Ingleby Barwick Childrens Day Nursery

A ball pool for babies, books to borrow and bicycles for older children give this Thornaby nursery a concrete identity. In September 2022, these were part of a day built around movement, stories and growing independence. At its 9 September 2022 inspection, Ofsted rated Ingleby Barwick Childrens Day Nursery Good and found safeguarding effective.

The nursery accepts children from 2 months to 5 years. Its address is William Crosthwaite Avenue, Teeside Industrial Estate, Thornaby, TS17 9LX. For parents, the strongest inspection-era details are the opportunities to practise physical skills and the links between everyday play and early learning. Language support and information about children's next learning steps also deserve attention.

Learning and Activities

The early years foundation stage sets the requirements for children's learning, development and care: in everyday terms, that means learning through experiences such as conversation, play and exploring materials. In September 2022, staff planned activities around individual children's next steps, with a clear idea of what each activity was intended to teach.

Stories had several routes into the day. In September 2022, practitioners used puppets alongside books, songs and rhymes, while children could borrow books from the nursery's library to share at home. That lending arrangement gave families a practical connection between nursery activities and reading together outside nursery.

Small movements mattered too. Babies squeezed and rolled dough, toddlers painted with rollers on large sheets, and older children experimented with writing for a purpose. These September 2022 examples show how preparation for writing began with handling materials rather than expecting every age group to do the same task.

Mathematical ideas also emerged through play in September 2022. Adults demonstrated counting and helped children identify colours and shapes; toy vehicles on ramps prompted exploration of direction and speed. The practical value is clear: children could encounter these ideas through objects they could move and investigate.

Outdoor and Community Life

In September 2022, babies used a ball pool and had space to practise standing and walking. Older children used ladders, a slide and ride-on bicycles, learning to move around other children as they rode. Outdoor play took place daily at that time, making physical activity a regular part of the routine.

Exploration extended beyond movement. Babies filled and emptied containers in a sandpit, while older children investigated natural materials with an autumn theme, including their smells. These were different experiences for different stages of development, with opportunities to handle materials and talk about discoveries.

In September 2022, children formed close relationships with their key persons and other staff, and settled readily. Adults helped children recognise positive behaviour through praise, while sharing and taking turns were part of everyday social learning. Older children also talked about feeling happy or sad, giving emotions a place in conversation.

At the September 2022 inspection, Ofsted found that referrals to external professionals, including speech and language therapists, helped children catch up, but asked for better staff knowledge of language development and more precise communication with parents about next learning steps.

The detail behind those concerns matters. In September 2022, babies sometimes kept their dummies while trying to vocalise, and words collected from families in children's home languages were used inconsistently. Daily photographs and activity updates reached parents, but information about what to practise next was less consistent. An account of the day and guidance for supporting learning at home serve different purposes.

Home-cooked meals featured in September 2022, with fish pie among the examples; older children served themselves and poured drinks, while babies practised feeding themselves. At that time, staff regularly checked sleeping babies, and children practised handwashing and toothbrushing, connecting care routines with increasing independence.

Sessions and Attendance

Opening hours are 7.30am to 6pm, Monday to Friday. The nursery operates across the year and closes on bank holidays. That opening window is useful for families comparing the nursery day with work commitments.

Enquiries can be made directly to the Ingleby Barwick branch on 01642 764606. The William Crosthwaite Avenue address places it in Teeside Industrial Estate, Thornaby, rather than leaving families to choose a location from the nursery's name alone.

Funding and Paid Extras

In September 2022, the nursery provided funded early education for children aged two, three and four. Families should obtain a current written quotation separating their childcare hours from any additional charges.

• Support for early communication. September 2022 practice included inconsistent use of home-language words and missed opportunities when babies vocalised with dummies. On a visit, discuss how practitioners now support your child's communication, especially if they are learning English alongside another language.
• Useful learning updates. In September 2022, activity photographs were shared daily, but next-step guidance was inconsistent. A concrete example of a child's learning update would help you judge how easily nursery learning can continue at home.
• The attendance and cost agreement. With a weekday opening window of 7.30am to 6pm, ask which booking pattern fits your family and how funded hours, meals and non-food consumables are treated in the written quotation.

This nursery suits families seeking weekday care in Thornaby who value practical play, opportunities for movement and links between stories at nursery and reading at home. The September 2022 picture includes thoughtful everyday experiences, from borrowing library books to experimenting with ramps. Balance those strengths against the language-support and parent-information improvement points when assessing the nursery for your child.