The Wendy House Day Nursery Birkenhead

Storytelling, pretend play and learning to look after shared toys gave The Wendy House Day Nursery Birkenhead its character in September 2022. The emphasis was on ordinary experiences made useful: discussing what happens next in a story, caring for dolls and recognising numbers through play.

Ofsted rated the nursery Good at its 8 September 2022 inspection. Today, it caters for children aged two to five and has 15 places in total. Its term-time calendar is a central practical consideration for families.

The early years foundation stage sets the requirements for children's learning, development and care, with play providing opportunities to practise language, movement and independence. In September 2022, small foam numerals helped younger children learn number names, while older children explored how numbers represent quantities. The same resource supported different stages of learning.

Story sessions that September involved predicting events and joining in with familiar phrases. In the home corner, practitioners extended children's vocabulary while playing alongside them with baby dolls. These were concrete opportunities to speak, listen and contribute ideas.

The September 2022 story-time examples also showed children answering questions and offering their own thoughts. Remembering a familiar tale gave them something to draw on before predicting its next development. Joining in with recurring phrases gave children another way to participate, alongside answering individually. For parents, these examples make the language emphasis tangible: children were taking an active part in stories rather than simply listening to an adult read.

Pretend play that September began with children's existing knowledge of caring for babies. Adults listened to what children already understood, then added vocabulary and ideas during the activity. The foam-number work followed a similar principle: younger children heard number names, while older children connected the symbols with amounts. These examples show how the same materials could support different learning stages, rather than every child being given an identical task.

At the start of the autumn term in September 2022, staff introduced a restricted selection of toys and taught children how to use and tidy them. Learning to care for equipment was part of becoming more independent. Physical play included lifting, throwing and kicking footballs, giving younger children opportunities to practise strength and balance.

At the September 2022 inspection, Ofsted found that children received individual reassurance, children learning English benefited from repeated vocabulary during snacks, and safeguarding arrangements were effective. Naming fruit as children ate gave language practice a familiar context.

In September 2022, staff also helped children manage the wait before leaving the snack table. Everyday routines became opportunities to practise patience. Adults coordinated their movements as children used indoor and outdoor areas, and handwashing formed part of daily care.

Reassurance that September mattered both for new children and for those returning after the summer break. Staff adjusted daily routines to children's developmental stages, helping them take part in nursery life. Settling was therefore about individual support as well as becoming familiar with the day's expectations. This is a useful distinction for families whose child needs help with a new routine or with restarting after a long break.

Children also learnt practical boundaries around technology in September 2022. They knew to turn tablet computers off once an activity finished, making an ending part of the experience. Alongside waiting at snack time and tidying toys, this gave children practice in managing everyday transitions.

The address is 69 Gautby Road, Birkenhead, CH41 7DS. Opening hours are 8.30am to 3.30pm, Monday to Friday, during term time, with closure over school holidays.

In September 2022, the nursery operated in separate premises within Gautby Road Community Centre. Its sessions then ran from 8.45am to 11.45am and from 12.15pm to 3.15pm. At that time, it provided funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-olds.

• School-holiday cover. The nursery closes during school holidays. Families needing childcare throughout the year should account for those breaks.
• Teaching development. In September 2022, feedback to practitioners needed more precise analysis of their teaching. On a visit, ask how observation and feedback now lead to specific changes in practice.

This suits families seeking a term-time routine for children aged two to five. The September 2022 morning and afternoon sessions offered two different attendance patterns, while the strongest examples of nursery life centred on conversation, imaginative play and independence. The dated Good judgement gives that account weight; the teaching-development point deserves attention alongside it.