Once Upon A Time Daycare

A soft-play castle and an allotment give Once Upon A Time Daycare’s September 2021 account a practical, playful character: children tested physical skills, grew vegetables and explored ingredients. At its 17 September 2021 inspection, Ofsted rated the nursery Good, judged safeguarding effective and found that children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) received targeted help with communication.

The Sheffield setting accepts children from birth to 60 months and has 129 places in total. Those places describe the nursery’s capacity, rather than the size of an individual group.

The early years foundation stage sets the framework for children’s learning, development and care, bringing communication, physical development and everyday independence into their day.

In September 2021, babies explored ice, foam and mud, with staff drawing attention to familiar sounds. Older children used puppets to retell stories and rearranged wooden planks and crates into obstacle routes. These were opportunities to experiment with language, movement and shared ideas.

The soft-play castle supported practice in judging physical risks in September 2021. Children also grew herbs and vegetables in the nursery allotment, explored their textures and smells, and used herbs in cooking. Learning connected movement, sensory exploration and practical tasks.

There was a teaching weakness to address. In September 2021, staff sometimes introduced excessive vocabulary or information without a sufficiently clear learning aim. Simpler activities with a sharper purpose were the required next step.

In September 2021, staff gathered details about children’s routines, interests and needs from parents, then used them to plan learning. Babies had opportunities for energetic play as well as rest and sleep. Calm speech and help with tidying made everyday care part of learning to manage themselves and their surroundings.

Meals and snacks were prepared by staff in September 2021. Support with toilet training, handwashing and dental hygiene connected care with growing independence. Parent communication at that time included guidance and responses to families’ comments, giving parents a way to discuss their child’s experience.

The address is 863 Ecclesall Road, Sheffield, S11 8TJ. Opening hours are 7am to 7pm, Monday to Friday, across the year. This is the opening window, rather than a description of individual booking patterns.

In September 2021, the nursery provided funded early education for children aged two, three and four. That dated provision should be distinguished from a family’s current funding and booking arrangements.

• Teaching clarity. The September 2021 improvement point concerned activities becoming overcomplicated. Ask how staff now choose a clear learning aim and adapt the amount of information for each child.
• Attendance and costs. The weekday opening window extends from 7am to 7pm. What booking pattern, current funding arrangements and written quotation would apply to your child, including meals and consumables?

Once Upon A Time Daycare suits families seeking an all-year weekday setting with a broad opening window. Its September 2021 account gives concrete examples of physical play, sensory exploration and practical independence. The Good judgement is dated, and the teaching improvement point deserves attention when weighing the nursery for a child today.