First for Childcare, York

A giant tyre used for storytelling and a dinosaur hunt built around counting give this York nursery's June 2023 daily life a concrete character. First for Childcare, York, on Audax Close, has capacity for 57 children aged 3 to 60 months.

At its June 2023 inspection, Ofsted rated the nursery Good and found safeguarding effective. That is a dated judgement: the examples below describe practice in June 2023 rather than today's daily programme.

The early years foundation stage sets the framework for children's learning, development and care, with play providing opportunities to practise language, counting and everyday skills. In June 2023, a hunt for hidden toy dinosaurs brought these together: older children worked out clues, younger children followed spoken guidance, and children counted their discoveries. Learning had a purpose within the game.

Outdoor storytelling also made books tangible. In June 2023, children recreated The Three Little Pigs using bricks, wood and straw for the houses, then acted out the story with a practitioner. The giant tyre provided another place to share a story, with children helping friends climb into it.

Vocabulary was the development priority. In June 2023, some practitioners introduced unfamiliar words during play, but this was uneven across the team. The improvement action was to extend children's language more consistently.

At the June 2023 inspection, Ofsted found that support for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities combined an experienced special educational needs coordinator, collaboration with families and agencies, and additional funding to target gaps in learning.

In June 2023, parents received progress information through an electronic app, alongside daily conversations with their child's key person and planned parents' evenings. This gave families both written updates and opportunities to discuss them.

Everyday independence mattered too. In June 2023, toddlers practised serving lunch with a ladle, supported by staff encouragement; role-play teeth helped children learn about toothbrushing. Meals were prepared at the nursery using fresh ingredients.

The address is Audax Close, York, YO30 4RA. Opening hours are 7.30am to 6pm, Monday to Friday, across the year, with closures for bank holidays and Christmas. These hours give families a useful starting point for planning care around work.

In June 2023, the nursery provided funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-old children. This describes participation at that date.

• Language development. Consistent vocabulary extension was the June 2023 improvement priority. Ask how practitioners now build new words into play across the team.
• Attendance planning. The weekday opening window runs from 7.30am to 6pm, with bank holiday and Christmas closures. At a visit, discuss which booking pattern and funded-hours arrangement would fit your family's week.

First for Childcare, York suits families seeking weekday care across the year. Its June 2023 examples show the practical appeal of learning through shared stories, problem-solving and everyday independence. The Good judgement provides a dated quality reference; consistency in language teaching is the useful question to carry into a visit.