Brookfields Day Nursery Hatton

Water play with pipettes, flower potions and early writing give Brookfields Day Nursery Hatton a recognisable character in its May 2023 account. Practical exploration runs through the examples, with children using their hands, language and imagination together.

Ofsted rated the nursery Good on 9 May 2023 and judged safeguarding effective. That is a dated assessment, rather than a description of today's daily practice. The nursery accepts children from two months to five years at 21 Station Road, Hatton, Derby, DE65 5EL.

The early years foundation stage sets the requirements for children's learning, development and care: everyday play supports communication, physical development and preparation for later learning.

In May 2023, babies explored water before staff introduced brushes and pipettes, adding opportunities to practise small hand movements. Other children mixed flowers with water to create imaginary potions. These examples show how simple materials could give children something to investigate and talk about.

Storytelling also involved participation. In May 2023, toddlers listened to a farm-animal story and pressed buttons on the book, while babies joined singing activities. Older children used newly learned words in conversation.

There were limits to adult intervention. During seed planting in May 2023, staff supplied instructions too soon rather than leaving children time to work out their next step. Some conversations involved questions delivered too rapidly, producing silence or brief answers. More thinking time and better questioning were the two improvement priorities.

In May 2023, children sought closeness with staff, including toddlers sharing a story beside them. Staff modelled considerate behaviour, and children practised waiting and sharing when using dough tools. These are concrete examples of relationships and routines supporting the day.

Communication with families included daily conversations and photographs sent home in May 2023. Managers arranged targeted staff development, including training concerning special educational needs and/or disabilities and children's emotions and behaviour.

Meals and snacks were nutritious in May 2023, alongside physical activity and conversations about healthy food. Children also practised everyday independence, including managing coats and handwashing. Early drawing, writing and counting formed part of preparation for primary school.

The address is 21 Station Road, Hatton, Derby, DE65 5EL. Opening hours are 7.30am to 6pm, Monday to Friday, across the year, with closures on bank holidays and for one week at Christmas.

In May 2023, session times ran from 7.30am to 6pm and the nursery provided funded early education for children aged two, three and four. Those details describe the arrangements at that time.

• Thinking time. In May 2023, adults sometimes intervened too quickly during seed planting. Giving children space to try an idea was an improvement priority.
• Conversation. Rapid questioning sometimes restricted children's responses in May 2023. The priority was to give children better opportunities to develop their spoken answers.
• Planning attendance. The opening window spans 7.30am to 6pm. At a visit, ask which booking patterns and funded arrangements apply now, including how meals and consumables are handled.

Brookfields suits families seeking care from early infancy through to school age, with a weekday opening window extending into the evening. Its May 2023 examples offer a useful picture of hands-on play and family communication. The Good judgement sits alongside specific weaknesses in questioning and opportunities for independent problem-solving, both relevant to how adults support children's learning.