Pudsey Day Nursery

A tissue station with a mirror, autumn finds brought in from family walks, and yoga woven into the day give Pudsey Day Nursery's November 2021 account a practical, child-centred character. Small tasks mattered: children poured drinks, dealt with spills and practised fastening their coats.

At its November 2021 inspection, Ofsted rated the nursery Good overall and found that its learning sequence generally built on children's existing knowledge, with children developing communication and independence. That is a dated judgement, rather than an assessment of today's provision.

Pudsey Day Nursery has 45 places in total and accepts children aged 3 to 60 months.

The early years foundation stage sets the requirements for children's learning, development and care: play and everyday routines help children build language, physical skills and independence.

In November 2021, babies could crawl, climb and explore a ball pool. Outside, a sand area, balance bicycles and a climbing frame gave children different ways to move. Daily yoga included breathing exercises, linking physical activity with practising emotional control.

Other activities that November ranged from toddlers mixing oats to older children transferring objects with tweezers. Crayons, paint and chalk provided opportunities to make marks. These experiences gave small hands practice for later writing.

Language work was concrete too. Staff introduced alternative words for feelings, while children investigated how balls travelled through tubes. Bags of leaves, twigs and acorns collected with families became materials for counting and artwork, connecting home experiences with nursery activities.

At the November 2021 inspection, Ofsted judged safeguarding effective and found that staff sought early help and worked with families and other professionals to support children with special educational needs and/or disabilities.

In November 2021, families received newsletters and electronic updates about their child's day and development. Allergy arrangements included written notification of changes and sharing those details with staff. This made communication about individual needs part of daily care.

There were two weaknesses that November. Initial conversations gathered more about care routines than children's existing abilities, delaying the starting point for learning. Staff absences and vacancies also drew the manager into direct childcare, reducing opportunities to observe colleagues and give feedback; room leaders supplied some support.

The address is 31 Kiln Road, Wirral, CH49 9AL. Opening hours are 7am to 6pm, Monday to Friday, across the year, with closures on bank holidays and for one week at Christmas.

In November 2021, the nursery provided funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-olds. That describes participation at the time of the visit.

• Staff support. In November 2021, staff supervision and feedback needed strengthening. On a visit, explore how the manager now supports practice across the team.
• Starting points. Gathering children's existing skills was another November 2021 improvement priority. Discuss how your child's interests and abilities would inform their first activities.
• Attendance and costs. For care within the 7am to 6pm opening window, what booking arrangements and funded-hour terms would apply to your family, including meals and consumables?

Pudsey Day Nursery suits families seeking care for children aged 3 to 60 months within a weekday opening window spanning early morning to early evening. Its November 2021 account gives useful substance: hands-on exploration, independence in everyday tasks and communication with home. The dated Good judgement deserves to be read alongside the two improvement priorities, especially the support given to practitioners and the information gathered before a child starts.