Little Foxes, Newton Le Willows

In November 2021, close relationships and hands-on play shaped children's experience at Little Foxes, Newton Le Willows: babies explored natural materials, while toddlers met early mathematics through tower-building. These are useful examples of learning woven into ordinary play.

At its November 2021 inspection, Ofsted rated the nursery Good and judged safeguarding effective. That judgement is dated, and the improvement points matter alongside the strengths. The nursery accepts children from 3 months to 60 months at Deacon Trading Estate in Newton-Le-Willows.

The early years foundation stage provides the framework for children's learning, development and care. In everyday terms, that connects play with learning and the support children need as they grow.

In November 2021, babies investigated natural materials through their senses, and children experimented with water added to flour and sand. Tower-building gave toddlers opportunities to hear counting and compare height and quantity. Yoga involved movement and body control; mindfulness activities addressed feelings.

Communication was an improvement priority. In November 2021, staff talked through children's play and repeated descriptive words, but did not consistently recognise how dummy use beyond comfort could affect emerging speech. Activity organisation also needed attention: resources in the older baby room were sometimes left unreplenished, books were mishandled and presentation did not consistently encourage engagement. The practical issue was whether children could make use of the learning opportunities intended for them.

In November 2021, children formed attachments to their key person, and flexible settling sessions helped staff gather detailed information about them. Sharing, taking turns and interacting in groups were central to the day. Consistent behaviour rules gave children familiar expectations across the nursery.

Parent communication in November 2021 combined conversations with staff and an app carrying information about care routines, alongside communication about children's progress and experiences. Staff support included meetings, training, supervision and observations of practice. These arrangements connected daily care with communication at home and opportunities for practitioners to review their work.

The address is Deacon Trading Estate, Newton-Le-Willows, WA12 9XD. Opening hours are 7.30am to 6.30pm, Monday to Friday, across the year, with closures on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Years Day. That opening window is useful for comparing the nursery with a family's working day.

• Early communication. November 2021 improvement work included staff understanding of language development and dummy use beyond comfort. Ask how practitioners now support emerging speech during play and care routines.
• Activities for older babies. In November 2021, inconsistent resource replenishment and presentation reduced access to learning. A visit is an opportunity to discuss how staff keep activities ready and engaging throughout the day.
• Your attendance pattern. The nursery opens across the year from 7.30am to 6.30pm on weekdays. Ask which booking arrangement would accommodate your family's routine.

Little Foxes merits consideration for families seeking weekday childcare across the year. Its November 2021 account gives concrete examples of sensory exploration, early mathematics and key-person relationships. Communication development and activity organisation deserve equal weight in a family's decision: both were specific improvement points, rather than reasons to rely on the overall grade alone.