Amersham Hospital Day Nursery

A police station built from cardboard boxes gives a flavour of Amersham Hospital Day Nursery’s May 2023 daily life: children worked out how to join their construction together while discussing people’s jobs. Play had a practical purpose.

At its May 2023 inspection, Ofsted rated the nursery Good, judged safeguarding effective and found that children, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities, made good progress. The nursery has capacity for 80 children and accepts ages from 3 to 60 months.

The early years foundation stage sets requirements for children’s learning, development and care; here, the May 2023 activities illustrated how conversation, movement and imaginative play could work together.

In May 2023, two-year-olds explored instruments including cymbals, a guiro and a tambourine, learning vocabulary through making sounds. Outdoor exercise, yoga and movement to music brought physical activity into the day. Older children assembled balancing beams; babies and toddlers practised climbing using soft-play equipment. These experiences gave different ages ways to develop movement and coordination.

Independence also mattered in May 2023. Younger children practised putting on shoes, while older children laid out cutlery and helped serve lunch. Everyday tasks became opportunities to take responsibility rather than simply wait for adults.

In May 2023, staff responded playfully to babies’ signals and knew children’s individual needs. Clear explanations of rules and support with expressing feelings helped children understand routines and relationships.

Home learning had a concrete link in May 2023: families borrowed books and activity cards from the lending library. Parents were also invited to talk about their work, connecting children’s learning with familiar adults. Staff knew children’s dietary needs and individual healthcare plans, helping them follow the care arrangements each child required.

The address is Amersham Hospital, Whielden Street, Amersham, HP7 0JD. Opening hours are 7.15am to 6pm, Monday to Friday, throughout the year, with bank holiday closures. That opening window offers scope for working-day childcare.

In May 2023, the nursery primarily served children whose parents worked for the NHS. It also received funding for early education for children aged two, three and four. These describe its position at that date.

• Time to answer. In May 2023, staff sometimes moved on before children had enough time to respond, and quieter children did not consistently get equal opportunities to contribute. During a visit, ask how group conversations now include children who need longer to speak.
• Hospital-based childcare. The nursery primarily served NHS employees in May 2023. Ask how the joining arrangements apply to your family and what attendance pattern would suit your working hours.

Amersham Hospital Day Nursery suits families seeking year-round weekday childcare, with opening hours that extend across the working day. Its May 2023 strengths were practical: imaginative construction, physical activity and chances for children to manage everyday tasks themselves. The balance to weigh is how staff now give quieter children space to contribute.