Little Explorers Day Nursery

Edible sand for babies and stories brought to life with objects gave Little Explorers Day Nursery an inventive character in September 2021. Exploration started with what children could touch, notice and talk about.

Ofsted rated the nursery Outstanding at its 20 September 2021 inspection. There are 50 places in total. The nursery accepts children aged 6 to 60 months, spanning babies through to children preparing for school.

The early years foundation stage sets the requirements for children's learning, development and care: here, the September 2021 day combined play, conversation and opportunities to practise independence. Babies investigated reflective metal balls, with mirrors added when their reflections caught their attention. Edible sand accommodated young children's tendency to explore with their mouths.

In September 2021, The Gruffalo became an activity involving objects linked to the story, giving children something tangible to connect with the words. A reading corner also let children choose stories through technology. Outdoors, an enclosed play area supported investigations with wet sponges and foam. Staff followed a child's interest in jumping by extending frog play into movement, sounds and conversation about habitats. The activity changed with the child.

September 2021 sensory play also gave babies reasons to move: staff rolled the metal balls to encourage crawling. When mirrors followed an interest in reflections, adults talked about eyes and ears, connecting what babies noticed with words for their bodies. The edible sand invited exploration through smell as well as touch, with hidden mushrooms giving children something to discover. These were specific responses to how young children explored materials.

For older children in September 2021, squeezing wet sponges brought changes they could watch, hear and investigate. Paintbrushes helped them search foam for hidden animals. Imaginative play took another direction when children treated cutlery as ice lollies and discussed flavours. In the role-play area, remembering that cakes needed eggs gave children a chance to draw on earlier learning. Together, these examples show the different purposes play served: investigating materials, exchanging ideas and recalling information. The reading corner offered children a choice about listening to stories, while the objects accompanying The Gruffalo connected a shared book with hands-on exploration.

At the September 2021 inspection, Ofsted found safeguarding effective and praised support for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities, including collaboration with outside agencies and detailed accounts of children's progress.

In September 2021, young children sought out their key person for action songs, including Row, row, row your boat. Familiar adults responded to those invitations, making singing a shared interaction rather than simply a group activity. Communication screening used local authority initiatives to identify children's needs. Handwashing and other everyday hygiene habits formed part of the day; homemade hot lunches and healthy snacks were provided.

During September 2021 action songs, staff held children's hands and drew them close as they sang Row, row, row your boat. Children initiated the exchange by seeking their key person, so the interaction began with a child's request. For parents weighing emotional care alongside activities, that detail matters: the familiar adult participated in something the child wanted to share.

September 2021 communication work extended beyond screening. Adults drew children into conversations and encouraged less confident speakers to express themselves, praising their attempts. Support for children with SEND included reporting on progress and identifying learning gaps so help could be directed towards them. The practical question for a family is how observations lead to an individual response, rather than whether every child completes the same activity. Everyday care also included reminders to cover a cough and staff attending to runny noses, placing hygiene within ordinary routines.

The address is 382-384 Werrington Road, Stoke-on-Trent, ST2 9AB.

In September 2021, opening hours ran from 7.15am to 6pm on weekdays, with operation across the year. Funded early education was offered for two-, three- and four-year-olds at that time, and staff worked flexibly with parents over their entitlement.

• A dated judgement. The Outstanding judgement belongs to September 2021. A visit should explore how the sensory activities and responsive teaching described above work today.
• Early communication. September 2021 practice included communication screening and work with outside agencies. Families whose child needs language support should discuss how those mechanisms would apply to their child.

Little Explorers will appeal to families who value sensory exploration and early communication. Its September 2021 strengths were concrete: objects made stories tangible, babies' interests shaped activities, and key-person relationships gave familiar experiences a personal connection. The dated judgement is a strong starting point for assessing its fit for an individual child.