Sunflowers Southport

In April 2025, children cooperating at a garden water pump and choosing stories gave Sunflowers Southport's daily life a practical, participatory character. At its April 2025 inspection, Ofsted rated the nursery Good and found effective safeguarding arrangements, support tailored to individual learning needs and good developmental progress.

At 29 Dover Road, Southport PR8 4TB, the nursery has 36 places in total, accepting babies from birth through to five years. Its inspection picture needs to be read alongside subsequent safeguarding action, including a repeated concern whose required action was later met.

The early years foundation stage sets the requirements for children's learning, development and care: play and everyday routines provide opportunities to develop language, physical skills and understanding. In April 2025, practitioners shaped experiences around children's interests, with children helping decide which stories and songs would feature in group time. That gave them a practical say in their day.

Storytelling extended beyond listening. Older children explored the different jobs of writers and illustrators, while familiar books prompted predictions and remembered refrains. During sand play, adults introduced descriptive vocabulary through commentary, connecting new words to what children were doing.

Outside, the garden offered a hands-on lesson in cooperation. Children operated a water pump together, one turning its wheel while another managed the container. Planting potatoes brought a different kind of learning: discussing sunlight and water connected caring for plants with understanding food production.

In April 2025, children sought reassurance through cuddles, and key-person arrangements connected settling with individual learning goals. Parents knew their child's key person and understood the next steps being worked on. Visual schedules and concrete reference objects helped children understand changes between activities.

Behaviour expectations were made tangible through simple promises about considerate actions, listening and tidying. Children marked their achievements by adding their photograph to a display and reminded friends about treating one another kindly. Staff also used supervision, mentoring and shared training to develop practice, including work towards the nationally recognised Attachment and Trauma Sensitive Setting Award.

Hygiene was the improvement priority in April 2025: handwashing after nappy changes was inconsistent, weakening the message about healthy routines.

Following safeguarding concerns, Ofsted found shortfalls addressed during its July 2025 regulatory call, but identified further failures at a November 2025 visit and subsequently confirmed, after the provider's December 2025 response, that the required safeguarding and welfare action had been met.

Dover Road is the nursery's Southport address. In April 2025, opening hours ran from 7.45am to 5.45pm on weekdays, with provision operating throughout the year. Government-funded childcare was offered at that time.

These inspection-era arrangements provide useful context for families considering how childcare would fit around work and home routines.

• Repeated safeguarding action. Further failures followed the July 2025 corrective work, although the subsequent action was met after the December 2025 response. Discuss how practitioners are now supported to apply safeguarding procedures consistently.
• Handwashing habits. April 2025 highlighted missed handwashing after nappy changes. On a visit, ask how that routine is reinforced with younger children.
• Attendance arrangements. The April 2025 opening window covered weekdays across the year. Ask which booking patterns and funded-hours arrangements would fit your family's routine.

Sunflowers Southport merits consideration for families seeking interest-led play, practical outdoor learning and a key-person relationship. Its April 2025 examples connect everyday experiences with language, cooperation and independence. The repeated safeguarding action warrants careful discussion, even though the later required action was met. That balance matters more than the grade alone.