Playdays Day Nursery

A hospital-site nursery where children had a large indoor area for physical play in October 2022: Playdays Day Nursery combines a practical Middlesbrough location with an October 2022 picture of children tackling physical challenges, sharing books and building independence. The nursery is based on Marton Road. That location will matter most to families whose working day already centres on the hospital.

At its 28 October 2022 inspection, Ofsted rated Playdays Good and judged safeguarding effective. The detail beneath that judgement gives parents more to work with than the grade alone: close relationships with babies, thoughtful support for communication and opportunities to learn beyond the nursery were balanced by weaknesses in engaging quieter children and developing mathematical understanding.

Playdays accepts children aged 2 to 59 months. Its opening window runs from 6.45am to 6pm, giving families an early start to the childcare day.

Learning and Activities

The early years foundation stage sets the requirements for children's learning, development and care here. For parents, that means a day in which play, conversation and everyday routines contribute to learning, rather than education being confined to a separate lesson.

In October 2022, books were part of life across the age groups. Adults helped babies explore pictures and handle pages, while older children brought books over for a story. Conversation also received deliberate attention: staff paused for responses, spoke at a measured pace and connected words with children's actions. These are useful examples of how very young children were included in learning before they could speak fluently.

Physical exploration brought its own challenges. In October 2022, older children worked out how to propel bicycles uphill, while toddlers experimented with descending steps. A large indoor area dedicated to physical play complemented the outdoor environment. Movement had room indoors too.

Outdoor and Community Life

In October 2022, baking extended beyond mixing ingredients. Children made shopping lists and accompanied staff to nearby shops to buy what they needed, linking early writing with a real purpose and encounters with people outside the nursery.

Parents also contributed clothing and instruments to cultural learning at that time. The value was in concrete objects and family participation: children could explore differences through things they could see and use. These examples give a clearer picture of the nursery day than a general claim about varied activities would.

Relationships and Communication

In October 2022, babies showed enthusiasm for their key person, and staff selected resources around children's interests. That combination joined a familiar adult with familiar interests, giving babies a personal connection to their day. Adults also responded to babies' vocal sounds, making communication reciprocal from the earliest stages.

Social routines were visible across the ages at that time. Older children included others in games and shared materials; babies explored toys alongside one another. Children helped put resources away, and handwashing was used to build independence, with younger children encouraged to take part themselves. Care and learning overlapped in ordinary tasks.

Inclusion and Wellbeing

At the October 2022 inspection, Ofsted found exceptionally effective support for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities, with parents and other professionals involved in meetings and individual education plans used to shape learning and review development. For families needing additional support, the important detail is the mechanism: shared planning connected the adults involved in a child's care.

In October 2022, staff had undertaken safeguarding training and understood how to respond to concerns about children. Community outings also included teaching children how to cross roads safely. Safety teaching extended into children's experiences outside the nursery.

Sessions and Attendance

Playdays is on Marton Road in Middlesbrough, TS4 3BW. Playdays opens Monday to Friday, from 6.45am to 6pm, throughout the year except bank holidays. The early opening is useful for families comparing childcare with the start of their working day; bank holiday closures need to fit that same calculation.

In October 2022, the nursery's session window was also 6.45am to 6pm. That describes the hours operating at the visit, rather than establishing a choice of named booking packages.

Funding and Paid Extras

In October 2022, Playdays provided funded early education for children aged two, three and four. Families considering paid childcare should obtain a current written quotation before making their decision.

• Quieter children. In October 2022, adults sometimes gave more attention to children who were assertive or demanding, leaving less confident children insufficiently drawn into activities. On a visit, ask how staff now encourage a child who tends to watch before joining in.
• Numbers and counting. Mathematical vocabulary was used unevenly in October 2022, limiting children's understanding. Ask for examples of how counting and number language now feature in play and daily routines.
• Hospital working patterns. Opening at 6.45am and closing for bank holidays are concrete considerations for a hospital-based working day. Which booking arrangement and package of funded hours, meals and consumables would fit your working pattern?

Playdays suits families seeking early-opening, year-round childcare at James Cook University Hospital. Its October 2022 practice included purposeful shopping trips, books across the ages and space for physical activity indoors. The same dated picture identifies two useful tests for a family visit: whether quieter children receive active encouragement, and how consistently adults develop number understanding.