Selby District Peter Pan Nursery

An accessible roundabout, a sensory room and individual learning targets give Selby District Peter Pan Nursery a clear purpose: supporting children with additional needs and families who need respite. Based in Sherburn in Elmet, this charitable nursery also supports typically developing children whose families face difficulties, including illness, disability or mental health problems. Its offer starts with the family’s circumstances, rather than a standard childcare package.

There are 19 places in total. At its April 2024 inspection, Ofsted rated the nursery Good and judged safeguarding effective. Children attending at that time were aged 1 to 5; that is a dated picture of the children using the provision, rather than a current age policy.

Term-time sessions run from 9.15am to 1pm. The short day is an important part of the choice here, alongside the nursery’s additional-needs remit and referral arrangements.

Learning and Activities

The Early Years Foundation Stage gives the day its educational framework, with children developing skills through play, exploration and activities indoors and outside. Planning also uses SMART targets to work towards new skills for each child, alongside input from other professionals or agencies. This makes individual next steps part of everyday provision rather than a separate activity added afterwards.

Resources are selected with sensory needs in mind. Staff restrict how many toys are out during a session to reduce overstimulation for some neurodiverse children. The sensory room provides somewhere to relax and regulate, offering a different setting from the main activity space. Choice here includes the opportunity to step away from stimulation.

In April 2024, activities included hand painting, foam play and toy dinosaurs selected around children’s interests. Tongs and construction blocks helped children practise coordination for early writing, while number songs introduced counting in both directions. These were practical experiences, with learning built into handling objects, making things and singing.

A book-of-the-week activity in April 2024 used The Frog Prince, connecting stories with spring and life cycles. Timers signalled changes such as moving to stories or songs, and familiar action rhymes supported language. The useful thread was the connection between an activity, its meaning and what happened next.

Outdoor and Community Life

Two outdoor spaces provide different kinds of play. One has swings and a roundabout designed for accessibility; the other includes an outdoor classroom for shade and a sand area. These physical choices matter for children who need accessible equipment, as well as those seeking movement or quieter outdoor activity.

In April 2024, children practised balance and climbing outside, took walks and visited a local sweetshop for ice creams. These are examples of experiences at that time, rather than a fixed outings timetable.

Peter Pan Charity Shop helps pay the nursery’s everyday running costs. Its volunteer support connects the nursery’s charitable purpose with practical fundraising in Sherburn in Elmet. It is a financial support arrangement, rather than a children’s activity programme.

Relationships and Communication

Work with parents is built into planning: families contribute information about their child, while staff work alongside the professionals or agencies already involved. Key persons also exchange information about appetite and enjoyment of food with parents. For families managing several aspects of a child’s care, these exchanges help connect nursery routines with life at home.

In April 2024, staff used pictures, sounds and signing to support children who did not communicate verbally. Visual timetables helped children understand routines and make choices. Staff gave children time to settle their behaviour and supported sharing and turn-taking, rather than expecting every child to respond in the same way.

Inclusion and Wellbeing

At the April 2024 inspection, Ofsted found that support for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities, including work with physiotherapists, helped children progress well, with school transitions carefully planned. In April 2024, staff also received training for children with complex care plans. The emphasis was on understanding the support an individual child needed and carrying it into daily activity.

The main room is connected to a changing area with an adjustable changing unit. That is a concrete part of accommodating personal care needs. Staff are supported by volunteers, and the team includes SENCO responsibilities; these are useful mechanisms for organising support, rather than a guarantee about any individual child’s experience.

The nursery manager holds the designated safeguarding lead role, with the room manager acting as backup. Collection procedures require agreement about an alternative adult and use a password to support identification. These arrangements sit alongside the dated safeguarding judgement, rather than replacing it.

Sessions and Attendance

The address is The Bungalow, North Crescent, Sherburn in Elmet, LS25 6DD. Opening days are Monday to Friday during term time, and the session runs from 9.15am to 1pm. Families need to plan around lunchtime collection and the term-time calendar; this pattern provides a defined morning of care and learning.

Children are normally referred by a healthcare professional, although self-referrals are considered. The referral approach is intended to direct support towards families who need it most. Telephone enquiries can be made on 01977 681863.

Funding and Paid Extras

Funded childcare and privately paid sessions are offered. In April 2024, the nursery received early education funding for children aged two, three and four. Current prices come in the nursery’s written quotation, allowing families to establish the terms relevant to their circumstances.

Parents provide a cold packed lunch and nappies, including for children using funded provision. Lunch therefore forms part of the family’s preparation for each session, rather than a meal included in the childcare charge.

Getting There

Parking is provided in front of the building. This is a useful practical feature for families transporting children and equipment.

• Referral and individual support. Healthcare referrals are the usual route, with self-referrals considered. At a visit, discuss how the referral process, individual targets and any existing professional support would fit your child’s circumstances.
• Morning timetable. Sessions finish at 1pm and operate during term time. Consider how collection and school holidays would fit your family’s routines, particularly if the nursery is providing respite alongside other support.
• Environment and staff development. In April 2024, the learning spaces needed to do more to celebrate children’s achievements and build belonging, while staff development needed clearer direction from supervision and appraisal. During a visit, ask to see how achievements are displayed and how staff learning is planned; both issues matter alongside the nursery’s practical care facilities.

Selby District Peter Pan Nursery suits families seeking term-time morning support for a child with additional needs, or respite where family circumstances make that support valuable. The sensory room, accessible outdoor equipment and individual targets give that purpose practical substance. Funded and privately paid sessions serve different financial circumstances within the same attendance pattern.

The Good judgement from April 2024 provides a useful quality reference, balanced by the concerns about the learning environment and professional development. The decision turns on how the nursery’s individual support and short sessions fit the child and family, with its specialist purpose carrying more weight than conventional childcare convenience.