Red Squirrels Nursery

Woodland-animal hunts and pretend doctor visits give Red Squirrels Nursery a practical, playful character in its November 2022 account. The setting has capacity for 19 children aged 24 to 60 months and occupies a site in the grounds of Warcop C of E School.

At its 25 November 2022 inspection, Ofsted rated the nursery Good overall, while identifying teaching development and support for learning at home as priorities for improvement. Those priorities matter alongside the appealing activities: families need to understand both what children do and how staff help them learn.

In November 2022, children exercised their fingers with scissors, pens and tape, building skills useful for writing. Outdoors, the purpose-built nature area gave running and jumping a purpose as children searched for woodland-animal pictures. A song about the days of the week helped children engage with group routines.

The early years foundation stage is the framework for children's learning, development and care. Here, the November 2022 examples included practising language through pretend play and developing physical skills through movement and tools. During a pretend doctor visit, staff asked questions that invited children to explain their ideas rather than supply a short answer.

That month, learning also reached beyond the nursery: pumpkin picking brought children into the local community, while family videos from overseas visits and discussions of festivals introduced different cultures. Staff used children's interests to plan activities, although the intended learning was sometimes insufficiently clear.

At the November 2022 inspection, Ofsted found safeguarding effective and children with SEND benefiting from timely, individual support that helped their development. These are dated judgements about practice, rather than assurances about today's arrangements.

In November 2022, staff knew families well and children settled readily. Consistent encouragement helped children understand behaviour expectations. Parents received updates about achievements and could borrow books to share at home, but support for learning beyond stories needed further development. Staff wellbeing also received attention through supervision meetings and mental-health first-aid knowledge within management.

The address is Warcop C of E School, Warcop, Appleby-in-Westmorland, CA16 6NX. Opening hours are 8.30am to 4pm, Monday to Friday, during term time; the nursery closes for school holidays.

In November 2022, sessions ran from 9am to 3.15pm and the nursery provided funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-olds. These describe the arrangements at that time.

Being on a school site does not guarantee a Reception place.

• Teaching purpose. In November 2022, some activities lacked sufficiently clear learning intentions. At a visit, ask how staff now connect activities with each child's next steps.
• Learning at home. Book borrowing supported stories in November 2022, but help with other learning needed development. Ask what practical ideas families now receive.
• Term-time calendar. Closure during school holidays makes this a fit for families whose childcare needs follow school terms.

Red Squirrels suits families seeking term-time childcare on a school site, with a November 2022 account rich in practical play, conversation and outdoor movement. The Good judgement provides a dated quality reference; clearer teaching intentions and broader help for learning at home remain the useful questions to bring to a visit.