Stanley's Daycare at Horsley Hill Children's Centre

In February 2023, an outdoor role-play kitchen and babies exploring a sand tray gave this Horsley Hill setting a concrete character. At its 3 February 2023 inspection, Ofsted rated the nursery Good, describing children as confident and interested in learning, while identifying inconsistencies in curriculum delivery.

Stanley's Daycare at Horsley Hill Children's Centre has capacity for 54 children aged 0 to 60 months. Its South Shields address is Norham Avenue, NE34 7TD.

In February 2023, toddlers transported water to the outdoor role-play kitchen, helping each other with heavy containers. Outdoor obstacle courses gave children opportunities to practise balance, while babies filled and emptied containers at the sand tray. These were practical opportunities to explore movement, cooperation and capacity.

The early years foundation stage sets the requirements for children's learning, development and care: play supports learning alongside everyday care routines. In February 2023, activities reflected children's interests and abilities within a developing child-led curriculum. Staff introduced mathematical vocabulary during play, linking language with what children were doing.

Delivery was uneven that February. Some practitioners were uncertain about putting the curriculum into practice, and some children lost sustained interest in activities. Consistency mattered as much as the activities themselves.

At the February 2023 inspection, Ofsted found effective safeguarding and successful settling arrangements, with detailed parent communication helping families support learning at home. Staff learned children's routines before they settled and worked with parents when children changed rooms.

In February 2023, practitioners kept their knowledge of safer sleep and bottle preparation updated, assessed risks and rehearsed emergency evacuation. Health conversations included handwashing and helping parents understand sugar in food. Coaching needed sharper attention to weaknesses in practice, including support for children who did not communicate verbally.

Opening hours are 8am to 6pm, Monday to Friday, with an all-year opening schedule. The address is Norham Avenue, South Shields, NE34 7TD.

In February 2023, the nursery provided funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-olds. This is a dated description of its funding provision.

• Curriculum consistency. In February 2023, some staff lacked confidence in delivering the developing curriculum. For families, the key issue is whether engaging activities lead to sustained learning across the nursery.
• Management follow-through. February 2023 improvement priorities included timely completion of procedures and action plans, alongside more targeted coaching. These affect how reliably improvements reach children's daily experience.
• Settling and room changes. In February 2023, staff used children's routines and parent involvement to support both transitions. On a visit, how would those arrangements work for your child today?

This setting suits families seeking an all-year opening schedule and a day extending from morning into early evening. Its February 2023 strengths included practical play and close communication with parents. The balancing consideration is the need, identified that month, for more consistent curriculum delivery and more precise management follow-through.