Brooklands Childcare, Bryn

A tinker table, a cosy room and outdoor worm-building gave Brooklands Childcare, Bryn a practical, exploratory character in June 2023. Everyday objects became material for invented stories, while water and worms brought early mathematics into play.

At its June 2023 inspection, Ofsted rated the nursery Good and judged its safeguarding arrangements effective. Today, it has capacity for 102 children aged three months to five years at Rose Hill, Wigan Road, Ashton-in-Makerfield.

In June 2023, children used the tinker table and cosy room for imaginative play with unusual objects. Practitioners introduced vocabulary as children played, giving conversation a place alongside making and exploring.

The early years foundation stage sets the framework for children's learning, development and care, including learning through play. In June 2023, physical development followed a sequence: babies practised movements that strengthened their core, toddlers developed upper-body strength, and preschool children exercised the small muscles needed for writing.

Outside that June, children made a wormery, tackled obstacles and prepared soup over a fire. Mathematics had tangible examples: toddlers compared water quantities, while older children used rulers to measure worms. However, activities sometimes offered too little challenge, leaving children looking for another occupation. The breadth of experiences did not consistently translate into demanding learning.

In June 2023, babies formed close relationships with their key person. Independence grew through ordinary routines: toddlers handled cutlery and removed outdoor clothing, while older children served lunch and poured drinks.

Daily updates helped parents understand their child's day that June, but some families needed better guidance on extending learning at home. Staff also worked with health visitors and local teachers to share information about additional support and prepare children for primary education.

Staff training covered sleep safety and speech assessment. In June 2023, induction and supervision did not consistently establish whether practitioners had put their training into practice. This was an improvement priority alongside greater learning challenge and clearer guidance for parents.

The address is Rose Hill, Wigan Road, Ashton-in-Makerfield, WN4 0BS. Opening hours are 7.30am to 6pm, Monday to Friday, across the year, with closures for bank holidays and one week at Christmas.

In June 2023, the nursery provided funded early education for children aged two, three and four. That is a dated participation statement rather than a promise of a funded place today.

• Learning challenge. Some activities in June 2023 did not stretch children's thinking enough. Families seeking substantial preschool challenge should weigh this alongside the practical learning examples.
• Training in practice. June 2023 brought an improvement priority around induction and supervision. At a visit, how are staff supported to apply new training and help parents continue learning at home?
• Annual closures. Bank holidays and a week at Christmas sit outside the opening pattern. Families needing care across those periods will need to plan around them.

Brooklands suits families whose routines fit its weekday opening hours and who value learning through practical exploration. The June 2023 picture combines imaginative play, outdoor investigation and growing independence with clear reservations about challenge, staff supervision and guidance for learning at home. Those reservations deserve weight alongside the Good judgement.