The Meadows Nursery

Low-rise climbing equipment, stories brought to life with puppets, and a breakfast club for parents give The Meadows Nursery a recognisable character in its March 2023 daily life. The emphasis was practical: helping young children move, communicate and build relationships, while supporting their families too.

At its March 2023 inspection, Ofsted rated the nursery Good and judged safeguarding effective. Two improvements were required: giving children more opportunity to manage everyday tasks themselves and using communication support consistently.

Based at Shirecliffe Community Centre in Sheffield, Meadows has capacity for 20 children aged two to three. Term-time attendance includes morning, afternoon and full-day patterns, giving families different ways to organise their week.

Learning and Activities

The early years foundation stage provides the framework for learning and care. In March 2023, this meant experiences such as handling malleable materials to build hand strength for mark making, listening to stories with puppets, and exploring what happens when containers are filled and emptied in water and sand.

Language developed through conversation during activities. In March 2023, staff slowed down and repeated words, introduced new vocabulary and asked questions about the smells children encountered while mixing potions. This gave children something concrete to talk about, with adults extending the exchange.

Stories had a regular place in the day, supported by objects and puppets that helped hold children's attention. During March 2023, children also experienced visits from a library bus and a theatre company. These brought books and performance into their nursery experience.

Outdoor and Community Life

In March 2023, low-rise equipment addressed difficulties some children had with steps and climbing. It gave them opportunities to practise balance, strengthen their bodies and tackle changes in height. The choice of equipment responded to an identified need.

Indoor and outdoor activities were planned around children's interests and needs. In March 2023, visitors from different cultural backgrounds contributed activities, alongside learning about cultural celebrations. These experiences gave children opportunities to encounter people and traditions beyond their own families.

Relationships and Communication

In March 2023, children turned to familiar staff for help, and practitioners understood their key children's next learning steps. Parents received updates through conversations and nursery software, connecting what happened during sessions with discussion at home.

A weekly breakfast club for parents also ran in March 2023, covering learning through play and healthy eating. Staff directed families towards other support services. This extended parent contact beyond updates about individual children to practical help with family life.

Current communication arrangements use email and the nursery app for invoices and important messages. Changes affecting a child's care, including medical information or allergies, must be communicated in writing to deputy managers and to practitioners on the day.

Inclusion and Wellbeing

At the March 2023 inspection, Ofsted found that staff recognised SEND and arranged referrals promptly, but did not consistently use the communication strategies identified for children needing additional help. Visual cues and other communication aids therefore remained an important improvement point.

In March 2023, emotion picture cards and a mirror helped children connect feelings with facial expressions. Toothbrushing and handwashing formed part of health routines. Everyday independence needed more attention, however: adults sometimes completed dressing and personal-care tasks before children had a chance to try.

In March 2023, the founding partners included Watercliffe Meadow Primary School and Sheffield Hallam University. Save the Children UK also participated, alongside Sheffield City Council. In March 2023, staff also maintained school links to support children's move onwards. Attending the nursery does not guarantee a place at Watercliffe Meadow Primary School.

Sessions and Attendance

The address is Shirecliffe Community Centre, 349 Shirecliffe Road, Sheffield S5 8XJ. Meadows operates during term time, with its session day running from 9am to 3.30pm.

Morning sessions run from 9am to noon; afternoon sessions run from 12.30pm to 3.30pm. Full-day bookings are also offered. Sessions are fixed, and payment remains due if a child misses their booked attendance. A waiting list may operate for some sessions.

Collection is earlier than the session endpoint: 11.50am for mornings and 3.20pm for afternoons, allowing time for handover. Four weeks' notice is required to change contracted attendance or cancel a place; normal session charges apply during the notice period if insufficient notice is given.

Enquiries can be made by telephone on 07765 743 321 or by email to childcare@shu.ac.uk.

Funding and Paid Extras

Funded Early Learning is offered alongside privately paid sessions. In March 2023, funded provision concentrated on two-year-olds and also included early education funding for three- and four-year-olds; the current age range is two to three.

Families supply a healthy packed lunch for full days, while the nursery provides milk or water; its packed-lunch policy excludes nuts. Parents also supply nappies and wipes, and apply sun cream before attendance between April and September, with staff reapplying it in the afternoon as needed.

These supply arrangements apply to funded and paid attendance. Funding recipients must report absences before a session starts; missing three or more sessions may lead to funding being withdrawn. For current prices, ask the nursery for a quotation.

• Independence and communication. March 2023 improvement points concerned children trying everyday tasks themselves and consistent communication support. On a visit, ask how practitioners now put these into practice, including during dressing and activities.
• Term-time planning. Morning, afternoon and full-day bookings follow a term-time pattern, with collection before session endpoints. Match the actual handover times to your working day and holiday arrangements.
• Lunch and allergies. Full-day attendance requires a packed lunch under a policy excluding nuts. Families managing allergies should confirm current handling arrangements before joining.
• Snack arrangements. The food policy asks parents to supply mid-morning and mid-afternoon snacks, while the additional-charge terms say the nursery provides them. Clarify who supplies snacks before joining.

Meadows suits families seeking term-time morning or afternoon sessions, as well as those needing a full day within the nursery's daytime window. Its March 2023 strengths lay in responsive physical activities, language-rich exchanges and practical parent support. The same dated assessment identified clear questions about independence and consistent communication help, making those useful priorities for a visit.