that specialist collaboration supported children with SEND in developing communication and social confidence.

Based in Southport, Chatterbox has capacity for 26 children, with an age range from birth to 60 months. This is the whole nursery's capacity, rather than the size of an individual group.

The early years foundation stage sets the framework for children's learning, development and care: play and everyday routines help children build communication, physical skills and independence.

In February 2025, staff combined speech with simple signing and visual prompts. Babies explored rhyme through songs and clapping, while adults introduced new vocabulary during older children's play. Language learning extended beyond a scheduled activity.

Physical experiences offered different challenges. In February 2025, younger children handled whisks and tweezers while making flower tea; older children practised climbing and balancing on large equipment, including balance beams. These activities gave children opportunities to practise both careful hand movements and whole-body coordination.

In February 2025, babies received cuddles and used family photographs to help them settle. Staff responded to children's emotions, intervened in small disagreements and helped children understand how their behaviour affected others. Familiar adults and familiar images connected care with home life.

The lending library extended that connection. In February 2025, families could borrow resources, including board games supporting early mathematics, and received feedback about children's learning. Staff also worked on skills needed for the move to school, including independence, confidence and consideration for others.

The address is 18 Avondale Road, Southport, PR9 0ND. Chatterbox operates throughout the year.

In February 2025, opening hours were 7.30am to 6pm, Monday to Friday, across 51 weeks, with bank holidays excluded. Government-funded early education was offered at that time. These are dated operating details rather than a description of a particular booking pattern.

• Learning tailored to the child. In February 2025, some learning targets needed greater precision, and younger children sometimes struggled to maintain attention during large-group activities. More individual planning and better organisation of group activities were improvement priorities.
• Hygiene routines. In February 2025, handwashing messages were inconsistent, including after children wiped their noses. Consistency matters because children learn these habits through repeated practice.
• Planning a visit. With babies and older children within a nursery of 26 places, how are groups organised, and what settling arrangements would apply to your child?

Chatterbox suits families who value practical links between nursery and home: familiar photographs helped babies settle, while borrowed games carried learning into family life in February 2025. The Good judgement provides a positive inspection position, balanced by specific priorities around individual learning targets, group activities and hygiene. Those details matter more than the grade alone.