Sparrows Nursery

A weekly dance class and a Parent Volunteer programme give Sparrows Nursery a character beyond its school-site address. Children can take part in dance on the day they attend, while parents can contribute a skill, hobby or cultural experience to group time. Both bring something concrete to a day built around play and shared activities.

Based at Benfield Primary School in Portslade, Sparrows has 34 places in total and welcomes children from one year old. At its October 2023 inspection, Ofsted rated the nursery Good and found safeguarding effective. That judgement provides a dated assessment of the nursery, rather than a guarantee about every child's experience today.

Morning and afternoon sessions sit alongside a school-day option and an afterschool session, although the later finish needs particular attention before booking.

Learning and Activities

The Early Years Foundation Stage provides the framework for children's learning, development and care. Here, the day combines time to choose their own play with group activities, outdoor experiences, eating together and personal care. That mix gives children opportunities to practise communicating, sharing and managing everyday tasks alongside their play.

Play spaces support imaginative activity, problem-solving and taking turns. The weekly dance class adds a recurring activity, with access for children attending that day and no separate activity charge. Funded and privately paid attendance give children access to the same activities and outings, so the payment arrangement does not divide their opportunities to participate.

In October 2023, number games involved changing voices and clapping while counting in both directions. Nature provided another learning opportunity: children explored the spinning movement of sycamore seeds and connected it with a helicopter. These examples show how ordinary objects and playful repetition could become starting points for learning.

The same October 2023 account included brief group gatherings in which children practised listening, responding to their names and greeting each other. A sand timer signalled changes in the routine, giving children warning before tidying began. Simple signing and gentle singing also helped staff draw attention to the next activity.

Outdoor and Community Life

Outdoor experiences form part of the current session structure. In October 2023, the outdoor area offered climbing opportunities, with staff nearby to help children attempt them. This was a physical setting for practising movement and judging what they could manage.

The Parent Volunteer programme gives families a direct way to contribute to group activities. A parent might share knowledge from work, demonstrate a hobby or talk about a cultural background. Its value is practical: children's experiences can draw on the people and interests within their own families.

Relationships and Communication

Communication extends beyond handover conversations. Families can send photographs from home through the nursery software, while emails, messages and videos provide updates from nursery. This creates routes for sharing experiences in both directions, rather than relying entirely on a brief conversation at the end of a session.

In October 2023, key persons understood children's learning preferences and discussed their next steps with colleagues. Staff also used predictable cues around changes of activity. For a child learning nursery routines, advance warning and familiar ways of gaining attention can make transitions easier to understand.

Inclusion and Wellbeing

At the October 2023 inspection, Ofsted found that the SENCo helped staff adapt experiences for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities and seek advice from other agencies. The practical mechanism matters: support involved adjusting what children did and drawing on outside guidance where needed.

In October 2023, mealtimes included support with tasks such as pouring drinks, with staff recognising when children could manage independently. Hygiene was also part of everyday learning. These are small but useful steps towards managing personal routines.

Two improvement points temper the positive assessment. In October 2023, staff did not consistently use conversations and interactions to take learning further, and their responses when children stepped on toys did not always strengthen understanding of care and respect. Families should weigh the Good judgement alongside those specific weaknesses.

Sessions and Attendance

The address is Benfield Primary School, Old Shoreham Road, Portslade, Brighton, BN41 1XS. Sparrows operates during term time, making its calendar an important part of the fit for a working family.

Morning runs from 08:45 to 12:30, and afternoon from 12:30 to 15:15. The school-day option is listed as 08:45 to 16:15, while afterschool runs from 15:15 to 16:15. Sessions can be combined, and families are asked to keep to the agreed start and finish times to protect other children's play. Extra hours are charged according to the child's age band.

The stated opening hours are Monday to Friday, 08:45 to 15:15, with an extension to 16:15 also described as under consideration. This conflicts with the later-ending booking options; the practical question is addressed below. Enquiries can be made through the contact form or by telephone on 07883026470.

Being based at Benfield Primary School does not guarantee a Reception place.

Funding and Paid Extras

Funded childcare is offered, including funding for eligible two-year-olds, the universal entitlement for three- and four-year-olds, and the extended entitlement for eligible working parents of three- and four-year-olds. Attendance is term-time. Funding can cover any session, with charges applying to hours beyond the child's weekly funded entitlement; private hours are also offered.

Snacks and drinks are included in session fees, and funded children also receive snacks without an additional charge. For lunch, families can send food from home or pay separately for a hot meal ordered from the school canteen, with vegetarian and meat choices.

There is no consumables charge for funded or privately paid children, and activities and outings carry no extra cost. A registration charge applies except to children attending solely through funded hours; no deposit is required. Reducing booked sessions requires one month's notice. Families can obtain a current written quotation for their intended pattern, with the charge structure explained on the fees and funding page.

• The later finish. A school-day option and an afterschool session end at 16:15, but opening hours finish at 15:15 and an extension is also described as under consideration. Before committing to either later option, confirm which finish time applies to the booking.
• Teaching interactions and respect. The October 2023 improvement points concerned extending learning through staff interactions and helping children care for resources and each other. During a visit, ask how staff now respond to children's ideas and handle toys being mistreated.
• Starting at one. Children can join from one year old, whereas the October 2023 assessment covered children aged two to four. For a younger child, ask how their daily care and settling arrangements work alongside the older children's activities.
• Term-time attendance. This pattern suits families whose childcare needs follow school terms. Those working through school holidays need to plan separate care for those periods.

Sparrows suits families seeking morning or afternoon attendance, with the option to combine sessions during term time. Its weekly dance class, two-way parent communication and Parent Volunteer programme give useful substance to the everyday offer. Funding can be used across sessions, while snacks, activities and consumables avoid separate charges.

The October 2023 Good judgement is a positive reference point, balanced by specific work needed on staff interactions and children's respect for resources. For families considering the school-day or afterschool options, resolving the later finish is the key practical step before booking.