Daisy Chain Day Nurseries

At Daisy Chain Day Nurseries in Chesterfield, babies explored ball runs and older children investigated insects outdoors during the January 2024 inspection. At its January 2024 inspection, Ofsted judged the nursery Good overall and its safeguarding arrangements effective.

The nursery takes children aged 3 to 60 months and has capacity for 50 children. Its address is Cobden House, 2 Cobden Road, Chesterfield, S40 4TD.

The early years foundation stage sets the framework for children's learning, development and care. Here, the January 2024 examples show how play can bring together movement, language and discovery.

Babies rolled balls through a tube, then tried balls with different textures. Changing the materials held their attention while giving them practice coordinating hands and eyes. Older children investigated insects outdoors, searched the soil and examined a worm in a magnifying container. Books helped extend the investigation beyond the initial discovery.

Planning also needed sharper delivery. In January 2024, staff assessed children's development and planned around their interests, but activities sometimes drifted from their intended learning. Some children consequently lost interest. The useful distinction for parents is between an appealing activity and one that helps a child take their next step.

At the January 2024 inspection, Ofsted found that staff built secure relationships and supported children learning English as an additional language by gathering familiar words from parents. Babies sought comfort from staff, while older children approached their key person to share experiences from home.

In January 2024, conversation included repetition, questions and time for children to respond. Parents received ideas for learning at home alongside information about development, giving them ways to continue activities beyond nursery.

Mealtimes offered practice in independence: older children served food and drinks and cleared their tableware. However, January 2024 practice was less consistent in explaining behaviour expectations, including care for toys and conduct while eating.

The nursery opens Monday to Friday, 7.30am to 6pm, throughout the year except bank holidays. That opening window is useful for families organising work and childcare.

In January 2024, funded early education was offered for children aged two, three and four. That is a dated participation fact rather than a promise about an individual child's entitlement.

• Behaviour guidance. January 2024 practice gave children inconsistent explanations of rules. Ask how staff now agree and reinforce expectations across everyday routines.
• Purposeful activities. January 2024 activities sometimes lost their learning direction. A visit can explore how practitioners adapt an activity when a child disengages.
• Booking arrangements. For care within the weekday opening window, what attendance pattern and funded-hours arrangement would fit your family?

Daisy Chain suits families seeking weekday childcare across the year. The January 2024 findings highlighted relationships and learning through play for babies and older children, with ball runs and insect investigations making that approach tangible. The recommendations from that inspection make consistency in behaviour guidance and activity delivery useful subjects to explore when choosing it.