Penguin Day Care Nursery

A garden hill, trees to climb and logs to balance on give Penguin Day Care Nursery's April 2024 account a clear outdoor character. Children had opportunities to test their movement and judgement, with adults helping them understand how to play safely.

At its April 2024 inspection, Ofsted rated the nursery Good, judged safeguarding effective and highlighted the strength of support for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities. The current age range runs from birth to five, with 50 places in total at Newland Park in Hull.

In April 2024, the early years foundation stage provided the framework for children's learning, development and care: play and everyday interactions supported their growing skills. Communication, understanding feelings and doing things independently were central strands of the curriculum.

Babies explored water play, toddlers enjoyed toy cars and older children searched the garden for hidden caterpillars. Adults joined children's play and followed their ideas. This gave children room to make choices rather than simply complete adult-directed tasks.

The outdoor arrangements added physical challenge. In April 2024, children ran on the garden hill, received guidance about tree climbing and worked together on the climbing logs. Indoors, books prompted toddlers to try animal names, while adults used speech, gestures and signs and allowed thinking time before a response.

In April 2024, staff drew on their knowledge of individual children to plan activities and identify what to introduce next. Conversations with families helped them understand children's interests beyond nursery, making that planning more personal.

Daily handovers were complemented by an app carrying photographs, food updates and information about development. Books and other resources also went home, giving parents practical ways to continue learning together. Managers used family and professional feedback in their planning and encouraged staff training, including work on using stories in learning.

Mealtimes combined eating with social interaction and opportunities for children to feed themselves. There was a weakness here, too: in April 2024, children sometimes spent too long waiting at tables before lunch was ready, becoming restless.

The address is 28 Newland Park, Hull, HU5 2DW. Opening hours are 7.30am to 6pm, Monday to Friday, across the year, with closures for bank holidays and Christmas.

In April 2024, session times ran from 7.30am to 6pm, and funded early education was provided for children aged two, three and four. These are dated arrangements rather than a description of a current funded booking package.

• Lunch organisation. In April 2024, waiting before food was ready disrupted mealtimes. On a visit, ask how preparation and seating now fit together.
• Group activities. In April 2024, some shared activities did not match every child's understanding. Ask how staff adapt the same activity for children at different stages.
• Your attendance plan. The nursery opens throughout the year and closes for bank holidays and Christmas. Discuss how your proposed days and any funded hours would fit its booking arrangements.

Penguin suits families seeking year-round weekday care, with an April 2024 account that combines physically adventurous play, attention to communication and useful exchanges between home and nursery. The garden activities have clear practical value for children learning to judge movement and risk. Lunch organisation and the pitch of group activities are the two points to explore before joining.