Seashells Early Years Centre, Nursery

Comfort for babies and growing independence for older children stood out at Seashells in April 2023. Based at The Annexe on Grange Road in East Cowes, it accepts children aged 2 to 59 months.

At its April 2023 inspection, Ofsted rated the nursery Good, judged safeguarding effective and found that children with SEND received effective support through careful monitoring and work with other professionals. Those strengths sit alongside two specific improvements: adapting teaching to each child and organising staff more effectively during toddler play.

In April 2023, learning combined activities led by adults with play chosen by children, shaped around their interests and next steps. The early years foundation stage provides the framework for learning, development and care: here, the inspection-time curriculum covered its seven areas of learning through that mixture of guided experiences and independent exploration.

Books and number play made this concrete. In April 2023, staff returned to a book across the week to build familiarity, supplied short stories for families to share at home and extended vocabulary through conversations during play. Children brushed sand away to reveal numbers. These examples connect language and early mathematics to things children can handle, repeat and discuss.

Cooperative play also featured in April 2023. Children shared beanbags, encouraged friends to try targets and celebrated successful throws. Garden time brought another small step towards independence: children were encouraged to try putting their coats on themselves.

In April 2023, children had close relationships with their key person, and tired babies sought comfort through cuddles. That gives a useful picture of how emotional reassurance worked alongside everyday care.

Regular parent meetings in April 2023 covered progress and what children would learn next. Staff gathered information about children when they joined, tracked development and followed guidance from professionals supporting children with SEND. The practical emphasis was on understanding individual needs and connecting nursery care with support beyond it.

Safety teaching in April 2023 included reminders to use the handrail on steps. Families also received information about healthy eating and safer technology use, extending that work into home life.

The address is The Annexe, Grange Road, East Cowes, PO32 6EA. Opening hours are 7.45am to 5.15pm, Monday to Friday. The nursery operates across the year, closing on bank holidays and for up to two weeks over Christmas, so holiday cover needs to fit around those breaks.

In April 2023, funded early education was provided for two-, three- and four-year-old children. This is a dated participation fact rather than a promise about an individual child's entitlement or booking.

• Teaching adapted to the child. In April 2023, some activities did not enable each child to participate fully. During a visit, ask how practitioners adjust an activity for children at different stages.
• Toddler engagement. In April 2023, staff positioning and interaction during free play needed improvement. Ask how adults now organise themselves to sustain children's involvement.
• Attendance and holiday cover. The weekday opening window is paired with bank-holiday and Christmas closures. Which booking patterns and funded-hours arrangements would fit your family's week?

Seashells merits consideration for families looking for weekday care who value the key-person relationships, regular discussion of development and play built around children's interests seen in April 2023. Its April 2023 strengths were concrete: comfort for babies, repeated stories and support connected with other professionals. The teaching and toddler-engagement improvements deserve equal weight in a visit discussion, while its weekday hours and Christmas closure need to match the family's care arrangements.