Sunshine Day Nursery by Busy Bees

Books shared with babies, threading at the finger gym table and experiments with floating objects gave Sunshine Day Nursery by Busy Bees its character in April 2024. At its April 2024 inspection, Ofsted judged the nursery Good overall and found safeguarding effective.

The nursery is at 6 Tarmount Lane, Shoreham-by-Sea, BN43 6DA, and accepts children aged 3 to 60 months. The strongest inspection examples centred on close adult relationships and practical learning. Two improvements mattered: explaining nutrition more effectively and giving children clearer, more consistent instructions about behaviour.

In April 2024, the early years foundation stage took practical form through stories, conversation, movement and investigation. Babies heard simple words during close exchanges with practitioners, while children explored why different objects floated or sank. Learning involved handling things and talking about what happened.

The finger gym table gave children threading activities to exercise their hands in preparation for writing. Spaces also encouraged babies to pull themselves upright and practise walking, while young children tried jumping with staff. These were concrete opportunities to practise developing skills.

Reading extended beyond story time. In April 2024, practitioners planned library trips and supplied books for children to take home as they prepared for school. Experiments added another dimension: children predicted what objects would do in water, then tested their ideas. For families, these examples show the kinds of learning experiences children encountered at that time.

At the April 2024 inspection, Ofsted found that babies had close relationships with their key person and that SEND support involved the SENCo working with families and professionals on targeted plans. That gave support a specific mechanism, with adults collaborating around individual children.

In April 2024, practitioners responded to babies needing rest or a nappy change, and shared books and pictures with them. Parents received feedback about their children's development, creating a connection between learning at nursery and at home.

Self-care included reminders to wash hands with soap, using the bubble gloves prompt. Nutrition teaching needed more attention: staff did not consistently discuss food during meals and could not answer children's questions about its ingredients. Sand timers helped children wait for toys, but inconsistent reminders about rules sometimes left expectations unclear.

The address is 6 Tarmount Lane, Shoreham-by-Sea, BN43 6DA. Opening hours are 7.30am to 6pm, Monday to Friday, across the year, with closures on bank holidays and for one week at Christmas.

In April 2024, the nursery received early education funding for children aged two, three and four. This is a dated account of participation, rather than a promise of an individual child's entitlement.

• Food conversations. April 2024 highlighted gaps in explaining ingredients and nutrition. Ask how mealtimes now help children understand healthy choices.
• Clear expectations. Behaviour instructions were not consistently clear in April 2024. A visit is an opportunity to discuss how practitioners explain rules and support turn-taking.
• Starting with a baby. Close key-person relationships were an April 2024 strength. Ask how settling sessions introduce your baby to their key person.

Sunshine suits families seeking weekday childcare across the year, with an April 2024 inspection picture built around relationships, books and hands-on exploration. The practical learning examples give it substance. Nutrition teaching and consistent behaviour guidance remain the two dated improvement points to weigh alongside that Good judgement.