Early Days Day Nursery

Strong relationships with babies and lively conversations among older children gave Early Days Day Nursery its character in January 2022. Babies joined in action rhymes, while older children talked about their interests and made choices about their play. Communication ran through the day.

At its January 2022 inspection, Ofsted rated the nursery Good, judged safeguarding effective and found that children, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), progressed well. That positive assessment came with two clear priorities: better organisation of group activities and more precise feedback for staff.

The Formby nursery has 96 places in total and accepts children aged 3 to 60 months.

The early years foundation stage sets the requirements for children's learning, development and care, linking education with everyday routines and wellbeing.

In January 2022, books and enthusiastic storytelling encouraged children to discuss stories and share ideas. In role play, children talked through preparing pretend food and drinks. Younger children practised individual words, while babies copied familiar sounds during rhymes. These were different ways to build communication at different stages.

Physical activity also had several forms in January 2022. Children practised running, climbing and balancing outdoors, attended tennis lessons and made regular visits to the local forest school for outdoor learning. Dough and tools for making marks exercised the smaller movements needed for writing. Meals introduced international cuisine, including food from Mexico, alongside conversations about cultural differences.

However, January 2022 group storytelling and phonics activities involved too much waiting. Some children lost interest before their turn. The organisation of those sessions mattered as much as the books and activities themselves.

In January 2022, the key-person arrangement was especially evident with babies. Staff learnt their individual needs quickly and responded calmly, helping new babies develop close relationships with a familiar adult. For parents weighing early separation, that attention to individual needs is a useful part of the dated assessment.

Children also practised sharing and taking turns in January 2022. Staff encouraged considerate behaviour, while conversations about different beliefs, festivals and foods introduced perspectives beyond children's own experiences.

Staff development needed greater precision that January. Feedback did not consistently explain how individual practitioners could improve, and activity planning varied. Some activities lacked a clear next learning step, leaving more advanced children insufficiently stretched on occasion.

The address is 83 Church Road, Formby, Liverpool, L37 3NB. Opening hours are 7.30am to 6pm, Monday to Friday, across the year, with closures for bank holidays and Christmas.

In January 2022, the nursery provided funded early education for children aged two, three and four. That describes provision at that time.

• Group participation. In January 2022, lengthy waits during storytelling and phonics reduced some children's engagement. On a visit, ask how these activities are organised so children can contribute.
• Challenge and staff feedback. January 2022 activity planning did not consistently stretch more advanced children, and staff feedback needed greater precision. Ask how practitioners choose each child's next learning step.
• Attendance and charges. The opening window extends from 7.30am to 6pm. Which booking pattern, funded-hours arrangement and meal or consumable charges would apply to your family?

Early Days suits families seeking care for babies through to older nursery children and weekday opening across the year. Its January 2022 assessment combined close relationships with babies, communication-rich play and varied physical activity. The decision also needs to take account of the dated concerns about group participation and consistency in planning children's next steps.