Sunshine Day Nursery

A water wall for toddlers and hand painting for babies gave Sunshine Day Nursery's October 2023 provision a practical, exploratory character. Children could investigate, make marks and try things for themselves. At its 13 October 2023 inspection, Ofsted rated the nursery Good overall, with Outstanding judgements for behaviour and attitudes and personal development.

The nursery at 4 Clifford Street, Redcar, TS10 1RW has capacity for 87 children aged 2 to 60 months. Its opening hours are 8am to 6pm, Monday to Friday, across the year, with bank holiday closures.

The early years foundation stage sets the requirements for children's learning, development and care: play, communication and growing independence belong alongside everyday care.

In October 2023, toddlers operated a tap and explored water travelling through tubes on the water wall. Babies experimented with paint using their hands; older children drew, painted and started recognising and writing their names. These were concrete opportunities to practise coordination and early mark-making.

Storytelling also had a clear structure in October 2023. A core book anchored each week's stories, giving children repeated opportunities to become familiar with the narrative and retell it. The emphasis was on returning to a story and becoming confident enough to tell it themselves. Alongside this, adults put language to children's play by describing what they were handling and doing. Practitioners described objects and actions during play, giving children words to use alongside their experiences.

Children practised dressing for outdoor play and worked together on their own ideas. October 2023 activities also included community visits, visitors to the nursery and learning about cultures and celebrations, connecting play with the world beyond the setting.

In October 2023, staff gave new starters individual time and reassurance, using activities to help them settle. Practitioners joined babies' games at their level. This made settling an active part of care: adults spent time alongside children and offered experiences that could engage them, rather than relying on reassurance alone. For babies, that attention continued during play, with practitioners getting down to share their games.

Gentle guidance helped children use equipment safely, including when babies tried sweeping with a broom. In October 2023, boundaries were explained and adults intervened sensitively. When children struggled with emotions or behaviour, staff observed them closely to identify possible triggers and offer targeted help. The important distinction for families is between responding to an immediate difficulty and understanding what brings it about; the inspection examples included both.

At the October 2023 inspection, Ofsted judged safeguarding effective, with staff training, referral knowledge, recruitment checks and daily risk assessments supporting the arrangements. Staff understood signs of abuse and knew where to refer concerns; they also understood their responsibility to report concerns about a colleague's conduct. Recruitment procedures were accompanied by continuing checks on staff suitability. Daily assessments addressed possible hazards for children. These findings covered several different parts of safeguarding, from recognising a concern to passing it on and reviewing everyday risks. They describe the arrangements assessed at that visit, rather than providing a current guarantee.

Communication in October 2023 kept parents informed about activities and their children's development, including ways to support learning at home. That connection matters: nursery experiences can become something families understand and build on. Parents knew both what their children had been doing and how their development was progressing, making the exchange more useful than a simple account of the day's activities. Staff development also involved room-by-room reflection in October 2023: the manager worked with practitioners to review their practice and identify changes. This gave the team a way to examine everyday interactions and activities, alongside the information exchanged with families.

The Clifford Street address and weekday opening window provide the practical starting point for families organising care. Opening hours describe the working day; the attendance arrangement is a separate decision.

In October 2023, the nursery provided funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-olds.

• Quieter children's learning. The October 2023 improvement point concerned adapting activities so quieter children received enough challenge. On a visit, ask how practitioners notice and extend learning for children who contribute less readily.
• Attendance arrangements. The nursery opens from 8am to 6pm on weekdays. Which booking patterns would fit your family's routine?

Sunshine suits families seeking weekday care; its October 2023 inspection examples will interest parents who value practical play, stories and independence. The October 2023 examples give that character substance, especially the water wall and repeated storytelling. The question about quieter children's learning deserves attention when assessing whether the approach fits your child.