Haven Day Nursery

Pretend ice creams in an outdoor mud kitchen and singing visits to neighbouring older residents give Haven Day Nursery a recognisable character. In June 2025, these experiences sat alongside children choosing their own activities and practising everyday independence. Play had practical purpose.

Ofsted rated the nursery Good at its 18 June 2025 inspection. Haven caters for children aged 2 to 60 months and has capacity for 74 children at its Anlaby Road setting in Hull.

In June 2025, in the moment planning meant staff followed children's interests and ideas, allowing them to decide what to explore while adults supported their learning. The early years foundation stage sets requirements for children's learning, development and care; here, the inspection-time examples included stories, physical play and opportunities to explore the natural world.

Younger children practised negotiating small steps and ramps and rolling balls to friends. Older children planted seeds using spades, while the outdoor mud kitchen supplied a setting for imaginative play. These were different ways to practise movement, cooperation and making choices.

Regular singing visits to the neighbouring residential home gave children contact with older people beyond the nursery. Dance classes added opportunities to stretch and move. Books were another route into learning: children chose them independently and joined familiar stories, while adults introduced new vocabulary in context.

At the June 2025 inspection, Ofsted found safeguarding effective and SEND support knowledgeable, with staff working alongside families and professionals and setting individual targets. That combination connected specialist support with each child's next steps.

Relationships were affectionate in June 2025: younger children sought comfort from familiar adults, while older children confidently spoke with visitors. Staff explained the effect of unhelpful behaviour and recognised kindness, giving children reasons for changing their actions rather than simply correcting them.

Everyday independence also mattered. Older children served their own drinks, collected cutlery and managed toileting, while families received help with toilet training and behaviour. Managers, staff and children had helped devise a balanced menu.

Two weaknesses qualified this picture. Some adults moved too quickly between questions and information, reducing children's time to think and answer. Some parents also lacked clarity about their child's key person and next learning steps, making continuity between home and nursery harder.

The address is 529 Anlaby Road, Hull, HU3 6EP. Opening hours are 7.15am to 6pm, Monday to Friday, across the year, with a Christmas closure. These hours help families assess how the nursery fits around work.

In June 2025, the nursery provided government-funded childcare.

• Time to answer. The June 2025 findings identified overly rapid questioning. During a visit, look at how adults pause and let children contribute their own ideas.
• Key-person communication. Some parents lacked clarity in June 2025 about their child's key person and learning priorities. Ask how those details are shared with your family.
• Attendance arrangements. The opening window runs from 7.15am to 6pm. Which booking pattern would fit your child's routine within those hours?

Haven suits families who value child-led choices, practical independence and contact with older neighbours. Its June 2025 Good judgement provides a positive inspection position, balanced by specific improvements needed in conversation and parent communication. For families whose working day fits the opening window, those two areas deserve attention when choosing.