Sunshine Day Nursery

Independence starts with small things at Sunshine Day Nursery: feeding oneself in Snowdrops, choosing an activity in Buttercups and preparing a snack in Pre-School. This Royal Hallamshire Hospital setting in Sheffield gives those everyday skills a clear place in the nursery day. Its age groups have their own play areas, with outdoor experiences extending learning beyond the rooms.

Ofsted rated the nursery Good on 15 January 2024. It has capacity for 144 children aged four months to five years, a whole-setting figure rather than a room size.

Rooms and Ages

Snowdrops takes babies from four months to approximately 24 months, combining sensory experiences and movement with creative play, exploration, a cosy area and opportunities to play outdoors.

Buttercups Area, comprising Buttercups 1 and Buttercups 2, serves children around two to three years old, with construction, pretend play, a book corner and natural materials in its sensory area alongside outdoor play.

Pre-School takes children from approximately three years until the term before their fifth birthday, combining activities such as puzzles, craft and small-world play with a large outdoor play area and growing independence in personal care.

Movement between age groups takes account of individual needs. In Snowdrops, the timing of a move is considered for each child; the Buttercups and Pre-School age bands are also flexible.

Learning and Activities

The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) provides the framework for learning and care: children develop communication, movement, social skills and early understanding through play and everyday activities. It is the foundation of the offer. Staff plan fortnightly around children's interests and next steps.

Observation feeds that work. Staff record spontaneous learning as well as more detailed observations, and parents' accounts of what their child enjoys at home contribute to planning.

Daily Makaton in Pre-School supports communication between children, including those with communication difficulties. Singing, stories and movement also form part of daily life. Practical independence receives similar attention: older children prepare snacks and help serve food and drinks under supervision, giving them opportunities to practise everyday tasks with adult support.

In January 2024, books were being used to extend vocabulary, including a themed week centred on Stick Man. Older children discussed how books work, while babies shared pictures with staff.

Outdoor and Community Life

Outdoor access belongs to each stage of the Royal Hallamshire offer. Babies have opportunities outside during the day; Buttercups children can choose between outdoor play and an indoor activity; Pre-School has a large outdoor play area. That makes movement and choice part of the day alongside quieter activities.

In January 2024, children balanced on beams, mixed pretend potions in the mud kitchen and explored dough with herbs and cinnamon. A toothbrushing club supported oral-health routines, while real fruit and vegetables featured in pretend-play spaces. However, opportunities for the youngest children to build confidence with safe physical risks needed further development.

Relationships and Communication

Every child has a key person who gets to know them and builds a relationship with their parents. In the Royal Hallamshire rooms, this includes understanding children's interests, contributing to their development and discussing progress at open evenings. Parents can contribute home observations, and Pre-School also provides activity bags and observation sheets for families to use.

Buttercups includes a written progress check around age two, completed by the key person. It considers everyday skills and development, including areas where extra support could help.

In January 2024, family photographs were used in the rooms, and children sought physical comfort from staff. Mirrors also helped children explore emotions and practise personal-care tasks.

Inclusion and Wellbeing

At the January 2024 inspection, Ofsted found safeguarding effective and children with special educational needs and/or disabilities well supported, making strong progress through work with visiting professionals.

There was also a specific weakness in January 2024: planning did not give children learning English as an additional language enough support to develop both English and their home language. Families using another language at home should give this finding weight alongside the communication activities described above.

Menus are developed with the Trust catering department and include a vegetarian choice. For specific dietary needs, the nursery's policy describes preparation conditions intended to prevent cross-contamination.

Sessions and Attendance

The address is 10 Beech Hill Road, Sheffield, S10 2SB, at the Royal Hallamshire Hospital. Enquiries can be made through the contact form or by calling 0114 2268847.

In January 2024, the nursery operated Monday to Friday throughout the year, with sessions from 6.30am to 7pm.

Funding and Paid Extras

In January 2024, the nursery provided funded early education for two- and three-year-old children. Current prices should come in the nursery's written quotation.

• Youngest children's physical play. In January 2024, babies and toddlers needed more planned opportunities to explore safe physical risks. During a visit, ask how Snowdrops now supports that progression.
• Languages at home. January 2024 planning needed to support both English and children's home languages more fully. Ask how the key person will incorporate your family's language into the child's day.
• Dietary needs. Menus include a vegetarian choice, and dietary preparation follows the nursery's stated cross-contamination policy. Discuss current allergy practice before agreeing care.

Sunshine suits families who value everyday independence and communication practice. Royal Hallamshire's Snowdrops and Buttercups provision, daily Makaton in Pre-School and practical self-care activities give the offer a recognisable shape.

The January 2024 Good judgement sits alongside two meaningful improvement points: physical challenge for the youngest children and language planning for children learning English as an additional language. Both deserve a direct conversation.