The Column Nursery

In May 2023, birdwatching, ballet vocabulary and French counting shaped children's learning at The Column Nursery. At its May 2023 inspection, Ofsted rated it Good overall. The Bell Lane setting in Shrewsbury has capacity for 24 children, with accepted ages spanning three months to five years.

That inspection captured children building relationships with staff and learning through familiar interests. Its strongest examples were small and concrete: identifying garden birds, revisiting stories and bringing experiences from home into conversation.

The early years foundation stage sets the requirements for children's learning, development and care. In everyday terms, that brings learning and personal care together rather than treating them as separate parts of the day.

In May 2023, children watched birds visiting the garden feeders. Children used pictures beside the window and a book to identify birds, including robins and blackbirds. An interest in what was happening outdoors became a reason to look closely, compare and name.

Weekly French lessons involved a visiting tutor, with counting practised again during circle time. Weekly dance lessons introduced ballet terminology alongside movement. These were opportunities to connect new words with something children could do.

A story of the week was read daily, giving children repeated encounters with its language and rhythm. Discussions about holidays in Spain brought flowers, birds and animals into learning, while visiting chicks gave children something to observe and discuss. These examples belong to May 2023.

At the May 2023 inspection, Ofsted found safeguarding effective, SEND support successful and children making good progress, with speech and language therapists contributing strategies that staff used in nursery.

In May 2023, key-person relationships helped children settle, while staff drew on conversations with families to understand their experiences. Children received support to recognise feelings, make choices and respond to instructions. Regular newsletters shared learning and ideas for extending it at home.

Individual sleep patterns and dietary needs informed care. Staff passed dietary information to the nursery cook, and children practised independence through feeding themselves and putting on slippers. The emphasis was on manageable everyday tasks that prepared them for their next stage.

The address is The Column Nursery, Bell Lane, Shrewsbury, SY2 5HJ. Opening hours are 7.45am to 6pm, Monday to Friday, across the year, with bank holidays and one week at Christmas excluded.

In May 2023, funded early education was provided for children aged two, three and four. The nursery also ran a holiday club during school holidays at that time.

• Staff development. In May 2023, supervision feedback needed more individual teaching targets. Families can ask how those targets now shape staff development.
• Learning today. French, dance and garden birdwatching featured in May 2023. During a visit, ask how these experiences fit into the current day for your child's age.

The Column Nursery suits families who value learning built around conversation, repetition and children's interests. Its May 2023 examples connect language with movement, books and the garden, while care routines at that inspection gave children opportunities to become more independent. Individual staff-development targets were the improvement priority.