Safe N Sound Shepherd Day Nursery

Natural materials and substantial outdoor play space give Safe N Sound Shepherd Day Nursery its character. The Beverley setting combines age-based rooms with a garden for reading, water play and physical activity, while a climbing frame adds a slide and climbing wall for older children. There is room for both quiet exploration and bigger movement.

The nursery has capacity for 90 children, accepting ages from 3 months to 5 years. At its May 2023 inspection, Ofsted rated it Good overall and found safeguarding effective. That judgement is dated; the practical appeal today lies in its separate rooms, freshly cooked food and outdoor spaces organised for different ages.

Opening hours run from 7am to 6.30pm on weekdays, with a later finish possible by prior arrangement.

Rooms and Ages

Four rooms divide the nursery by stage. Caterpillars is the baby room, Butterflies serves toddlers, Ladybirds takes children aged 2 to 3, and Honey Bees covers ages 3 to 5. That gives families a clear picture of the progression through the setting, rather than treating babies and preschool children as one group.

The outdoor environment is also divided by age. Alongside energetic play, the nursery garden has space for books and writing activities, so going outside need not mean leaving quieter interests behind. Younger children sometimes use the larger climbing equipment in small groups, extending their opportunities for movement beyond their usual area.

Learning and Activities

The early years foundation stage provides the framework for learning, development and care: children build skills through play, conversation, stories and practical experiences. Natural and tactile materials are part of the current offer across the age groups, giving children things to handle and investigate rather than relying only on adult-led activities.

In May 2023, children explored cones and stones, tested how boxes and tubes fitted together, and experimented with water and sand. Books were accessible around the nursery, and older children responded with confidence and demonstrated understanding of stories. These examples show the variety of activity at that time: investigation, language and physical play sat alongside one another.

Language was also the clear improvement point in May 2023. Some staff were inconsistent in introducing unfamiliar words during conversations, limiting the support children received for communication. Stories and songs were present, but extending vocabulary through everyday exchanges needed more attention.

Outdoor and Community Life

The climbing frame provides opportunities to climb as well as slide, while Giant Jenga brings large-scale games outside. The garden also accommodates sand and water activities. These spaces support different kinds of play, from handling materials to testing balance and coordination.

In May 2023, children helped create an obstacle course and showed pumpkins they had grown from seeds. Younger children used a slide and a beam between crates. The practical thread is clear: outdoor time included making, growing and experimenting, alongside exercise.

Familiarity helped children manage change in May 2023. Music they recognised was used across rooms, and their key person accompanied introductions to a new room. Babies received responsive physical comfort from staff. For a family thinking about room moves, those are useful examples of how continuity was handled at that time.

At the May 2023 inspection, Ofsted found that assessment supported children’s progress, that the manager and special educational needs coordinator worked together on individual needs, and that partnerships with parents, local services and other professionals supported access to early education. These were concrete support mechanisms, rather than a general promise of inclusion.

Independence appeared in small daily tasks in May 2023: children practised putting on footwear and finding their drinks, while older children prepared fruit for snacks. Staff also helped children who struggled to manage their behaviour. Care included giving children time to attempt things themselves, as well as offering help.

Meals are cooked daily on the premises using fresh ingredients. Vegetarian choices are offered, and individual dietary requirements are catered for, giving families a food arrangement that can accommodate different needs.

Sessions and Attendance

The address is Shepherd Lane, Beverley, HU17 8PH. The nursery opens throughout the year and closes on bank holidays; weekday opening hours are 7am to 6.30pm, with opening until 7pm possible by prior arrangement. The extended finish therefore needs arranging rather than assuming.

Enquiries can be made by telephone or through the contact form. The nursery also invites families to visit its facilities, providing a way to see the rooms and outdoor areas before making a decision.

Funding and Paid Extras

In May 2023, the nursery provided funded early education for children aged two, three and four. That is a dated participation statement, rather than a promise about a particular family’s entitlement or attendance arrangement.

• Language development. In May 2023, everyday conversations did not consistently introduce new vocabulary. On a visit, ask how staff now extend children’s language during play and routine care.
• Attendance and costs. The weekday opening window includes a later finish by arrangement. What booking patterns, current funded-hours arrangements and charges for meals or consumables would apply to your child?
• Moving between rooms. Caterpillars, Butterflies, Ladybirds and Honey Bees create a staged route through the nursery. Ask how a room move would be timed for your child and how their key person would support it.

Safe N Sound Shepherd Day Nursery suits families who value age-based rooms, practical exploration and substantial outdoor play, with a weekday opening window that can accommodate early starts and later finishes. Its garden and climbing equipment give children different ways to use the space, while food is prepared on site.

The Good judgement from May 2023 provides a dated quality assessment. The language-development improvement point deserves attention alongside the positive care observations. For families weighing this setting, the strongest combination is its physical environment and progression through separate rooms, with the attendance and funding arrangement an essential part of the decision.