Warlingham Day Nursery

Toy cars, picture books and colour-mixing gave everyday play an educational purpose at Warlingham Day Nursery in October 2024. Comparing cars introduced mathematical ideas; naming pictures encouraged children to speak. These small, concrete experiences give parents a useful picture of the nursery's approach at that time.

At its 14 October 2024 inspection, Ofsted rated the nursery Good overall and judged safeguarding effective. The current age range is 3 to 60 months.

The early years foundation stage sets requirements for children's learning and care, bringing communication, physical development and learning through play into the day. In October 2024, activities connected these aims to children's interests rather than relying solely on instructions from adults.

Paint offered a way to explore colours. A road-themed play mat prompted conversations about familiar buildings, with staff explaining those children did not recognise. The resources gave children something concrete to discuss and compare.

The October 2024 curriculum aimed to prepare children for starting school. Discussions with practitioners and individual meetings helped communicate what children were intended to learn. That matters because the purpose of an activity needs to be understood by the adult guiding it, as well as reflected in the resources. Planning drew on practitioners' knowledge of individual children: an interest in painting became an opportunity to explore colour. Children sustained their attention during these activities, although adults sometimes moved away from the intended learning. The distinction is useful for parents: engagement was evident, but following an interest did not always deliver all the learning planned.

Books also provided opportunities to practise language: children gathered close for stories and named the pictures. Outdoor games encouraged different movements, while blending colour into play dough exercised hands. Physical activity extended beyond running about. Working colour through dough required concentrated hand movements, linking a creative task with the hand strength needed for later writing. Together, the outdoor games and dough activity addressed different aspects of movement. One gave children space to move their bodies; the other involved careful work with their hands. These October 2024 examples help explain how familiar play materials could serve a specific developmental purpose.

In October 2024, staff listened to children's suggestions and responded to their contributions. That gave children opportunities to express preferences and take part in conversations with adults.

Support included practical safety explanations. When children tried to leave the table while still chewing, staff reminded them to remain seated and explained the risk. Turn-taking games gave children practice in waiting, and adults praised cooperation.

The October 2024 examples connect care with learning in small, practical ways. Explaining why children should sit while eating gave a reason for the instruction; waiting during a game offered a chance to practise a social rule. Listening to children's ideas also made conversation a shared exchange, rather than simply a sequence of adult questions. Practitioners responded quickly when children needed help managing their feelings. The concern was consistency across those responses: children needed clearer help to understand how their actions affected both themselves and other people. For families, the important distinction is between an immediate response and a response that also teaches understanding.

At the October 2024 inspection, Ofsted identified two areas needing more consistent practice: carrying through the learning intended in adult-led activities and responding to behaviour so children understood its effect on others. These qualify the positive picture: planning an activity and helping children gain its intended benefit are separate tasks.

John Fisher Sports Club, Limpsfield Road, Warlingham, CR6 9RD is the nursery's address. Opening hours are 7am to 6.30pm, Monday to Friday, across the year, with closure over Christmas and New Year.

In October 2024, the nursery received funding for early education for children from nine months to four years. This is a dated account of funding participation.

• Adult-led learning. The October 2024 improvement point concerned how consistently planned learning reached children. During a visit, ask how practitioners now carry an activity's learning intention through to its conclusion.
• Behaviour responses. Consistency was the other October 2024 improvement point. Ask how staff agree their responses when children struggle to manage feelings or affect others.
• Attendance planning. The weekday opening window runs from 7am to 6.30pm. Ask which booking pattern would fit your family's routine within those hours.

Warlingham Day Nursery merits consideration for families seeking weekday childcare across the year. Its October 2024 account combines approachable interactions with purposeful use of familiar play resources. The Good judgement provides a positive inspection position, while the two improvement points make consistent adult support the key issue to explore.