Stanley House Nursery

An oak tree, fallen acorns and garden squirrels gave children a connected way to explore autumn at Stanley House Nursery in October 2023. Books extended that interest, linking stories with things children could observe for themselves.

At its October 2023 inspection, Ofsted rated the nursery Good, judged safeguarding effective and found that children with special educational needs and/or disabilities received effective support. Stanley House serves children aged 3 to 60 months in Farington Moss, Leyland.

The early years foundation stage sets the requirements for children's learning, development and care: practical exploration, conversation and play contribute to learning alongside everyday routines. In October 2023, activities followed children's interests, including autumn discoveries and sensory play with pasta and shaving foam.

Outdoor activity had a physical purpose. In October 2023, children practised balancing on beams, climbed trees and worked together with planks and tyres. These experiences combined movement with decisions about how to build and cooperate. Staff encouraged children to attempt more challenging movements, while the outdoor layout was designed to develop core strength. The emphasis was on children testing their abilities with adult encouragement. Construction added a social element: working with the same materials gave children a reason to coordinate their efforts as well as exercise their bodies.

Independence developed through ordinary tasks. In October 2023, younger children practised feeding themselves, while older children laid tables and poured drinks. Writing also had a purpose: older children made letters for friends and addressed envelopes, connecting marks on paper with communication. Opportunities to make marks extended to babies and younger children too. This gave the activity a place across different stages of development, rather than reserving it for children approaching school age. Feeding, pouring and setting tables likewise made independence part of familiar routines, with the task changing as children progressed.

Imaginative play brought another kind of exploration in October 2023. Preschool children constructed a castle, arranged dinosaurs and invented scenarios around them. Staff recognised what children had created, giving attention to their ideas as well as the finished construction. Singing and two-way conversations also formed part of language teaching. There was a clear distinction between introducing words and helping children retain them: the improvement point concerned repeating unfamiliar vocabulary, rather than a lack of conversation. For parents, that makes reinforcement an important part of the learning discussion.

In October 2023, staff used golden rules to explain behaviour expectations and helped children think about feelings when frustrations arose. The special educational needs coordinator worked with families and outside professionals, making referrals when concerns emerged. That process connected concerns raised within the nursery with additional help for eligible children. Behaviour support also went beyond stating rules: staff responded to frustration and encouraged children to consider another person's feelings alongside their own. The practical emphasis was on helping children understand a difficult moment and the expectations around it.

Daily feedback connected parents with their child's day in October 2023. However, the next learning steps were not explained specifically enough to help parents build on them at home. Vocabulary teaching also needed more repetition so that unfamiliar words became established.

At the October 2023 inspection, Ofsted found that staff had failed to follow children's allergy requirements and the provider had failed to notify it of the significant event. Appropriate action had been taken, policies reviewed and staff training updated. Both the handling of dietary instructions and the reporting failure matter for families whose children need carefully managed allergy arrangements.

The address is 326 Croston Road, Farington Moss, Leyland, PR26 6PN. Opening hours are 8am to 6pm, Monday to Friday; the nursery operates throughout the year, closing for one week at Christmas.

In October 2023, funded early education was provided for two-, three- and four-year-old children. This is a dated participation detail rather than a promise of a funded place today.

• Allergy management. The October 2023 incident involved both children's dietary requirements and notification procedures. Families managing allergies should discuss how instructions reach staff and how incidents are communicated.
• Learning beyond nursery. October 2023 improvement points concerned reinforcing vocabulary and explaining next learning steps to parents. Ask how these are now shared and practised at home.
• Attendance arrangements. The weekday opening window spans 8am to 6pm. At a visit, establish which booking pattern fits your working day and child's routine.

Stanley House suits families seeking weekday childcare across the year, with a Christmas closure. Its October 2023 account gives concrete examples of outdoor movement, purposeful writing and growing independence. The Good judgement provides a dated quality assessment; the language, parent-communication and allergy findings give families useful points to explore before choosing.