Lascelles Park Nursery

Parkland gives Lascelles Park Nursery its character: children aged two to four have a setting in Lascelles Park, with play indoors and outside. There are 24 places in total. This is a nursery for toddlers and preschool children, rather than a setting spanning the baby years.

At its July 2022 inspection, Ofsted rated the nursery Good and found safeguarding effective, with improvements needed in helping quieter children participate in groups and explaining the reasons behind behaviour rules. Those points matter alongside the grade: participation and understanding boundaries shape how comfortably a child can join nursery life.

Attendance can combine morning sessions, afternoons and some full days during term time. That gives families different ways to use their funded hours.

Exploration, sensory experiences and playing with friends form the nursery's approach to learning. The early years foundation stage provides the framework for children's learning, development and care; here, play gives children opportunities to practise language, movement and making things.

In July 2022, the indoor environment included dens for books and quiet time, while dough, cutters and paint gave children opportunities to practise small hand movements. Outside, equipment encouraged climbing, balancing and pulling themselves up. These are different kinds of physical practice, from handling materials to moving the whole body.

Number work also grew out of play in July 2022. Children searched sand for pennies and counted their finds, while filling water containers introduced ideas about size and measure. The value of these examples is their concreteness: mathematical ideas were attached to something children could handle and do.

Songs, stories and rhymes supported language during that same period. Staff repeated children's words to help pronunciation and linked new vocabulary to the activity underway. Children also copied one another's ribbon movements, combining shared play with movement. However, quieter children were not consistently encouraged to contribute during group activities. For a child who enjoys watching before joining, that distinction deserves attention.

A key person system gives each child a relationship with a particular member of staff. It provides a personal point of connection within the nursery's play-based day, rather than leaving relationships entirely to whichever activity a child chooses.

At the July 2022 inspection, Ofsted found that staff knew their key children, planned activities around their next learning steps and maintained effective relationships with parents and other professionals to support continuity of care. That combination connected daily activities with an understanding of the individual child.

In July 2022, staff talked with children about emotions and used praise to recognise achievements. Children practised sharing and taking turns; personal care included washing hands independently and using tissues appropriately. The weakness was in explaining boundaries: children sometimes received too little help to understand why running indoors or kicking toys was inappropriate. Praise and clear explanations serve different purposes, and children need both.

For children attending all day, families provide a packed lunch; the nursery encourages balanced food and asks parents to limit sugary snacks and drinks. Morning and afternoon snacks are supplied, with examples including seasonal vegetables and fruit, plus milk and water.

Sessions and Attendance

The nursery is at The Lodge, Lascelles Park, Lascelles Road, Slough, SL3 7PR. Sessions run Monday to Friday: mornings are 8.45am to 11.45am and afternoons are noon to 3pm. Children can attend either pattern or combine them with some full days to make up their hours.

Term-time attendance is the basis of the funding arrangements. Requests for more than 15 hours may be accommodated, so the standard funded pattern and an extended booking are separate considerations.

Funding and Paid Extras

Funding includes Free Early Learning for Two Year Olds, with 15 hours each week over 38 term-time weeks for eligible families. Government educational funding for 3 & 4 year olds provides 15 weekly hours over 38 term-time weeks, beginning in the term after the child's third birthday.

The nursery also offers 30 Hours Free Childcare for Working Parents (3 and 4 Year Olds), subject to eligibility. These are different entitlement routes, rather than a single offer that applies to every child. Families using full days need to plan for the packed lunch alongside their attendance pattern.

• Quieter children in groups. July 2022 brought a specific concern about encouraging less-confident children to participate. On a visit, ask how staff help a child move from watching to contributing.
• Reasons behind boundaries. In July 2022, explanations of behaviour rules needed more attention. Ask how staff explain limits during play, rather than relying on reminders alone.
• Address for a visit. The nursery address uses SL3 7PR, while its contact footer gives SL3 7UW. Confirm the postcode when arranging a visit by telephone or through the visit request form.

Lascelles Park Nursery suits families seeking term-time mornings, afternoons or a combination that includes some full days for a child aged two to four. Parkland, sensory exploration and a key person system give it a clear identity. The Good judgement from July 2022 provides a dated assessment, with useful questions about group participation and how children learn the reasons for rules. Those questions are especially relevant for a quieter child or one still learning to manage shared play.