Smiley Faces Day Nursery

Mixing jelly, feeding horses and travelling by train gave learning a practical edge at Smiley Faces Day Nursery in Wellington, Telford. At its July 2023 inspection, Ofsted rated the nursery Outstanding and judged safeguarding effective. That judgement is dated; the examples below describe practice in July 2023.

The nursery has capacity for 50 children and accepts ages from 3 to 60 months. Its strongest inspection-era thread was the connection between individual care and hands-on learning: staff assessed children's starting points and planned personalised next steps.

The early years foundation stage sets the framework for children's learning, development and care. Here, its everyday expression in July 2023 included exploring materials, building language through conversation and practising physical skills through play.

Children mixed ingredients and discussed what happened, including how jelly changed in water. Staff asked questions that encouraged children to explain changes and develop their vocabulary. Sharing resources and solving problems also gave children opportunities to take responsibility for their play.

Beyond the nursery, July 2023 experiences included feeding carrots to horses at a horse paddock and journeys by train and bus to parks and museums. Drama workshops supported imaginative play and communication. These experiences gave children something concrete to talk about and recreate.

Physical learning used simple, purposeful equipment. In July 2023, babies explored rice with containers, while older children squeezed spray bottles and used chalk on blackboards. Balancing, jumping and ball games added larger movements. Outdoor learning was an area of continuing development.

In July 2023, conversations between parents and key persons helped staff understand children's routines and needs for the day. Online updates and written assessments shared learning priorities, with suggestions for reading and number sequencing at home. This connected nursery activities with things families could practise together.

At the July 2023 inspection, Ofsted found that children with special educational needs and/or disabilities made excellent progress, supported by individual learning plans, external referrals and professional advice. Staff raised developmental concerns promptly with parents. They also worked with school staff on children's transition.

July 2023 staff development included supervision, colleagues observing each other's practice and online training. These provided opportunities to review teaching and identify further learning needs.

Smiley Faces Day Nursery is on Limekiln Lane, Wellington, Telford, TF1 2JA. It opens Monday to Friday, 7.30am to 6pm, throughout the year, with closures for bank holidays and Christmas.

In July 2023, funded early education was provided for children aged two, three and four. Lunchtime conversations also explored healthy eating and moderation, linking care routines with children's understanding of food.

• Outdoor learning. This was still developing in July 2023. A visit is an opportunity to ask how the outdoor space and physical activities have developed since then.
• Learning beyond the nursery. July 2023 experiences included horse feeding, transport journeys and drama workshops. Ask which experiences now form part of the programme for your child's age.

Smiley Faces suits families who value practical exploration and close communication about their child's learning. The July 2023 picture combines individual planning with experiences beyond the nursery, while the weekday opening window offers useful scope for working families. The inspection provides a strong dated assessment; its concrete examples are more informative than the grade alone.