Wokingham Day Nursery

Balance beams, fruit tongs and stories about feelings give Wokingham Day Nursery's January 2024 account a practical character: children were learning through movement, conversation and small tasks they could tackle themselves. This Wescott Road setting has 24 places for children aged 24 to 59 months.

At its January 2024 inspection, Ofsted judged the nursery Good, found safeguarding effective and recognised support for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities and those learning English as an additional language. The main improvement concerned making the purpose of planned activities more precise.

The early years foundation stage sets expectations for children's learning, development and care; here, the January 2024 examples show how play and everyday routines brought those expectations into children's day.

In January 2024, garden balance beams supported physical practice, while dancing to music and following action rhymes added movement. Handling fruit with tongs exercised children's hands. These were small, useful opportunities to practise coordination rather than learning confined to organised activities.

Books also supplied ideas for play. In January 2024, children retold The Gruffalo and painted characters from favourite stories; The Colour Monster helped staff introduce conversations about feelings. Number play included searching through sand for numbered bumble bees and measuring ingredients for play dough, connecting counting with something children could make or discover.

In January 2024, home visits helped staff learn about children and their families before nursery started. Familiar words from children's home languages supported settling, and staff adjusted activities and the environment for children with additional needs. Comfort and opportunities to play independently sat alongside one another.

Everyday independence mattered too. In January 2024, children practised handwashing, putting on shoes and choosing their play, while sharing, taking turns and tidying helped them participate in the group. These tasks connected preparation for school with ordinary nursery life.

The address is Wescott Road, Wokingham, RG40 2ER. Opening hours are 8am to 6pm, Monday to Friday, across the year, with closures for bank holidays and one week at Christmas.

In January 2024, the nursery received early-education funding for children aged two, three and four. Additional funding helped extend children's attendance. That is a dated account of participation, rather than a promise of a particular funded arrangement today.

• Purposeful activities. In January 2024, some planned activities needed clearer learning aims, and curriculum monitoring needed sharpening. Ask how staff now decide what an activity should help a child learn and review whether it does.
• Settling from home. Home visits formed part of the January 2024 settling arrangements. A visit is an opportunity to discuss how that approach would work for your child now.
• Christmas closure. The nursery closes for one week at Christmas as well as bank holidays. Families needing care throughout the festive period will need to plan around that break.

Wokingham Day Nursery suits families seeking care for children aged 24 to 59 months, with an emphasis on practical independence and learning through play in its January 2024 account. The Good judgement provides a positive inspection reference; clearer learning intentions remain the point to explore. Its weekday opening window also matters for families fitting nursery around work.