Ducklings Day Nursery

Stories, garden counting games and children helping younger children shaped Ducklings Day Nursery's September 2023 inspection portrait. At its September 2023 inspection, Ofsted rated the nursery Good and judged safeguarding effective. That is a dated assessment rather than a description of today's daily practice.

At 20 Barnston Lane in Wirral, the nursery has 40 places in total for children aged 0 to 60 months. Its inspection strengths centred on purposeful learning and attentive relationships, alongside specific improvements needed in language teaching, independence and younger children's lunch routines.

In September 2023, learning activities took account of children's interests and what they already knew. Friendship, physical development and recognising print were part of that work. The early years foundation stage sets the framework for children's learning, development and care: here, the inspection examples included learning through stories, play and everyday conversation.

Books had a substantial place in the day. During September 2023, staff read aloud frequently and drew children's attention to letters, words and story content. In the garden, hiding games brought counting into physical play. These examples connected early literacy and mathematics with activities children wanted to join.

Children also taught others the nursery's golden rules and helped care for younger children in September 2023. That gave them opportunities to take responsibility. Language teaching was less consistent: although singing and conversation were frequent, staff sometimes used inaccurate names for objects, reducing opportunities to extend vocabulary.

At its September 2023 inspection, Ofsted found that children with special educational needs and/or disabilities received effective individual support, with the special educational needs coordinator linking staff with specialist professionals. This gave the planning for each child a connection to relevant expertise.

In September 2023, babies and children sought reassurance from staff, who offered individual attention and comfort. Many practitioners judged when to help and when to let a child try independently. Some intervened too quickly, however, leaving children fewer opportunities to persevere with difficult tasks.

Daily transitions were supported with spoken reminders in September 2023, helping children anticipate tidying, outdoor play and lunch. The weaker point was lunch for babies and toddlers: some waited too long and became unsettled. For younger children, the organisation of care routines mattered as much as the learning activities around them.

The address is 20 Barnston Lane, Wirral, CH46 7TP. Opening hours are 7am to 6pm, Monday to Friday, across the year, with closures on bank holidays and for one week at Christmas. That opening window gives families a clear starting point for considering their working day.

In September 2023, the nursery provided funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-olds. This describes its provision at that time, rather than establishing a current funded attendance arrangement.

• Language development. September 2023 highlighted inconsistent vocabulary teaching. How do practitioners now build precise language into play and conversation?
• Lunch for younger children. Babies and toddlers sometimes waited too long for meals in September 2023. A visit should explore how their lunch routine now works.
• Learning to persevere. Some staff stepped in too soon during difficult tasks in September 2023. Ask how children are given time to attempt things independently before receiving help.

Ducklings suits families seeking care for babies through the preschool years who value story-based learning and personal attention. Its September 2023 assessment provides concrete examples of both, while identifying practical weaknesses that deserve consideration. The choice turns on the fit between those learning priorities, younger children's routines and the family's attendance needs.