Shiny Stars Day Nursery and Holiday Club

Sand play, planting and conversations about healthy food give Shiny Stars a recognisable character in its July–August 2023 account of nursery life. At its inspection spanning 14 July to 24 August 2023, Ofsted rated the nursery Good and judged safeguarding effective.

The Bradford setting has capacity for 30 children, with a current age range of 36 to 60 months. The inspection judgement needs to be read alongside a later regulatory finding about notification of a significant event.

The early years foundation stage sets the requirements for children's learning, development and care: play and everyday routines contribute to learning alongside planned activities.

In July–August 2023, children invented rescue stories during sand play, explored sounds with shells during water games and took part in planting. These examples brought imagination, conversation and growing plants into their activities. Staff used questions during play to extend children's language.

Outdoor experiences included balancing, hopping and learning what plants need. In July–August 2023, climbing opportunities needed development, and some activities needed clearer sequencing so children could extend their thinking and build on earlier learning. These were substantive improvement points, rather than a call simply to add more activities.

In July–August 2023, staff used sand timers to signal the change from play to tidying, giving children a visible prompt for routines. Children chose their activities and practised everyday independence, including disposing of used tissues. Staff also exchanged information with children's school teachers to support continuity in learning.

Contact with parents included updates about development and next learning steps. In July–August 2023, the special educational needs coordinator worked with families and other professionals on individual plans and targeted interventions, providing a concrete mechanism for additional support.

Ofsted's compliance document dated 21 January 2026 recorded that, on 19 January 2026, the provider had failed to notify it of a significant event. This is the latest published regulatory position, distinct from the July–August 2023 safeguarding judgement.

The address is 1 Simes Street, Westgate, Bradford, BD1 3RB. Opening hours are 7am to 7pm, Monday to Sunday, across the year, with closures for bank holidays, Christmas Day and Eid. Weekend opening is a useful practical consideration for families whose working week includes Saturdays or Sundays.

In July–August 2023, the nursery provided funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-old children. That is a dated funding position.

• Significant-event notification. The finding dated 21 January 2026 concerns a failure to notify a significant event. Ask how notification responsibilities are managed now.
• Outdoor challenge and learning progression. July–August 2023 improvement points concerned climbing and the sequencing of activities. A visit should explore how both have developed.
• Weekend attendance. Seven-day opening may suit weekend work. What booking pattern would accommodate your family's required days and hours?

Shiny Stars suits families with children aged 36 to 60 months who need opening hours extending into evenings or weekends. Its July–August 2023 examples show practical learning through play and communication with families. The January 2026 notification finding is a material consideration alongside those July–August 2023 inspection findings.