Cherubz Daycare

A make-believe café, garden swings and cookery gave Cherubz Daycare’s November 2024 daily life a practical character: children were learning through things they could make, discuss and try. At its November 2024 inspection, Ofsted rated the nursery Good and found safeguarding effective.

Based at Paulsgrove Community Centre in Portsmouth, Cherubz has capacity for 60 children and accepts children aged 24 to 60 months. The strongest examples from November 2024 connect learning with everyday independence, from writing a café menu to taking turns outdoors.

The early years foundation stage is the framework for children’s learning, development and care; here, its November 2024 examples included imaginative play, conversation and physical activity. In the pretend café, children copied menu words while staff talked about letter formation. Writing had a purpose within their game.

In November 2024, the large garden gave children space to practise running, jumping and swinging. Sand timers helped them share the swing, making turn-taking something they could see rather than simply being told to wait.

Stories, songs and movement also featured that month. Older children answered questions about stories, giving staff opportunities to explore understanding alongside enjoyment. Conversations introduced vocabulary connected with early number work and reading sounds. These examples show how ordinary play could carry several kinds of learning.

At the November 2024 inspection, Ofsted found that support for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities included prompt action and individual plans developed with medical specialists and occupational therapists. That gives families a concrete example of how additional support was organised at that time.

In November 2024, children sought cuddles and talked comfortably with staff about their routine. Frequent conversations with parents covered progress and what children would work on next, keeping families involved in learning beyond the nursery day.

Health education was practical too. That month, local dental professionals supported a tooth-brushing programme, while cookery activities explored nutritious food and balanced eating. Children could practise health habits as well as talk about them.

There were two important weaknesses in November 2024: adults did not always apply behaviour rules consistently, and emerging room hazards were sometimes recognised too slowly. Clearer expectations and training to identify and remove risks promptly were required improvements.

The address is Paulsgrove Community Centre, Marsden Road, Portsmouth, PO6 4JB. Opening hours are 7.30am to 6pm, Monday to Friday, across the year, with closures on bank holidays and for one week at Christmas. Those hours describe the opening window.

In November 2024, the nursery provided government-funded early education for eligible children. Eligibility remained a condition of that provision.

• Behaviour guidance. In November 2024, rules were applied unevenly. At a visit, ask how staff now give children consistent messages about boundaries.
• Recognising hazards. Prompt identification and removal of room risks was a November 2024 improvement point. Ask how staff review risks as activities change.
• Attendance costs. The opening window extends across the working day. What booking patterns and written charges would apply to your intended attendance, including any funded hours?

Cherubz suits families seeking an all-year opening schedule and learning connected with everyday activities. The November 2024 café play, garden activity and health education give that judgement substance. Families should weigh those strengths alongside the dated concerns about consistent boundaries and recognising hazards promptly.