Ofsted rates Penkett Day Nursery in Wallasey strong for inclusion and expected in five other areas. What parents of children with SEND should know.

Penkett Day Nursery in Wallasey has been rated “strong standard” for inclusion by Ofsted. That is the second-highest of five grades, and it means leaders are working above the standard expected of them. The nursery met the expected standard in the five other areas inspected, and its safeguarding standards were met.

The inspection took place on 24 September and the report was published on 23 October (Ofsted, Penkett Day Nursery Limited, URN 2838019). It is the first report since the nursery was registered under its current owner, Penkett Day Nursery Limited, in April 2025.

The grades

Area Grade
Inclusion Strong standard
Achievement Expected standard
Behaviour, attitudes and establishing routines Expected standard
Children’s welfare and wellbeing Expected standard
Curriculum and teaching Expected standard
Leadership and governance Expected standard
Safeguarding Met

Ofsted’s new report cards replaced single-word judgements such as “good” and “outstanding”. The five grades run from exceptional, through strong and expected, to needs attention and urgent improvement.

Why inclusion was rated strong

The inspector found that staff work with families from the start to understand each child’s needs, and put support in place quickly. The report says:

  • flexible sessions help children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), and those facing other barriers to learning, settle in
  • additional support staff give one-to-one care so every child can follow the full curriculum
  • extra funding is “spent appropriately”; some children have their own resource box to help them feel secure
  • staff have had specialist training on helping children regulate their behaviour, and share the strategies with parents to use at home

Parents and carers were “extremely complimentary” about the flexibility, the report adds.

What could be better

The report says teaching is “not consistent across the setting”. In some adult-led activities, staff move on before children’s learning is consolidated. Sometimes they do not extend children’s answers to deepen their thinking, so “some children may miss out on important information”.

Children typically make steady progress, the inspector found. Those with identified communication needs make clear progress, moving from limited language to communicating through signs and pictures.

What it means for you

  • The nursery is on Penkett Road, Wallasey (CH45 7QN). It has 60 places for children aged one to four, and opens 7.30am to 6pm, Monday to Friday, according to the report.
  • If your child has SEND, inclusion is the area where Ofsted rated it above the expected standard. Ask any nursery how it uses additional funding and support staff; the report shows what good answers look like.
  • Read the full report card on Ofsted’s site before you visit. Every registered nursery’s latest report is listed there.
  • Ofsted says settings on the Early Years Register are normally inspected at least once every four years.