Withernsea Day Nursery

Beach safety, a lighthouse and community outings gave Withernsea Day Nursery a clear seaside character in July 2024. Learning reached beyond indoor play: children visited the beach, a fire station and a library, connecting their experiences with the town around them.

Ofsted rated the nursery Good on 30 July 2024, with positive findings about its education and children's behaviour. Its current age range is two to five years, with capacity for 52 children. The younger children described below belong to the inspection snapshot.

In July 2024, children's interests shaped activities. Water play became a chance to carry water and clean outdoor toys; staff added resources as play developed. Children also directed adults during pretend games, giving them opportunities to explain ideas and take the lead.

The early years foundation stage is the framework for children's learning, development and care. Here, its practical expression in July 2024 included language, movement and independence: staff introduced vocabulary during exploration, while painting and drawing exercised small hand movements.

Outdoor activity included jumping in puddles, planting tomatoes and sowing wildflowers. These experiences brought movement and growing into the day. Staff also used the coastal setting to introduce the lighthouse and beach safety, linking learning with children's surroundings.

At the July 2024 inspection, Ofsted found safeguarding effective, warm relationships between staff and children, and effective support from the special educational needs coordinator, including help from other professionals. These findings matter for families whose children need both familiar adults and coordinated additional support.

In July 2024, staff responded to children's gestures and preferences, and followed individual sleep routines. Children fetched their comforters themselves when ready to rest. Handwashing and opening lunch containers also gave them manageable tasks to practise independently, alongside preparation for moving on to school.

An online application connected home and nursery that July, carrying information about children's development and next learning steps. Parents could join activities and approach staff with concerns. Staff training and development plans supported the work of tracking children's progress.

The nursery is at Withernsea Children Centre, Hull Road, Withernsea, HU19 2EQ. It opens Monday to Friday, from 7.30am to 5pm, across the year, closing on bank holidays and for one week at Christmas.

In July 2024, session times ran from 7.30am to 5pm, and funded early education was provided for two-, three- and four-year-olds. Children brought packed lunches at that time; staff worked with parents to encourage healthy food.

• Healthy eating. In July 2024, lunchtime conversations did not consistently develop children's understanding of healthier choices and treats. Improving that understanding was the stated next step. Ask how it now features in the day.
• Age range. The current offer starts at two, while the July 2024 account includes babies. Families should judge the experiences described here alongside the arrangements for their child's present age.
• Attendance and costs. The opening day runs from 7.30am to 5pm. At a visit, ask which booking patterns fit your working week and request a written quotation covering funded hours, meals and consumables.

Withernsea suits families seeking care for children aged two to five, with a weekday opening window ending at 5pm. Its July 2024 strengths were concrete: responsive play, coastal learning and close relationships with adults. Healthy-eating education was the improvement priority. That combination gives families useful examples to discuss when weighing the nursery against their child's needs.