Storytime Private Day Nursery

Shopping lists, library activities and songs for care-home residents gave learning a community dimension at Storytime Private Day Nursery in November 2022. Children had reasons to use their language beyond the nursery: choosing purchases, sharing stories and entertaining older adults.

Ofsted rated the nursery Good at its 25 November 2022 inspection. At 57 Horace Street, St. Helens, WA10 4LZ, it has capacity for 61 children, with an accepted age range of 2 to 59 months.

In November 2022, stories combined clear reading with signs and familiar actions that children could join in with. Children chose books and play resources, giving them a say in their day. Multicultural peg dolls provided another starting point for storytelling and exploring differences between people.

The early years foundation stage sets the requirements for children's learning, development and care. Here, the November 2022 activities connected language, choice and practical experience: children wrote shopping lists before supermarket visits, attended library activities and took donations to a food bank.

For Remembrance Day, children took a painted poppy wreath they had made to the cenotaph and returned by bus. This brought a community occasion and public transport into their experiences. Resources supported play both inside and outdoors.

At its November 2022 inspection, Ofsted found safeguarding effective and identified staff working with parents and other professionals to support children needing additional help and enable good progress. This included support for children with special educational needs or disabilities and those learning English as an additional language.

In November 2022, staff discussed children's needs in weekly meetings, while parents received information about progress and ideas for learning at home. Staff recognition included an employee-of-the-month scheme; retention helped children build relationships with familiar adults.

Daily routines also encouraged independence. Children served their lunch and cleared their dishes; preschool children helped identify outdoor hazards, including slippery leaves. The improvement priority was more conversation during care routines such as nappy changes. Strong storytelling did not extend consistently into those quieter moments of care.

The address is 57 Horace Street, St. Helens, WA10 4LZ. Opening hours are 7.30am to 6pm, Monday to Friday, across the year, with closures for bank holidays and Christmas.

In November 2022, session times ran from 7.30am to 6pm, and funded early education was offered for two-, three- and four-year-old children. That funding statement belongs to the arrangements at that time.

• Language during care. More interaction during nappy changes was the November 2022 improvement priority. On a visit, ask how practitioners now use care routines to encourage conversation.
• Community experiences. November 2022 activities included supermarket visits, library activities and singing at a care home. Consider whether this outward-looking approach matches the experiences you want for your child.
• Attendance and funding. The weekday opening window spans 7.30am to 6pm. Ask which booking patterns and funded arrangements would fit your child's attendance.

Storytime suits families who value storytelling, children's choices and learning connected to community life. Its November 2022 account gives concrete examples of all three, alongside independence at mealtimes and communication with parents. The useful caution is equally specific: language support needed to carry through into care routines, rather than being concentrated in planned activities.