Play 'n' Learn Nursery, Stafford

Pretend ice creams, storybook counting and balance bikes give a concrete picture of learning at Play 'n' Learn Nursery, Stafford. In July 2024, ordinary play supplied opportunities to practise mathematics, language and movement. That is the clearest thread through this nursery's day.

Ofsted rated the nursery Good at its 8 July 2024 inspection and found safeguarding effective. The current setting caters for children aged 3 to 60 months and has 55 places in total. Its address is The Elms, 115 Newport Road, Stafford, ST16 1DA.

The strengths sit alongside two useful questions for parents: how consistently practitioners receive coaching, and how children who hesitate to choose an activity are helped to take part. Both arose in July 2024 and matter to the experience of an individual child, even where plenty of activities are within reach.

Learning and Activities

The early years foundation stage sets the requirements for children's learning, development and care. Here, the July 2024 examples show what learning through play can mean in practice: children explored size through scoops and containers while making pretend ice creams, while older children counted illustrations during a story about aliens and underpants. Familiar activities made room for mathematical thinking.

Language was woven into play in July 2024. Practitioners named toy animals for younger children, paused for them to attempt the words and added vocabulary such as vanilla during activities. Songs and rhymes provided further opportunities to hear and use language. The practical point is the interaction: an adult supplies a word, then leaves space for the child to respond.

Children's observations and assessments informed activity planning in July 2024. Practitioners used what they knew about each child's development to decide what to introduce next. Choosing independently was harder for some children, however, and they sometimes watched others or moved around instead of becoming absorbed in play. Access to resources alone did not ensure participation.

Outdoor and Community Life

Outdoor play in July 2024 included a seesaw, a trampoline and tunnels, alongside balance bikes. These offered different kinds of movement: balancing, jumping, crawling and moving around on balance bikes. Ball games also involved taking turns while throwing, catching and kicking. Physical practice and learning to share an activity happened together.

Small acts of independence belonged to the day too. In July 2024, children poured drinks for themselves using jugs. That is a modest but useful example of children taking responsibility for a familiar task, with an everyday object rather than a special teaching resource.

In July 2024, staff adjusted their interactions to individual children and helped them settle. When frustration made it difficult for children to express themselves, practitioners prompted them to use words and helped them sort out disagreements. The emphasis was on giving children a way to communicate, then gradually manage difficulties with their friends.

At the July 2024 inspection, Ofsted found that children with special educational needs and/or disabilities received effective individual support, with plans shaped around their needs and timely contact between the coordinator and other professionals. For families needing additional support, the useful mechanism is that connection between an individual plan, outside advice and the staff working with the child.

Health education was practical in July 2024. Children used toothbrushes on dolls' teeth, discussed the dentist's role and talked about how sugar affects teeth. Handwashing also formed part of mealtime routines. These examples connected an explanation about health with something children could practise themselves.

An online app carried information about children's care and learning to parents in July 2024. It gave families a means of following nursery experiences at home. Staff also had supervision discussions covering professional development and individual children's interests, although the arrangements for coaching still needed to become more established.

Sessions and Attendance

Opening hours are 7.30am to 6pm, Monday to Friday. The nursery operates across the year, closing for bank holidays and over Christmas. For parents whose work continues through school holidays, that annual pattern is a useful starting point for planning childcare.

Getting There

The Stafford setting is at The Elms, 115 Newport Road, ST16 1DA. Its telephone number is 01785 561635. Use the Stafford address and contact number when making an enquiry, as Play 'n' Learn also has a Wolverhampton location.

• Support for quieter children. In July 2024, some children spent time observing rather than choosing their own play. During a visit, ask how practitioners help a hesitant child become involved and how they recognise when that support is working.
• Consistency of teaching. Staff coaching was an improvement priority in July 2024. Ask how practitioners now share effective approaches and receive feedback on their work with children.
• Your attendance pattern. Opening spans the working day and provision runs across the year, with bank holiday and Christmas closures. Ask which booking pattern would fit your family's required days and hours.

Play 'n' Learn Nursery, Stafford suits families seeking care across the year, with opening hours that accommodate a working day. Its July 2024 examples give parents something tangible to assess: play-based mathematics, attentive language exchanges, varied physical activity and individual support plans. Families with a child who tends to watch before joining in should give the participation question particular weight. The best fit depends on how those everyday interactions work for that child.