Little Cherubs Nursery

Books, imaginative play and outings by train give Little Cherubs Nursery its character in the May 2023 account of daily life. At its 31 May 2023 inspection, Ofsted judged the nursery Good and found safeguarding effective. That is a dated assessment, rather than a description of today's practice.

The West Byfleet setting accepts children aged 3 to 60 months. Its address is 60 Station Road, KT14 6DX, and its weekday opening hours run from 7.45am to 6pm.

The early years foundation stage sets the framework for children's learning, development and care: play and everyday experiences support learning alongside practical independence. In May 2023, babies experimented with water and paintbrushes, toddlers brought books into play with dolls, and preschool children invented superheroes whose powers made people happy. These examples show how different stages were given different ways to explore ideas.

Books also shaped activity planning in May 2023. A toddler story about sharing became a starting point for practising taking turns. Learning about Eid and Ramadan introduced children to fasting and compassion, connecting celebrations with the reasons behind them.

Outdoor experiences extended beyond the premises that month. Toddlers and preschool children used the garden daily, with natural materials becoming ingredients in pretend cooking in the play kitchen. Train outings and regular park visits brought community experiences and opportunities to climb, balance and run. Younger children, however, did not routinely get active outdoor time.

In May 2023, children sought help from staff and formed affectionate relationships with them. Practitioners demonstrated tasks, then gave children time to attempt them independently. This put learning to do things for themselves into ordinary activities.

Communication that month included photographs and updates about children's days, giving parents ideas to continue at home. Preparation for moving to school was also part of the May 2023 account.

There were practical weaknesses. In May 2023, explanations about exercise, hygiene and food choices were inconsistent, and tidying routines differed between rooms, leaving resources underfoot. Staff also needed more individual coaching; songs delivered too quickly gave young children insufficient time to absorb language. These are useful points against which to assess current practice.

Opening hours are 7.45am to 6pm, Monday to Friday. The nursery operates across the year, closing for bank holidays and one week at Christmas. Families planning year-round childcare need to accommodate those breaks.

• Outdoor time for younger children. In May 2023, younger children lacked routine opportunities for active play outside. On a visit, ask how their outdoor time now fits into the day.
• Teaching and everyday routines. The May 2023 improvement points covered individual staff coaching, healthy-lifestyle explanations and consistent routines. Ask for concrete examples of changes in these areas.
• Attendance and costs. How would your required attendance pattern work, and what would the written quotation cover for funded hours, meals and consumables?

Little Cherubs suits families seeking weekday childcare across the year, with Christmas and bank-holiday breaks. Its May 2023 picture combines book-led activities, imaginative garden play and community outings with specific weaknesses in teaching support and routines. The dated Good judgement gives a useful starting point; the practical questions above help families test how that picture translates into care now.