Twinkle Tots of Endon

Paint splats, bubble play and garden-grown ingredients give Twinkle Tots of Endon a practical, hands-on character in its September 2023 account of nursery life. Activities connected movement, language and independence rather than treating them as separate tasks. That is the clearest thread running through its day.

The nursery cares for children from 3 months to 5 years at Alder House in Endon. At its September 2023 inspection, Ofsted judged the provision Good overall and safeguarding effective. The judgement came with two important priorities: helping children cope with changes in routine and making relationships with parents more consistently positive.

In September 2023, babies explored foam for hidden objects and practised sounds while playing with bubbles. Toddlers swung paint-filled activities to make marks, with adults introducing ideas about height as they played. Preschool children used tweezers and squeezed foam, giving their fingers practice for later writing. These examples show how simple materials became opportunities to develop several skills together.

The early years foundation stage sets the framework for children's learning, development and care. Here, the September 2023 activities connected that framework to sensory exploration, conversation, practical movement and learning about the world.

Children also planted seeds in the garden and later used the produce in cooking. The connection between growing and preparing food gave those activities a shared purpose. Preschool children were practising writing their own names, while conversations about animals and pictures of people from different cultures broadened what children encountered during the day.

At the September 2023 inspection, Ofsted found that the key-person arrangements supported individual needs and that children with special educational needs and/or disabilities received effective support through assessment and early intervention. In September 2023, language screening also helped staff identify children who needed individual help or advice from other professionals.

Care routines had useful practical detail at that time: toddlers brushed their teeth after an afternoon sleep, and a cook prepared hot food in the nursery kitchen. Adults gathered children's preferences from parents and used them when planning activities.

There were weaker points too. In September 2023, some children struggled when activities changed, and adults did not consistently account for the effect on their sense of security. Progress updates were shared at collection and through an app, but parents' experiences of communication were uneven. Both issues matter beyond the activity programme: children need predictable support, and parents need a dependable relationship with those caring for them.

The address is Alder House, Station Road, Endon, Stoke On Trent, ST9 9DR. Opening hours are 7.30am to 6pm, Monday to Friday, across the year, with closures on bank holidays and for one week at Christmas.

In September 2023, the nursery provided funded early education for children aged two, three and four. Current prices come in the nursery's written quotation.

• Changes in routine. In September 2023, some children needed better support when moving between activities. During a visit, ask how a key person now helps a child who finds these changes difficult.
• Communication with parents. Experiences were inconsistent in September 2023 despite app updates and conversations at collection. A clear understanding of how concerns and progress are discussed will matter for families choosing this nursery.

Twinkle Tots of Endon suits families seeking weekday care across the year, with babies through to preschool children accommodated. Its September 2023 examples make the strongest case for practical learning: sensory play, early writing and growing food linked everyday experiences to developing skills. The important counterweight is consistency in emotional support and communication with parents.