Oakhill Day Nursery

A Gruffalo hunt, a mud kitchen and conversations about feelings give Oakhill Day Nursery’s December 2023 provision a recognisable character: play connected language, independence and wellbeing. At its 18 December 2023 inspection, Ofsted rated the nursery Good, found safeguarding effective and judged that children made good progress.

Oakhill caters for children aged two to five and has 25 places in total. Its address is Girnhill Infant School, Hardwick Road, Featherstone, Pontefract, WF7 5JB. The inspection gives families useful detail about everyday care, alongside two clear priorities for staff development and continuity of learning.

The early years foundation stage sets the framework for children’s learning, development and care. In everyday terms, that connects play and conversation with learning practical skills.

In December 2023, children chose activities inside and outside. A Gruffalo hunt led to collecting natural materials for the mud kitchen, while staff encouraged children to describe the sounds of leaves underfoot. Words of the week, signing, stories and songs added opportunities to practise language.

Winter activities brought counting and discussion together: children considered suitable clothes for the weather and counted pretend snowballs. Independence also had practical expression. Children poured drinks, served food and managed coats and boots, giving them tasks they could accomplish themselves.

In December 2023, key persons built close relationships with children, and staff used parents’ initial information alongside observations to plan learning. However, individual learning priorities were not consistently passed to colleagues, making support less precise when a child’s key person was absent.

Communication included photographs and updates through an app, alongside daily conversations with families. A lending library extended book sharing into the home. Group discussions using a worry monster gave children a way to talk about feelings; staff also encouraged kindness and clear behavioural boundaries.

Health routines were concrete. In December 2023, a snuffle station contained tissues, hand gel and a bin, while the daily toothbrushing programme used mirrors and timers. These activities made personal hygiene something children practised themselves.

The nursery opens during term time and closes for school holidays. In December 2023, its session times were 8am to 6pm, Monday to Friday; these describe the arrangement at that date.

At that time, funded early education was provided for two-, three- and four-year-old children. Families planning attendance need to distinguish the nursery’s term-time calendar from care required during school holidays.

• Continuity between staff. In December 2023, colleagues did not always know children’s individual learning priorities when their key person was away. Ask how those priorities are shared now.
• Staff development. The December 2023 improvement actions called for supervision, training and development arrangements to become established. Ask how supervision now supports consistent teaching.
• Term-time planning. School holidays are closure periods. This calendar matters for families whose childcare needs continue throughout the year.

Oakhill suits families seeking term-time childcare for children aged two to five. Its December 2023 provision combined imaginative outdoor play, practical independence and regular parent communication. The important questions concern how consistently staff share children’s learning priorities and how supervision supports teaching across the team.