Church Walk Pre-school Nursery

Collecting food for a church harvest festival gave learning a practical purpose at Church Walk Pre-school Nursery: children explored how they could help other people in their community. That October 2023 example captures the setting's emphasis on connecting ideas with everyday experience.

Ofsted rated the nursery Outstanding on 5 October 2023. On Church Walk in Ulverston, it has capacity for 36 children, with a current age range of 24 to 120 months.

In October 2023, learning followed a planned sequence, with opportunities to return to earlier ideas and extend them. Stories, rhymes and singing supported language, while staff used questions and introduced vocabulary to develop children's thinking. The emphasis was on taking an idea further rather than simply completing an activity.

The early years foundation stage is the framework for children's learning, development and care. Here, the October 2023 examples included conversation, practical exploration and learning to manage everyday tasks.

Diwali and Lunar New Year activities used actual objects and equipment to explore celebrations and differences between people's lives. The harvest festival brought a community dimension: children took collected food to the local church for people needing help. These were concrete ways to give unfamiliar ideas meaning.

Outdoor exploration also connected learning to the season. In October 2023, children discussed conkers and falling leaves and noticed squirrels overhead. Putting on their own outdoor clothing and helping to tidy gave them opportunities to practise independence alongside that exploration.

At its October 2023 inspection, Ofsted found that the key-person arrangements supported children with special educational needs and/or disabilities through individual planning with parents and professionals, and that safeguarding was effective.

In October 2023, staff helped children understand boundaries through encouragement and positive responses. Everyday hygiene, road safety and handling tools were also part of learning about looking after themselves. Care included teaching practical habits.

Parents could take part in church visits, stay-and-play activities and family learning sessions. These October 2023 examples gave families opportunities to participate in children's learning, rather than receiving updates alone. Staff training was shared through meetings, while leaders reviewed curriculum decisions and evaluated changes.

The address is Church Walk, Ulverston, LA12 7EN. Opening hours are 7.45am to 6pm, Monday to Friday, during term time; the nursery closes for school holidays.

In October 2023, the nursery provided funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-olds. That is a dated account of its funding provision, rather than a promise of entitlement for an individual child.

• Term-time attendance. School-holiday closures are part of the operating pattern. Families needing care throughout the year will need to plan for those breaks.
• Support in practice. Individual plans and collaboration with professionals were important parts of the October 2023 approach. At a visit, ask how the key person would organise this support for your child now.

Church Walk suits families whose childcare needs fit term time and who value learning connected to community life, conversation and practical independence. Its October 2023 examples give substance to that character: food collection, seasonal exploration and participation by parents. The Outstanding judgement provides a strong dated assessment; the holiday closure is the clearest practical consideration.