Milestones Childcare

Stories, sensory play and growing food give Milestones Childcare its character in the September 2022 account of daily life. At its 15 September 2022 inspection, Ofsted judged the nursery Good, found that children made good progress, praised support for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities, and found safeguarding effective.

Based in Sheffield, the nursery accepts children aged 24 to 60 months and has capacity for 66 children. It opens during term time, Monday to Friday, from 8am to 3pm, closing for school holidays.

The early years foundation stage provides the framework for children's learning, development and care: play supports language, physical skills and growing independence.

In September 2022, language threaded through activities. Staff introduced vocabulary through conversation and questions, while the book of the week gave children a familiar story and words to revisit. Reading spaces outdoors and inside extended that experience beyond a single story session.

Sensory activities also had a practical purpose in September 2022. Drawing in foam and sand exercised the hand control needed for writing; a farmyard visit prompted older children to draw animals and attempt early writing. Mathematical experiences included ordering water-play containers by size and making repeating prints with natural materials. These were concrete ways to explore size and pattern.

Outdoor activity in September 2022 included climbing frames and slides, with encouragement to attempt more demanding movements. Children also planted seeds and cultivated fruit and vegetables, connecting physical activity with learning about food.

In September 2022, staff gathered information from parents about children's routines, interests and needs before using it to shape learning. That gave settling a personal starting point. Daily updates helped parents understand children's activities, although information about future learning plans needed strengthening.

Support in September 2022 included identifying developmental gaps early, working with speech therapists and using additional funding for trips, sensory resources and books. Safeguarding discussions took place in weekly staff meetings, and practitioners understood how to recognise and escalate concerns.

Food was part of learning in September 2022: children prepared vegetables and fruit for snacks, while taster days encouraged them to try unfamiliar foods. Sorting activities explored healthy eating and dental care.

The address is 20 Verdant Way, Sheffield, S5 6LE. Term-time opening runs from 8am to 3pm on weekdays; the school-holiday closure is a significant consideration for working families.

In September 2022, the nursery provided funded early education for children aged two, three and four. This is a dated account of participation, rather than a promise of a funded place today.

• School-holiday cover. Milestones closes during school holidays. Families needing care throughout the year will need arrangements for those weeks.
• Responsibility for shared spaces. In September 2022, staff needed to give children more consistent responsibility for putting toys away and organising their surroundings. Everyday independence was the development point.
• Learning together at home. September 2022 feedback called for parents to receive more information about forthcoming learning. During a visit, ask how future activities are now shared so families can contribute at home.

Milestones suits families whose childcare needs fit a weekday, term-time timetable. Its September 2022 account combines conversation, books, practical mathematics and active outdoor play, with clear development points around tidying and involving parents in future learning. The appeal is that concrete mix of experiences; the holiday closure is the practical constraint.