Shining Stars

A mud kitchen, loose parts and daily outdoor play give Shining Stars a practical, exploratory character. Based at Western Community Primary School in Wallsend, it combines materials children can handle and rearrange with activities planned around their interests. The emphasis is on doing things, rather than simply watching.

At its January 2022 inspection, Ofsted judged Shining Stars Good, found safeguarding effective and described children who were confident, settled and developing independence. That is a dated assessment. The nursery has capacity for 32 children; in January 2022, the children attending were aged two to nine, including those using school-age care.

Learning and Activities

The early years foundation stage provides the framework for children's learning, development and care: play supports skills such as communication, early number work and growing independence. Here, real-life objects sit alongside natural materials and loose parts, giving children things to explore in their own way. Their keyworker uses their interests to shape activities, connecting planned learning with what already captures their attention.

In January 2022, stories brought together language, imagination and counting. Children remembered rhymes, considered what story characters would eat and counted fruit within the activity. Puppets supported imaginative play, while dough became pretend birthday cakes. These examples show how several kinds of learning could share the same game.

Early writing also took different forms that January. Children discussed shapes while tracing through dried rice and made marks using paper, pencils, pens and dough. Mathematical vocabulary emerged through sand play, including ideas about weight and whether containers were full or empty. Learning was attached to objects children could manipulate.

Outdoor and Community Life

The nursery's own outdoor space is used every day by all children. Tyres, sand and a construction area support hands-on play; regular planting gives children contact with seeds and flowers, and the mud kitchen adds another setting for exploration. Outdoor time is part of the daily offer.

In January 2022, children examined insects beneath tree stumps with magnifying glasses and shared their excitement about a centipede. Their exploration of nature was concrete, although opportunities to understand people and the wider world needed further development. That distinction matters: investigating a garden and learning about different lives are separate experiences.

A named keyworker role gives each child a consistent point of contact for planning. Daily conversations with parents cover the child's day, while an online system provides another way for families to follow their experiences. Together, these arrangements connect activities at nursery with parents' knowledge of their child.

In January 2022, staff gathered information about children's existing abilities when they started and used it to plan next steps. Communication also involved other professionals. Children practised putting on coats and shoes themselves, making preparation for outdoor play an opportunity to build self-care skills.

The positive behaviour rainbow was used that January to recognise children's efforts by moving their photographs across it. Children shared materials, waited for turns and worked together on tasks. Recognition was visible and connected to what they had done.

Healthy eating and dental care featured in January 2022 activities, including conversations during pretend meals. Children also received healthy food choices at meals and snacks. These observations describe the day at that time, rather than a current menu or charging arrangement.

Sessions and Attendance

Shining Stars is based at Western Community Primary School, Rutland Road, Wallsend, NE28 8QL. Enquiries can be made by telephone on 07546512311 or by email to shiningstarswallsend@hotmail.com.

In January 2022, opening hours were 7.30am to 6pm, Monday to Friday, during term time. Before-school care ran from 7.30am to 8.50am, and after-school care from 3.30pm to 6pm. These were separate patterns around the school day, alongside the early-years provision.

Funding and Paid Extras

In January 2022, the setting received funding for early education for eligible two-, three- and four-year-olds. Families should obtain current prices through a written quotation from the nursery.

Being based at Western Community Primary School does not guarantee a Reception place. Families still apply through the local authority admissions process.

• Term-time planning. The January 2022 timetable combined nursery opening hours with before-school and after-school care. At a visit, discuss how the current attendance arrangements fit your working week and school holidays.
• Learning beyond the garden. In January 2022, development priorities included more opportunities to understand different people and the wider world. Ask how activities now address that aspect of learning.
• Turning evaluation into action. January 2022 improvement priorities also included identifying gaps more precisely and acting on them promptly. A useful visit question is which changes have followed and how staff assess their effect on children's experiences.

Shining Stars suits families drawn to daily outdoor play, adaptable materials and activities shaped around children's interests. Its keyworker arrangements and daily handovers give parents clear ways to stay involved. The January 2022 assessment supplies a positive foundation, alongside specific development priorities.

The attendance model documented in January 2022 served families needing before-school care as well as after-school care, alongside nursery provision. For those considering that combination, the practical decision is how today's arrangements fit the week, while the educational appeal lies in hands-on exploration and personal communication.