The Cheshire Day Nursery, Winwick

A converted church, surrounding woodland and a kindergarten in a separate building give The Cheshire Day Nursery, Winwick a recognisable setting. The Old Church on Hollins Drive combines indoor space with grounds used for Forest School, an approach to learning through practical outdoor experiences. For families who value time outside, the surroundings are a substantial part of the appeal.

At its April 2023 inspection, Ofsted rated the nursery Outstanding, finding an individually tailored curriculum, highly effective support for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities, and effective safeguarding arrangements. That is a dated assessment, rather than a description of every aspect of today's provision.

The nursery accepts children from birth to four and has 137 places in total. This is whole-setting capacity, not the number of children sharing a room or attending on any particular day.

Learning and Activities

The early years foundation stage sets the requirements for children's learning, development and care: the nursery day brings together communication, physical skills, relationships and learning through play. The practical detail from April 2023 shows how activities connected across developmental stages rather than treating each experience as an isolated task.

In April 2023, babies worked dough with their hands, toddlers shaped it with tools, and preschool children used scissors. The progression linked hand strength and control with increasingly demanding tasks. It gives parents a concrete example of how early play can prepare children for later practical skills.

Books were another recurring part of the day in April 2023. Children chose stories and brought adults or friends into their reading, while spaces across the nursery encouraged them to explore books. Songs and rhymes supported this interest. The emphasis was on children taking an active role in sharing stories, rather than simply listening at a fixed story time.

Everyday mathematics also featured in April 2023. Children compared objects, sorted them, matched quantities with numerals and used counting during routines. This brought mathematical ideas into familiar play.

Outdoor and Community Life

Woodland surrounds the converted church, and the separate kindergarten adds another physical setting within the premises. Forest School gives the outdoor space an educational purpose alongside indoor play.

In April 2023, children explained safety rules during forest school activities and recognised hazards elsewhere in the nursery, including chairs left away from tables. These examples connected outdoor routines with everyday awareness of their surroundings. They also show why learning to use a space matters alongside having access to it.

In April 2023, emotional development was addressed differently according to children's stage. Babies were beginning to recognise feelings; older children drew on calming strategies before returning to activities. The practical emphasis was on helping children understand what to do with an emotion, as well as naming it.

In April 2023, children used sign language with friends and learned that communication does not always depend on spoken words. This made communication part of relationships and shared play. Language screening also helped staff identify emerging needs rather than waiting for difficulties to become more established.

Transitions received individual attention in April 2023. Staff passed on information about children's routines and learning, together with pictures of the environment they would move into. For a child facing a change of room or the next stage of education, that combination makes both familiar routines and unfamiliar surroundings part of the preparation.

In April 2023, a special educational needs coordinator worked with families, and staff collaborated with external agencies. These are concrete support mechanisms. Frequent staff safety discussions also provided a way to review procedures and circulate information, while coaching and training supported staff practice.

Sessions and Attendance

The address is The Old Church, Hollins Drive, Winwick, Warrington, WA2 8RS. One stated opening window is 7.30am to 6pm, Monday to Friday, with charged extensions from 7am and until 7pm. The nursery operates throughout the year and closes on Bank Holidays, so its calendar extends beyond school terms.

The kindergarten occupies a separate building. That matters when considering how a child's day is organised across the premises, especially as they move between stages.

Funding and Paid Extras

In April 2023, the nursery provided funded early education for children aged two, three and four. That dates the participation described here; it does not establish an individual family's entitlement or booking arrangement. Obtain current prices in the nursery's written quotation.

Enquiries can be made by telephone on 01925 655 498 or by email to winwick@cheshiredaynurserygroup.com.

• Opening hours and extensions. Two opening windows are given: 6.30am to 7pm, and standard hours of 7.30am to 6pm with charged extensions from 7am and until 7pm. Confirm the opening window and which extensions attract an additional charge before planning attendance.
• Buildings and transitions. The kindergarten is in a separate building. During a visit, ask how children move between spaces and how routines are adapted for a child who finds changes difficult.
• Funding and the booking pattern. Funded provision for two-, three- and four-year-olds was recorded in April 2023. Ask which current entitlement and attendance arrangement would apply to your child, including the treatment of meals and consumables.
• Size in context. The 137 places describe the nursery as a whole. When visiting, concentrate on the space, organisation and daily routines of the group your child would join.

Winwick suits families drawn to woodland surroundings, practical outdoor learning and a kindergarten with its own building. Its April 2023 assessment provides a strong historical quality reference, supported by specific examples of communication, everyday mathematics and carefully prepared transitions. The physical setting is memorable; the useful next step is to understand how its buildings and daily routines would work for your child.