Scarcroft Green Nursery

In July 2024, babies dancing to salsa music and older children working together at the mud kitchen gave Scarcroft Green Nursery a recognisable character: play involved movement, choice and cooperation. This York nursery has 51 places in total and accepts children from birth to five.

At its July 2024 inspection, Ofsted rated the nursery Good and judged safeguarding effective. The strongest practical examples involved children taking increasing responsibility for their play and everyday tasks.

In July 2024, babies chose instruments and danced to salsa music, while older children helped clear soil around the mud kitchen. These were opportunities to make choices and contribute to a shared activity, rather than simply follow an adult's instructions.

The early years foundation stage sets the requirements for children's learning, development and care. In everyday terms, play and routines provide opportunities to develop communication, physical skills and independence. In July 2024, a paint-mixing activity brought these strands together: younger preschool children practised talking about colours while learning to handle a brush.

Outdoor experiences also involved physical challenge. In July 2024, older children practised balance on stilts, and younger children painted and chased bubbles. Children recalled outings to a museum and a park; these experiences gave them something to discuss with others.

In July 2024, children settled readily with familiar adults, and arrangements for management cover helped preserve continuity. Regular staff understood children's individual learning needs. That familiarity mattered when planning activities around what a child needed to practise next.

The July 2024 inspection identified weaker oversight of preschool transitions, insufficient checks on independent children's personal hygiene, and learning goals that needed clearer definition and better sharing with cover staff and parents. These are practical concerns: the day needs direction between activities, and independence still needs adult follow-through.

At that time, lunches were home-cooked and included fresh vegetables. Children served themselves extra portions and used cutlery, making mealtimes another opportunity to practise everyday skills.

The address is 54a Nunthorpe Road, York, YO23 1BP. Opening hours are 8am to 6pm, Monday to Friday, across the year, with closures for bank holidays and one week at Christmas.

In July 2024, the nursery received funding for early education for two-, three- and four-year-olds. This describes participation at that date rather than a current entitlement or booking promise.

• Preschool transitions. In July 2024, some children lost direction between activities, including after meals. At a visit, ask how these parts of the day are organised now.
• Independence and hygiene. The July 2024 findings included missed checks on children's washing and face-cleaning. Ask how adults follow up when children manage these tasks themselves.
• Sharing learning goals. In July 2024, individual plans were not consistently shared with cover staff and parents. Ask how your child's next steps will reach everyone supporting them.

Scarcroft Green merits consideration for families seeking care from babyhood through the preschool years, with active play and everyday independence prominent in its July 2024 experiences. The Good judgement provides a positive inspection position, balanced by specific questions about preschool routines, hygiene checks and communication of individual learning goals.