Tots Care

Balance bikes, play dough and celebrations of Eid give Tots Care's June 2025 picture its character: physical activity, hands-on exploration and connections with children's home lives. This Walsall setting has capacity for 24 children.

At its 4 June 2025 inspection, Ofsted rated Tots Care Good, judged safeguarding effective and found targeted support for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). Children attending at that visit were aged two to four. These are dated findings, rather than a description of today's intake.

The early years foundation stage sets requirements for children's learning, development and care: play and everyday activities support learning alongside personal development. In June 2025, children practised using scissors and persevered through difficulties, while balance bikes in the outdoor area exercised larger muscles. Both experiences gave children opportunities to practise physical control.

Play dough encouraged squeezing, pressing and conversation with staff. Sand scooped into ice-cream cones became an opportunity to introduce number, size and new vocabulary. Celebrating Eid connected nursery experiences with children's family lives; singing at a local care home also brought contact beyond the setting.

There was a limitation. During June 2025, adults sometimes stepped in before children could work through a problem themselves, reducing opportunities for independent thinking.

In June 2025, staff spent time getting to know children and families, used kind explanations of routines and helped children practise taking turns. Development checks informed the next steps shared with parents. Ofsted found at the June 2025 inspection that children made good progress and were prepared for the move to school.

Health education also had practical expression that month: activities explored healthy food choices, families were directed towards local dentists, and children were encouraged to use open cups. Water, milk and nutritious snacks were provided.

Staff had supervision meetings and discussed their practice together. In June 2025, however, those discussions sometimes needed greater depth to spot small weaknesses sooner.

Tots Care is on Harden Road, Walsall, WS3 1RQ.

In June 2025, it operated on weekdays during term time, with session times of 8.30am to 11.30am and 12.30pm to 3.30pm. The setting then provided funded early education for children aged two, three and four. That attendance pattern offered separate morning and afternoon periods rather than a continuous day.

• Independent thinking. In June 2025, staff sometimes intervened too soon during exploration. Giving children time to test their own solutions was an improvement priority.
• Staff reflection. June 2025 discussions about teaching did not always identify minor weaknesses promptly. More searching reflection was the other improvement priority.
• Attendance fit. The June 2025 pattern was term-time morning and afternoon sessions. Does the current booking arrangement match your family's working hours and childcare needs?

Tots Care's June 2025 picture will interest families seeking practical play, family celebrations and community contact. Its morning and afternoon patterns at that inspection provide a reference for families seeking either arrangement. The Good judgement provides a positive inspection starting point. The reservation is specific: children needed more space to solve problems themselves, supported by deeper staff reflection.