Littlehampton Day Nursery C I C

A garden bug hunt becomes a lesson in language here: children examine snails, learn words for animal homes and build habitats. That combination of exploration and conversation gives Littlehampton Day Nursery C I C its character in the June 2024 account.

Ofsted rated the nursery Good on 12 June 2024. On Elm Grove Road in Littlehampton, it has capacity for 50 children aged 3 to 60 months.

The early years foundation stage provides the framework for children's learning, development and care. In June 2024, activities built on children's interests and existing knowledge, with assessments shaping their next steps rather than leaving learning to chance.

Older children could move between indoor activities and a large garden for much of the day. Magnifying pots brought minibeasts into closer view, while construction materials let children turn their discoveries into habitats. Planks and crates became an obstacle course for balance and coordination; threading and play dough exercised smaller hand movements.

Younger children had a calmer, separate environment, with stories, songs, sand and water exploration. A toddler bridge and garden equipment gave babies opportunities to practise movement. These were different experiences for different stages, rather than one activity offered to everyone.

At the June 2024 inspection, Ofsted found safeguarding effective and SEND support successful, with children making progress from their starting points. The manager held the SEND coordinator role, additional funding supported individual needs, and staff used signing and short sentences to help children participate.

In June 2024, babies had close relationships with familiar staff, who encouraged self-feeding and kept conversations going. Calm voices and gentle reminders helped older children practise sharing and listening. Staff training included communication, language and Makaton, alongside support for practitioners' wellbeing.

There were two weaknesses. Some older babies waited too long with nothing to do during nappy-changing routines, becoming restless. Staff also sometimes gathered incomplete information about children's home languages, reducing the consistency of support for children learning English as an additional language.

Parents received ideas for learning at home, and settling arrangements could adapt to families. The healthy eating project combined food-choice activities with messages about oral hygiene; children also selected fruit and vegetables from the snack shed.

The address is Elm Grove Road, Littlehampton, BN17 6AH. Opening hours are 8am to 5.30pm, Monday to Friday, across the year, with closures for bank holidays and Christmas.

In June 2024, the nursery provided funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-olds.

• Baby routines. June 2024 highlighted unoccupied waits during nappy changing. On a visit, ask how babies stay engaged while staff handle these care tasks.
• Home languages. Information gathered from families was sometimes incomplete in June 2024. Multilingual families should discuss how their child's familiar words and communication will shape support.
• Attendance fit. The opening day ends at 5.30pm. How would the nursery's booking arrangements fit your family's working hours?

This suits families seeking garden exploration and practical, conversational learning, with an opening window ending at 5.30pm. The June 2024 picture combines close relationships and purposeful activities with specific weaknesses in baby routines and home-language communication. Those two issues deserve attention when choosing care for a baby or a multilingual child.