Twinkles Nursery

Book ballots, paint tracks made with toy cars and energetic dancing give Twinkles Nursery a recognisable character in its September 2024 account: children practise making choices, expressing themselves and controlling their movements. Small experiences carry a clear purpose.

At its 17 September 2024 inspection, Ofsted rated the nursery Good and found that children made good progress overall. Twinkles has capacity for 30 children aged 12 to 48 months at Market Square in Sheffield.

In September 2024, children explored drawing through chalk outlines around friends, car tracks in paint and pictures of shapes. These activities gave them practice controlling the movements they would later use for writing.

The early years foundation stage sets the requirements for children's learning, development and care. Here, the September 2024 activities connected language, movement and independence: songs introduced vocabulary, children led parts of group time, and fiction and factual books expanded what they talked about.

Children also voted for books. That made choosing something a shared decision, with opportunities to practise fairness. Daily dancing, parachute play and increasingly demanding obstacle courses offered different ways to practise balance, jumping and movement control.

Learning followed children's interests and built on earlier experiences. The September 2024 improvement priority was sharper adult interaction: staff did not consistently use varied questions or demonstrate further applications of skills to take children's understanding further.

At the September 2024 inspection, Ofsted found safeguarding effective and strong support for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities, including early identification of learning gaps and collaboration with speech and language therapists and social care.

During that month, staff helped children who struggled with emotions to build relationships and join play with others. Guidance for parents extended this work into behaviour at home. Courtesy was practised in everyday exchanges, while tidying together combined independence with cooperation.

Handwashing and tooth care were part of learning about health. Preparation for school included developing communication, confidence and early writing movements.

The address is 33a Market Square, Sheffield S13 7JX. Twinkles operates during term time and closes for school holidays.

In September 2024, opening hours were 9am to 2pm on Monday, Thursday and Friday, and 9am to 3pm on Tuesday and Wednesday. At that time, funded early education was provided for two-, three- and four-year-olds.

• Extending learning. September 2024 identified a need for staff development in questioning and building on new skills. During a visit, ask how practitioners now stretch a child's understanding during play.
• Planning the week. Term-time operation means school holidays need a separate childcare plan. How would the nursery's attendance arrangements fit your working week?

Twinkles suits families seeking term-time childcare with an emphasis on language, independence and active play. Its September 2024 account gives concrete examples of children choosing books, leading group activities and preparing for writing. The balance is clear: purposeful everyday experiences, with further development needed in how adults deepen learning.