Glenfield Nursery School

Stories that lead to growing beans, and stick insects that need caring for: Glenfield’s March 2022 experiences connected books with the natural world. At its 11 March 2022 inspection, Ofsted rated Glenfield Nursery School Good overall. The practical learning examples give that judgement substance, alongside two clear areas for improvement.

Today, the nursery has capacity for 70 children, accepting ages from two months to four years. Its address is 19 Albert Road, Eaglescliffe, Stockton-On-Tees, TS16 0DA.

The early years foundation stage brings learning, development and care together: play can build language, mathematical understanding and independence within the same activity.

In March 2022, children followed Jack and the Beanstalk by planting beans outdoors. Magnifying glasses helped them investigate their plants, and finding a woodlouse extended the discovery. Books became a starting point for exploration.

Dough-making also brought mathematics into practical activity that March. Children measured ingredients and considered why their mixture would not hold together. Caring for stick insects introduced responsibility for living things, including learning what they eat.

There were limits to children’s freedom to experiment. In March 2022, adults sometimes moved questions along before children could formulate an answer, and restricted the colours offered for drawing daffodils. More thinking time and greater creative choice were the improvement priorities.

At the March 2022 inspection, Ofsted found safeguarding effective and described close key-person relationships that helped children feel secure. In March 2022, staff responded to babies’ babbling with eye contact and introduced new vocabulary during planting activities, connecting conversation with what children were doing.

Health learning had a practical element that March: children explored foods’ effects on teeth, and toothbrushing had been introduced with hygienic arrangements. Staff development included training in using loose parts and responding to learning as it arose; this prompted changes to the play environment.

Opening hours are 7.30am to 6pm, Monday to Friday, with an all-year opening schedule. That gives families a broad weekday window for childcare.

In March 2022, the nursery provided funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-olds. This is a dated position rather than a promise of a funded place today.

• Time to answer. In March 2022, children sometimes had too little time to develop their responses. Unhurried conversation matters for expressing their own ideas.
• Creative choice. The March 2022 daffodil activity restricted children’s colour choices. Families who value open-ended art should weigh this improvement point alongside the practical exploration.
• Settling arrangements. How would a key person support your child’s move into nursery, especially if they are starting as a baby?

Glenfield suits families seeking all-year weekday childcare and parents drawn to learning through stories, making and caring for living things. Its March 2022 examples show the appeal clearly. The balance to weigh is between that practical exploration and the need identified then for more time to think and greater freedom to create.