Sparkles Day Nursery, Pilgrims Way

Sunflower planting, dough play and watching caterpillars become butterflies give this nursery's May 2023 account its character: learning through small, tangible experiences rather than abstract instruction. Sparkles Day Nursery, Pilgrims Way operates at Pilgrims Way Church in Eastham, with capacity for 56 children in total.

At its May 2023 inspection, Ofsted rated the nursery Good and found safeguarding effective, with successful communication and language support for children learning English as an additional language and children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). The children attending then were aged 2 to 4. That dated picture is the basis for understanding the care and learning described here.

Two points temper the positive judgement. Children sometimes moved quickly between activities they had chosen, and adults sometimes needed to allow longer for answers. Both matter to families looking for patient conversation and sustained play.

Learning and Activities

The early years foundation stage provides the framework for children's learning, development and care: in everyday terms, play supports communication, movement, relationships and early learning. In May 2023, counting involved miniature vehicles and sea creatures, while painting with broad brushes gave children practice in making marks. These were practical ways to introduce number and early writing through things children could handle.

Sensory exploration also had a clear purpose. In May 2023, children handled soil, sand and dough, with adults introducing words for the actions involved. Linking language to a movement or texture gave children something concrete to talk about. The sunflower planting activity brought another kind of learning: children took turns while waiting to plant their seeds.

The May 2023 account distinguished toddlers' enjoyment of dancing, songs and stories from older children's pretend cooking and serving food to friends. Role play gave the older children a shared activity, while songs and stories offered younger children opportunities to listen and participate. These are descriptions of the children attending at that time, rather than named room arrangements.

Outdoor and Community Life

An outdoor area supported physical play in May 2023. Children used wheeled toys, practised balancing and joined staff in ball games; running and jumping added opportunities to develop movement skills. The useful detail is the variety of movement involved, rather than simply the existence of outdoor space.

Activities linked to religious festivals introduced similarities and differences between people during May 2023's inspection account. Children also recalled watching caterpillars turn into butterflies. Together, those examples show how conversation could extend beyond the immediate game to experiences children remembered and ideas about other people.

Relationships and Communication

In May 2023, children had close relationships with their key person and other adults. Staff used praise and calm reminders, and children practised sharing and taking turns. The planting activity illustrated this relationship between adult guidance and children's behaviour: waiting was part of an enjoyable task, rather than a separate lesson.

Home languages were brought into the nursery's communication work in May 2023. Staff asked parents for familiar words from their child's home language, giving adults a practical starting point for conversation. Families also received ideas for mathematical games, exploration and problem-solving at home, connecting nursery activities with things they could do together.

Inclusion and Wellbeing

During May 2023, staff worked with other professionals, specialist teachers and local schools around individual children's needs. That describes a mechanism for sharing support and maintaining continuity, rather than an admissions relationship with a particular school.

Everyday independence was part of the same dated account. Children helped organise snacks and put their belongings on their pegs. Handwashing, fruit, vegetables and drinking water were also discussed during routines. These small tasks made personal care and responsibility something children practised themselves.

The address is Pilgrims Way Church, Pilgrim Way, Eastham, E6 1HW. Branch enquiries can be made by telephone on 0208 552 7772 or by email at pilgrims@sparklesdaynursery.com.

In May 2023, the nursery operated during term time, Monday to Friday, with opening hours of 9am to midday and 12.30pm to 3.30pm. These are dated opening hours. They describe the operating arrangement at that visit rather than a current booking offer.

At that time, the nursery received early-education funding for children aged two, three and four. This historical funding position should be kept separate from a family's current childcare arrangements and eligibility.

• Sustained play. In May 2023, some children lost interest quickly in activities they had chosen. During a visit, look at how adults help a child develop an idea and stay with it.
• Time to answer. The May 2023 improvement actions included giving children longer to respond and work through their thoughts. Listen for pauses in adult-child conversation, as well as the questions adults ask.
• Attendance arrangements. The May 2023 operating pattern was term-time opening in two parts of the day. What attendance patterns, funded-hour arrangements and charges for meals or consumables would apply to your child now?

The May 2023 picture suits families who value practical play, attention to children's language and everyday independence. Dough vocabulary, planting and pretend meals make that picture specific. The Good judgement is encouraging, but the two improvement points deserve equal attention: children need time both to stay with their own play and to formulate an answer. Families considering this branch should weigh those interactions alongside the attendance arrangement that fits their week.