Chestnut Cherubs

Books, balancing equipment and children solving small problems together give Chestnut Cherubs its clearest character. At its July 2022 inspection, Ofsted judged the nursery Good overall, with positive findings about children's emotional security and physical development, alongside a need for more challenging questions and activities.

At 246 Fleetwood Road North, Thornton-Cleveleys, FY5 4LD, the nursery has capacity for 40 children aged 0 to 60 months. The inspection account offers a picture of everyday care and learning at that time, rather than a description of today's routines.

The early years foundation stage sets the framework for children's learning, development and care: play, conversation and everyday tasks help children build skills for their next stage.

In July 2022, physical play included ball games and balancing equipment. Dough, paint and sand gave children opportunities to practise hand movements alongside larger movements. These were practical experiences, with children handling materials themselves.

Story time involved more than listening. In July 2022, children joined familiar phrases and discussed a character's feelings, while babies helped with pages and pointed at illustrations. Counting also appeared in play and number rhymes, connecting early mathematics with things children were already doing.

During that period, children chose resources independently and discussed alternatives when the chalk colour they wanted could not be found. However, some adult questions and activities restricted how far children could develop their ideas. More scope to explore possible answers was the main improvement requested.

At the July 2022 inspection, Ofsted found effective safeguarding, strong key-person relationships and good progress, including for children with SEND through early identification, collaboration with families and professionals, and strategies informed by local authority advice.

In July 2022, staff responded to children who needed reassurance, and the key-person arrangement helped children settle. Assessments informed what children would learn next. Younger children practised toileting, while older children washed their hands before meals independently: care routines also offered opportunities to build independence.

Staff development mattered too. In July 2022, leaders arranged training and regular discussions with practitioners to develop their practice, alongside support for staff wellbeing.

Chestnut Cherubs opens Monday to Friday, from 7.30am to 5.30pm, across the year, closing for bank holidays and two weeks at Christmas. Those Christmas closures are a practical consideration for families needing continuous childcare.

In July 2022, session times ran from 7.30am to 5.30pm, and the nursery provided funded early education for children aged two, three and four. That funding information belongs to the inspection period.

• Stretching children's thinking. In July 2022, activities and adult questions sometimes limited children's exploration. Look for opportunities for children to explain ideas and try different solutions.
• Settling and family communication. Key-person relationships supported settling in July 2022. On a visit, ask how that relationship and communication with families work now.
• Christmas cover. The nursery closes for two weeks at Christmas as well as bank holidays. Families needing care during those breaks will need another arrangement.

Chestnut Cherubs suits families seeking care for babies through to older nursery children, with weekday opening across the year. Its July 2022 picture combines hands-on play, books and developing independence. The balance to weigh is the positive care account against the need for more open-ended learning, while keeping the age of those observations in mind.