Daisy Chain Nursery St John's

Real vegetables in the home corner and coffee granules in a role-play cafe give Daisy Chain Nursery St John's a practical, sensory character. In April 2025, children used these everyday materials to explore textures, smells and conversation. Play had something concrete to work with.

At its April 2025 inspection, Ofsted rated the nursery Outstanding and found safeguarding effective. Its setting within the grounds of St John the Baptist Primary School in Mexborough also gives school transition a practical context, although nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place.

The nursery has capacity for 31 children, with a current age range of 24 to 36 months. It operates during term time, with opening hours of 8am to 4pm. That school-calendar rhythm is an important part of the choice for families.

Learning and Activities

The early years foundation stage sets the requirements for children's learning, development and care. Here, play provides opportunities to practise language, make choices and develop independence, rather than separating learning from ordinary nursery experiences.

In April 2025, staff shaped activities around what individual children already understood and what they needed to learn next. Their questions encouraged children to explain ideas and consider possibilities. The emphasis was on extending a child's thinking through conversation, giving children reasons to speak rather than simply asking them to repeat an answer.

Books connected nursery and home. In April 2025, children borrowed books, listened to shared stories and talked about unfamiliar vocabulary. Movement before story time helped them prepare to listen. This gave reading a place both in the group routine and in family life.

Everyday Play

In April 2025, the role-play cafe used coffee granules for sensory investigation, while the home corner contained real vegetables. These materials linked imaginative play with familiar household experiences. Children could explore an object's properties while using language together.

Independence also featured in small personal tasks. In April 2025, children used a mirror when cleaning their noses, helping them see what they were doing. That is a useful example of adults making self-care understandable rather than simply completing the task for a child.

Relationships and Communication

In April 2025, staff allowed children time to settle and observed their interests as they got to know them. Information moved between parents and practitioners in both directions, connecting knowledge of the child at home with activities at nursery. Clear explanations of what would happen next supported the daily routine.

Families' languages also contributed to nursery life. In April 2025, parents were encouraged to share words used at home, while resources introduced children to different buildings and foods. This gave children specific ways to learn about other families through conversation and play.

Inclusion and Wellbeing

At the April 2025 inspection, Ofsted found exceptional support for disadvantaged children and children with special educational needs and/or disabilities, including work with other professionals, individual learning plans and targeted interventions. Additional funding supported staff training and sensory materials, giving the support practical resources as well as planning.

In April 2025, staff had developed a close working relationship with the neighbouring school to support children's move onwards. This was transition work, rather than an admissions advantage.

Sessions and Attendance

The address is St John the Baptist C of E Primary School, Sedgefield Way, Mexborough, S64 0BE. Opening hours are 8am to 4pm, and the nursery closes during school holidays. Families therefore need an attendance arrangement that fits term time.

Alternative or additional hours can be requested, with flexibility considered around the family's needs. A lunch session runs from 11.30am to 12.30pm and needs reserving with staff. Enquiries can be made through the contact form, by email or by telephone.

Funding and Paid Extras

Funded and privately paid childcare are offered. Snacks are included for both funded and private attendance; a school dinner costs extra, or families can send a packed lunch. This separates the lunch choice from the snacks included in attendance.

Other consumables are included for funded and private attendance, but parents supply nappies and sun cream when needed. Current prices come in the nursery's written quotation, allowing families to consider additional hours and lunch alongside their planned attendance.

Being within school grounds does not guarantee a Reception place. Families applying to the state primary school still use the local authority admissions process.

• School-holiday cover. Attendance follows term time and the nursery closes during school holidays. Families needing year-round childcare will need to plan for those breaks.
• Additional hours and lunch. Flexibility is considered for alternative or extra hours, and the lunch session requires a reservation. Discuss how these fit the attendance pattern you need.
• Age and next steps. The current age range is 24 to 36 months. At a visit, ask how the nursery plans the next stage for your child as they approach the upper end of that range.

Daisy Chain Nursery St John's suits families seeking term-time childcare with the possibility of flexible additional hours and a reserved lunch session. Its strongest character comes from the April 2025 picture of language-rich play, books shared with home and everyday materials used purposefully. The school setting supports transition work, while the holiday calendar and lunch arrangements deserve practical thought before joining.