Play Centre Nursery

A garden used in all weathers, trips to the beach and a Nativity for families give Play Centre Nursery a recognisable character. Based in the Wickbourne Centre in Littlehampton, this is a play-based setting with Christian principles, where children encounter other faiths and festivals too. Its community setting matters, but the nursery's own activities carry the appeal.

At its November 2022 inspection, Ofsted rated the nursery Good, judged safeguarding effective and found that children made steady progress, with targeted help for children with SEND. Those judgements describe that visit, rather than a fresh assessment of today's provision.

There are 32 places in total. The attendance offer centres on morning and afternoon sessions during term time, with lunch between them and the option to stay through the day.

Learning and Activities

The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) provides the framework for children's learning and development: here, play, observations and individual learning records connect daily experiences with each child's next steps. Role play and messy activities sit alongside outdoor exploration, giving children different ways to practise language, movement and social skills.

For older children, early number work and literacy form part of preparation for school. Cooking adds another practical strand: chefs from the Wickbourne Centre often lead activities with the children, encouraging them to do things for themselves. This brings learning into an everyday task rather than keeping it within adult-led conversation.

In November 2022, children examined insects using magnifying glasses and explored the feel and smell of play dough. Adults introduced unfamiliar vocabulary and allowed time for answers. These examples show how a simple resource could support observation or conversation, although adults sometimes directed activities too closely, including supplying shapes already drawn for children. Greater freedom for children's own creative ideas was an improvement priority.

Outdoor and Community Life

The Secure Garden allows children to choose between indoor and outdoor play, with equipment of different sizes and use across the seasons. Current arrangements also include climbing equipment and ride-on toys. These give active children a physical outlet within the nursery day, rather than making movement dependent on an outing.

Park Trips take children to the park opposite the centre to explore nature throughout the year. Other outings include the beach, shops and Library; visiting professionals include the Fire Brigade, Nurses and Police. The value is concrete: children encounter places and people beyond their usual play space. These are outings and visitors, rather than a promise of a fixed weekly timetable.

Multi-Cultural Events introduce celebrations including Hanukkah, Diwali and Chinese New Year. The Christian character is explicit, with a Nativity performed for parents and carers at Christmas. Families choosing the setting should be comfortable with both that foundation and its introduction to other cultures.

Relationships and Communication

Each child has a key person who follows their development and keeps a learning journal. Tapestry is the digital system for sharing observations and progress, and families can contribute experiences from home. Two parent evenings each year provide a further opportunity to discuss development. This gives communication more than one route: everyday exchanges, a continuing record and planned conversations.

Settling can adapt to the child. Parents may remain while their child becomes comfortable, and the starting process includes discussions about interests, routines and additional support needs. That information helps staff plan around the individual child rather than relying only on what they observe after attendance begins.

In November 2022, parents received updates about achievements, but information about planned learning steps did not reach them effectively enough. That distinction matters: knowing what a child has done is useful, while understanding what comes next makes it easier to continue the learning at home.

Inclusion and Wellbeing

A SENCo coordinates additional support with the key person, families and relevant professionals. Assess–Plan–Do–Review is the process for identifying a need, agreeing help, putting it into practice and reviewing its effect. Adaptations can include visual communication aids, changes to routines, individual support plans and small-group or individual help where appropriate.

Speech and Language Therapy, Health Visitors and Educational Psychologists may contribute where needed. Their recommendations feed into the child's support plan. For families already working with professionals, that offers a mechanism for connecting nursery activities with agreed support, rather than leaving the two separate.

Physical access includes ramps, automatic entrance doors and accessible toilets. Daily routines also encourage independence with dressing, handwashing and toileting. When children move to school or another setting, transition planning includes sharing information and supporting visits where appropriate, helping the receiving staff understand their needs.

Sessions and Attendance

The nursery is at Wickbourne Centre, Clun Road, Littlehampton, BN17 7DZ. Morning sessions run from 9am to noon, afternoon sessions from 1pm to 4pm, and lunch occupies noon to 1pm. Children can also stay from 9am to 4pm. Attendance is during school term time, so the timetable needs to fit the family's arrangements for holidays as well as ordinary weekdays.

Children are usually allocated a combination of sessions across the week. The enquiry form starts the booking process, followed by registration information and choosing sessions. Nursery enquiries can also go directly to playcentre.wickbourne@arunchurch.com or 01903 867582.

Getting There

The centre has a small car park, with additional parking along Clun Road. Level access accommodates wheelchairs and mobility scooters, while the nursery's accessibility arrangements include disabled parking bays.

Funding and Paid Extras

Funded childcare includes 2 year old funding, the Early Years Free Entitlement Initiative for children aged three and four, and 30 hours Free Entitlement. Funding covers 38 weeks annually and is used within the term-time offer. Private sessions are also offered, with payment due ahead of each half term and a registration charge that is paid once and cannot be refunded.

Parents supply a packed lunch; snacks are offered in each session. When government funding does not cover lunchtime, a voluntary charge applies. Families should obtain a current written quotation for their chosen attendance pattern, keeping session charges and the conditional lunchtime contribution separate.

• Starting age. The session offer starts at two years, while the June 2026 SEND guidance describes provision from 18 months. Establish which starting age applies to your child before booking.
• Learning at home and creative freedom. In November 2022, improvement priorities concerned sharing planned learning steps with parents and giving children more scope for their own imaginative ideas. During a visit, ask how current Tapestry updates communicate next steps and how activities leave room for children to make their own choices.
• Term-time attendance. Morning, afternoon and full-day patterns are offered within the school-term calendar, and children usually attend a mixture of sessions. Discuss how that pattern fits your week, alongside the packed-lunch arrangement and any lunchtime contribution.

Play Centre Nursery suits families seeking morning or afternoon attendance, as well as those wanting a full term-time day. Its strongest practical attractions are the indoor and outdoor choice, outings beyond the centre and a defined process for coordinating additional support. The Christian character is clear. The November 2022 Good judgement provides a dated quality reference, while its two learning priorities give families useful points to explore when deciding whether the current experience fits their child.