Redmires Lodge

In April 2025, sensory play involving a toy frog and a balancing course designed by children illustrated Redmires Lodge’s combination of language, imagination and physical learning. This Sheffield nursery has capacity for 63 children, with an accepted age range of 3 to 60 months.

At its April 2025 inspection, Ofsted rated Redmires Lodge Outstanding, judged safeguarding effective and found that children made sustained progress from their starting points, with carefully targeted support for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). The detail behind that judgement matters: communication, independence and relationships ran through the activities described.

In April 2025, babies explored textures through sensory play involving a toy frog, while older children discussed contrasting animal sounds and behaviour during stories. Staff used repeated rhymes and songs to extend vocabulary, then questions to encourage children to explain their thinking. Language learning reached beyond naming objects to expressing feelings and ideas.

The early years foundation stage sets the requirements for children’s learning, development and care. Here, the April 2025 examples connected those strands through play: babies experimented with chunky crayons, while older children drew large flowers outdoors and detailed pictures linked to construction and the book of the week. These activities gave children practice controlling their hands before writing letters.

Movement had its own progression. In April 2025, children built a narrow course for balancing and used bikes and toy cars in the garden. Staff demonstrated techniques for balancing and using scissors. Children also practised patience, sharing and taking turns, with small responsibilities such as leading the group outside.

In April 2025, staff exchanged information with parents to identify developmental difficulties early and worked with physiotherapists and speech and language specialists. That provided a route from noticing a difficulty to involving relevant professional support.

For babies, collaboration with parents covered sleep, eating and familiar routines. In April 2025, older children explored emotions through creative work connected to stories; songs also helped children practise handwashing and other hygiene habits. Care routines became opportunities to learn independence.

Communication with families included frequent, detailed feedback in April 2025. Leaders also reviewed provision and supported staff development and wellbeing. These were practical parts of maintaining the care and learning described, rather than separate administrative tasks.

Redmires Lodge’s address is 20 Harlech Grove, Sheffield, S10 4NP.

In April 2025, the nursery operated throughout the year on weekdays, with session times running from 7.30am to 6.30pm and children attending different session arrangements. At that time, it offered government-funded childcare places and received funding for disadvantaged children.

• Attendance arrangements. The April 2025 session window extended from 7.30am to 6.30pm. Which booking pattern and funded-hours arrangement would fit your family’s week?
• Communication and routines. In April 2025, language activities and collaboration over babies’ sleep and eating featured prominently. These are useful priorities for families who value continuity between home and nursery.

Redmires Lodge suits families who value communication-rich play, practical independence and close collaboration over children’s routines. Its April 2025 inspection gives strong grounds for that assessment, with concrete examples spanning babies’ sensory exploration, older children’s storytelling and physical learning. The year-round weekday operation described at that time also gives families a useful starting point for weighing its attendance arrangements.