Sweet Pea Nursery

In July 2022, sensory play and children’s own problem-solving characterised activities at Sweet Pea Nursery: babies explored water, sand and ice, while older children devised balancing activities. At its July 2022 inspection, Ofsted rated the nursery Good, with positive findings about teaching and children’s development alongside two specific improvements to make.

Sweet Pea Nursery has capacity for 56 children aged 12 to 60 months in Whittlesey, Peterborough. The practical question for families is how its routines protect absorbed play and how care is coordinated when a child attends another setting.

In July 2022, children made dough before playing with it and assembled their own sensory circuits for balancing. These examples put exploration and trying out ideas into the same activity. Babies investigated different textures and temperatures through water, sand and ice; a small slide also gave staff an opportunity to introduce counting.

The early years foundation stage sets the framework for children’s learning, development and care, bringing play and everyday experiences into their education. In July 2022, staff explained unfamiliar words, used stories and songs, and supported older children’s recognition of their own names and familiar letter sounds. Books and bilingual staff also brought children’s home languages into nursery life.

In July 2022, counting and construction connected mathematics with practical problems. In July 2022, children fitted shapes together and worked cooperatively during parachute play. However, scheduled activities sometimes interrupted children who were already engrossed in exploring. Protecting that concentration was an explicit improvement priority.

At the July 2022 inspection, Ofsted found safeguarding effective and described staff recognising babies’ individual care needs and responding promptly when children needed comfort. That dated judgement gives families a clear assessment of care at that point.

In July 2022, staff knew children’s personalities and family circumstances, and used knowledge of their key children to plan next steps. Parents received information about care and learning. Staff explained behaviour expectations, while children practised sharing and waiting for a turn.

School links supported transition in July 2022. Cooperation with other childcare providers was less developed, however, leaving an improvement priority around exchanging information and agreeing a consistent approach for children attending more than one setting.

The address is 8 Springwater Business Park, Station Road, Whittlesey, Peterborough, PE7 2EU. Opening hours are 7.30am to 6pm, Monday to Friday, making the opening window relevant to families arranging care around work.

In July 2022, the nursery provided funded early education for children aged two, three and four. That is a historical participation statement, rather than a promise of a funded place today.

• Uninterrupted play. In July 2022, routines sometimes cut across children’s chosen activities. On a visit, ask how staff now allow an engrossed child to finish before changing activities.
• Care across settings. Information exchange with other childcare providers needed strengthening in July 2022. Families using two settings should ask how learning and care plans are shared.
• Matching the working week. The opening window runs from 7.30am to 6pm on weekdays. Ask which attendance pattern and current funding terms would fit your intended days.

Sweet Pea Nursery suits families seeking care for children aged 12 to 60 months, with an inspection-era picture of sensory exploration, language development and practical problem-solving. The Good judgement is dated July 2022. Its two improvement priorities give a visit a useful purpose: understanding how today’s routines protect play and how staff coordinate with another childcare setting.