Little Explorers Nursery and Forest School Thornton-Cleveleys

Bird feeders became maths activities, fresh herbs prompted conversations, and children's own stories became a route into literacy: exploration gave this Cleveleys setting its character in December 2024. The detail matters. These were practical experiences with a learning purpose, rather than activities chosen simply to produce something to take home.

At its 3 December 2024 inspection, Ofsted rated the nursery Outstanding and judged its education ambitious, carefully planned and exceptionally well delivered. Little Explorers Nursery and Forest School Thornton-Cleveleys has 55 places in total at 66 West Drive, Thornton-Cleveleys, FY5 2JG, with provision spanning babies and preschool children.

The strongest reason to consider it is the connection between hands-on experiences and deliberate teaching. The December 2024 examples show adults extending children's thinking while leaving room for them to experiment independently.

Learning and Activities

The early years foundation stage provides the framework for children's learning, development and care. In everyday terms, that means supporting language, physical skills and relationships alongside early reading, writing and mathematics. In December 2024, these strands came together through play rather than being treated as separate lessons.

Babies practised scooping and pouring with spoons and scented tea. In the toddler room, children painted reflective surfaces using brushes fashioned from natural materials. Older children used an easel for painting and writing their names. Each example involved handling real resources and trying something out; the emphasis was on what children discovered through the activity.

Mathematical ideas also emerged through practical tasks. During December 2024, making a food dispenser for birds prompted discussion about patterns, shapes and symmetry. Toddlers compared their heights and the lengths of sticks, while preschool children used baking to investigate weight and balance. This gave abstract ideas a physical reference point children could explore.

Language ran through those experiences. Adults introduced unfamiliar words, repeated them in meaningful situations and asked questions that encouraged children to think. Cutting herbs and adding them to dough gave younger children something concrete to describe through smell and touch.

A boys project addressed lower interest in literacy among some boys in December 2024. Its story scribing activity invited them to dictate their own narratives, making their ideas the starting point for literacy work. This is a useful example of adapting an activity around children's interests instead of expecting everyone to respond to the same invitation.

Outdoor and Community Life

During December 2024, children made regular trips to woodland, where exploration included learning to judge risks. Visits to a local care home brought contact with older residents over afternoon tea. These experiences extended children's social world beyond the nursery and gave them different people and surroundings to respond to.

Bollywood dance sessions and music from different countries also featured that month. They provided concrete ways to encounter cultural differences through movement and sound, alongside conversations about inclusion and individuality.

At the December 2024 inspection, Ofsted found that children with SEND received effective support through early identification and timely professional involvement, that children made excellent progress, and that safeguarding arrangements were effective.

The mechanisms behind that judgement are useful for parents to understand. During December 2024, observation and assessment helped staff spot gaps in learning, while links with other professionals supported targeted intervention. Staff also coordinated across rooms to adapt activities to children's needs. Support was connected to what children were doing each day, rather than being treated as a separate part of nursery life.

Relationships had a practical role too. In December 2024, younger children approached adults for comfort, and older children sought their key person. Adults listened and helped children express emotions and needs. For a family considering a move into nursery care, those examples make the key-person relationship an important topic for a visit.

There were 27 childcare staff employed at the time of the December 2024 visit. Mentoring, staff meetings and supervision supported their work; that historical headcount describes the team then, rather than the number of adults present with any particular group.

Meals in December 2024 were prepared with children's wellbeing in mind. School preparation also formed part of the work across rooms, with activities adapted to help children approach their next stage of learning.

The address is 66 West Drive, Thornton-Cleveleys, FY5 2JG. Opening hours are 8am to 6pm, Monday to Friday, across the year. Families can contact the Cleveleys setting on 01253 857836 or use its contact form.

In December 2024, the nursery provided funded early education for children aged two, three and four. Families should obtain a current written quotation when planning childcare costs.

• Attendance and costs. Opening hours span 8am to 6pm on weekdays, and funded education formed part of the December 2024 offer. Which booking patterns and funded arrangements would apply to your child, including any additional charges?
• Woodland exploration. Regular woodland trips featured in December 2024, with children learning to assess risks. A visit is a useful opportunity to discuss how these experiences would work for your child's stage of development.
• Individual support. Early assessment and professional involvement were central to SEND support in December 2024. Use a visit to discuss your child's needs and how their key-person relationship and support would be organised.

For families seeking exploration-led childcare, the December 2024 picture is compelling: practical mathematics, conversations built around real experiences, and literacy activities shaped around children's interests. The Outstanding judgement gives that account substantial weight.

Its weekday opening window suits families whose childcare needs fall between 8am and 6pm. The most useful next step is to relate the nursery's approach to the individual child, especially their confidence outdoors, communication needs and relationships with adults.