Portico Kindergarten

A garden reserved for babies, school lunch visits and celebrations at Town Green Court give Portico Kindergarten a clear Aughton identity. The youngest children have their own outdoor space; preschool children begin getting familiar with school through visits. Those are useful practical details for families thinking beyond the playroom.

At its November 2023 inspection, Ofsted rated the nursery Good overall and identified communication and language as a strength. There was also a clear improvement point: staff needed to apply behaviour strategies more consistently, including explaining why an action was inappropriate. That matters for children learning how their behaviour affects someone else.

Portico Kindergarten caters for children from birth to five and has 40 places in total. Its Baby Room has a maximum of nine babies, a separate milk room and a separate nappy room. For parents choosing care for a very young child, that room limit deserves attention alongside the whole nursery's size.

Rooms and Ages

The Baby Room combines messy play, baby massage and stay and play sessions with a garden containing artificial turf, seating on decking and tyres planted with herbs and fruit. Large windows bring in daylight and overlook the playground and field. Individual drawers hold children's belongings, including comforters, helping keep familiar items close to their everyday care.

In the 2 - 3 Room, resources are arranged for children to reach independently, while experiences with the sister nursery in Ormskirk include Forest School. The connection adds another setting to this age group's experiences. Its practical arrangements are a useful topic for a visit.

The 3- 5's room has ten areas children can choose between, an integrated preschool, outdoor access across the day and low toilets and sinks that support growing independence. Activities follow children's needs and interests. Being able to select resources and manage everyday tasks gives children opportunities to practise making decisions for themselves.

Learning and Activities

The nursery follows the early years foundation stage: in November 2023, its day included vocabulary-building through rocket play, counting steps with babies and discussing shapes with older children. These examples show how language and early mathematics entered ordinary activities. The framework is the educational baseline; the useful detail is how children encountered it here.

Whatever Next! supplied a starting point for rocket activities in November 2023. Children talked about movement, built together using boxes and recycled materials, and offered each other ideas. Making dough creations and attaching decorations with tweezers also gave them practice controlling their fingers and hands. Learning had tangible materials to work with.

Physical activity included the daily mile in November 2023, alongside using wheelbarrows to move leaves. Children also discussed how exercise changed their bodies, including a faster heartbeat and needing water. Movement and conversations about health were connected through experiences children could recognise.

Outdoor and Community Life

Town Green Court is part of the preschool children's community experience. Visits mark occasions through Christmas Carol singing, story telling and Easter Bonnet parades. These give children reasons to share activities beyond the nursery and participate in seasonal celebrations.

The baby garden provides a different outdoor arrangement, with space reserved for the youngest age group. Herbs and fruit planted in tyres give that space concrete things to explore. Preschool children, meanwhile, can use their outdoor area in different weather conditions, making outdoor access part of their room's daily organisation.

In November 2023, children sought reassurance from staff when unsettled, and practitioners took time to learn about their interests. Everyday independence was encouraged through tasks such as pouring drinks and managing toileting. For families, these examples connect emotional reassurance with opportunities for children to try things themselves.

At the November 2023 inspection, Ofsted found safeguarding effective and support for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) highly effective, with staff working alongside parents and professionals and adapting learning to individual needs. These are dated judgements about the care delivered at that visit.

Communication with families in November 2023 supported children's learning and preparation for their next stage. Staff built relationships with parents and involved them in children's development. For a parent whose child needs additional support, the important mechanism was the combination of family involvement, professional collaboration and individually planned learning.

Health habits also featured in November 2023. Children practised handwashing around meals and after using the bathroom, and talked about drinking water and healthy food. These were everyday opportunities to connect self-care with what their bodies needed.

Sessions and Attendance

The address is Aughton Town Green Primary School, Town Green Lane, Aughton, Ormskirk, L39 6SF. Opening hours are 7.30am to 6pm, Monday to Friday. The nursery operates across the year, closing on bank holidays and for one week at Christmas, so families need alternative arrangements during those closures.

Fixed Contract and Flexible Contract application packs form part of the Kindergarten's childcare offer. Enquiries can be made through its nursery enquiry form or by calling 01695 422319. The contract choice is a practical part of joining, alongside choosing the appropriate room for a child's age.

Funding and Paid Extras

In November 2023, the nursery provided funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-old children. Funding Options is also part of its Kindergarten application material. The childcare offer and charges page provides access to the contract and funding packs. For current prices, ask the nursery for a quotation.

School preparation includes lunch trips and weekly visits to Reception at Town Green Primary School. These provide concrete opportunities to become familiar with school routines and spaces. Attending the nursery does not guarantee a place at Town Green Primary School.

• Behaviour explanations. In November 2023, staff did not consistently explain why children needed to change an action. Ask how practitioners now apply the behaviour strategies across the rooms.
• The youngest room. The Baby Room's maximum is nine babies, with its own garden and separate care spaces. On a visit, discuss how settling and your baby's routines work within that arrangement.
• Contract and funding choice. Kindergarten offers Fixed Contract, Flexible Contract and Funding Options application packs. Ask for the arrangements that fit your intended attendance, including the treatment of meals and consumables.
• Forest School arrangements. The 2 - 3 Room experiences Forest School through the sister nursery in Ormskirk. Ask what those sessions involve and how the children take part.

Portico Kindergarten suits families who value a baby room with a clear maximum, accessible resources as children grow, and concrete preparation for school through lunch trips and Reception visits. Its community occasions at Town Green Court also give preschool life a recognisable local connection.

The November 2023 Good judgement provides a positive inspection position, with behaviour explanations the specific point to scrutinise. Families weighing the Fixed Contract and Flexible Contract arrangements should consider those alongside the nursery's opening hours and Christmas closure.