Strawberry Poppets Nursery School

Shortbread for older neighbours and seeds planted outdoors gave Strawberry Poppets Nursery School's April 2023 activities a practical, community-minded character. At its April 2023 inspection, Ofsted rated it Outstanding, finding exceptional teaching, excellent progress and strong preparation for the next stage of learning.

Based in Featherstone, Wolverhampton, the nursery has capacity for 41 children aged 2 to 60 months. Its strongest educational examples come from April 2023: children explored real materials, developed their language through stories and songs, and learnt consideration through shared activities.

The early years foundation stage sets the requirements for children's learning, development and care. Here, the April 2023 examples show how those requirements translated into play, conversation and practical exploration.

In April 2023, children in the pre-school room investigated citrus fruit by cutting it, extracting juice and comparing varieties. Children also planted seeds in the outdoor area and chose to make shortbread for elderly people at the community centre. These activities connected sensory exploration with growing things and doing something for others.

Books and conversation ran through the day in April 2023. Children chose reading material, discussed stories and encountered unfamiliar vocabulary; older children explored letter sounds through songs. Adult-planned experiences sat alongside activities children initiated themselves, giving them a part in shaping their learning.

Chinese New Year and Easter provided opportunities to explore celebrations in April 2023, while participation in Remembrance Day connected learning with local events. Weekly sessions with a sports specialist supported physical and social development at that time.

At the April 2023 inspection, Ofsted found safeguarding effective, with knowledgeable staff, careful recruitment checks, activity risk assessments and supervision extending to sleeping children.

In April 2023, staff assessed children's development and worked with parents and other professionals when they identified gaps. Training included safer sleep and early communication, connecting staff development with children's care and learning needs.

Freshly prepared meals featured in April 2023, alongside conversations about fruit, vegetables and health. Children also practised handwashing and learnt about caring for their teeth, making everyday routines part of their learning.

The address is Baneberry Drive, Featherstone, Wolverhampton, WV10 7TR. Opening hours are 7.30am to 5.45pm, Monday to Friday, across the year, with closures on bank holidays and Christmas Eve. The closing time is a practical consideration for families arranging collection after work.

In April 2023, the nursery provided funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-olds. That is a dated participation statement rather than a promise of a particular funded attendance arrangement today.

• Attendance and funding. Which booking patterns can your family use, and how would funded hours, additional hours, meals and consumables be treated in a current written quotation?
• Collection time. The nursery closes at 5.45pm on weekdays. Families whose working day finishes later need an arrangement that fits that deadline.
• Dated educational picture. The citrus investigations, community baking and specialist sports sessions describe April 2023. They give a concrete picture of the nursery's educational strengths at that point, rather than a current activity timetable.

Strawberry Poppets suits families seeking weekday childcare across the year who can work within its 5.45pm closing time. Its April 2023 educational picture is compelling: practical exploration, language-rich activities and experiences that connect children with other people. The Outstanding judgement adds weight to those examples, while their date remains important when weighing the nursery today.