Child 1st, Stoke

An indoor sandpit for babies and chickens whose eggs children collected give Child 1st, Stoke a recognisable character in its December 2021 nursery day. These were hands-on experiences: digging, exploring textures and caring for living things, rather than learning confined to adult-led activities.

Ofsted rated the nursery Good on 1 December 2021 and found its safeguarding arrangements effective. That is a dated judgement, rather than a description of every aspect of today's provision. The setting serves children aged 3 to 60 months at 41 Broom Street, Stoke-on-Trent, ST1 2EW, with 119 places in total.

The practical offer includes opening hours of 7.30am to 6pm, Monday to Friday. For parents comparing childcare around work, that opening window is a useful starting point.

Learning and Activities

The early years foundation stage sets the framework for children's learning, development and care. In parent language, it brings play, communication and everyday care together as parts of a child's development, rather than treating learning as a separate lesson.

In December 2021, babies explored cotton wool and foam, practised scooping in the indoor sandpit and joined songs supported by objects linked to the words. These separate experiences gave babies opportunities to explore textures, practise digging and scooping, and participate in songs.

Children's interests also shaped activities that month. Making a gingerbread house gave them a project they could help direct, while decorating a Christmas tree prompted conversation about reflections. Books were accessible for children to choose themselves, and shared stories offered another opportunity to listen and participate. The combination gave children both independent choices and activities with adults.

Outdoor and Community Life

During December 2021, children helped care for the nursery chickens and gathered their eggs. This made the natural world something to take responsibility for, rather than simply a topic to discuss. Outdoor time also offered opportunities for physical activity.

There was an important limitation. In December 2021, children who learned best outside could not consistently choose outdoor play when they wanted it. Access to outdoor space and freedom to use it are different things; this distinction matters for a child who prefers movement and exploration to quieter indoor activities.

Relationships and Communication

In December 2021, settling sessions were shaped around information gathered from parents about their child's interests and needs. That gave staff a starting point specific to the child, rather than relying solely on a standard introduction. Conversations with parents continued alongside information about nursery activities and ideas for learning at home.

Baby-room staff also assembled take-home resource baskets that month, with rhyme words, puppets and objects connected to stories. These offered parents concrete ways to revisit nursery experiences. A familiar rhyme or story could therefore continue beyond the nursery day.

Inclusion and Wellbeing

At the December 2021 inspection, Ofsted found appropriate support for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities and children learning English as an additional language, including teaching adaptations, targets reviewed with parents and work with other professionals. The practical examples included using words from children's home languages and visual cards to explain what would happen next and help children make choices.

In December 2021, children received nutritious meals and could choose fruit from a snack table. Food and everyday routines were part of encouraging healthy habits.

Sessions and Attendance

The address is 41 Broom Street, Stoke-on-Trent, ST1 2EW. Opening hours are 7.30am to 6pm on weekdays, with an all-year opening schedule and closures for Christmas and New Year bank holidays. The telephone number is 01782 911919.

An opening window helps establish whether the nursery can fit a family's working day. The attendance arrangement itself deserves equal attention, especially where parents need different hours on different days.

Funding and Paid Extras

In December 2021, the nursery received funding for free early education for children aged two, three and four. This is historical participation, tied to that date. Families should obtain current prices in a written quotation from the nursery so that they can assess the cost of their intended arrangement.

• Outdoor choice. In December 2021, children who preferred learning outside did not consistently get to choose it. For a child who is happiest outdoors, how access works through the day matters as much as having outdoor space.
• Time to answer. In December 2021, some staff moved to another question before children had enough time to explain their thinking. Giving a child time to respond is especially relevant when confidence or spoken language is developing.
• Attendance and costs. The weekday opening window runs from 7.30am to 6pm. At a visit, which booking patterns and current funding arrangements can cover your intended attendance, and how are meals and consumables treated in the quotation?

Child 1st, Stoke merits consideration for families seeking childcare from infancy through the preschool years, with an all-year schedule and weekday hours extending into the early evening. Its December 2021 examples give the clearest picture of the nursery experience: sensory play for babies, books children could choose and practical involvement with chickens.

The dated Good judgement provides a useful quality reference. Outdoor choice and the pace of adult questioning are the specific points to weigh alongside the practical fit of attendance and costs.