Stanley's Daycare at Ridgeway Children's Centre

Songs, sand play and learning to pour a drink give Stanley's a clear toddler emphasis. At its November 2024 inspection, Ofsted rated the nursery Outstanding, highlighting carefully sequenced teaching and children's developing communication. The practical examples matter more than the label: staff chose vocabulary deliberately and helped children practise small steps towards independence.

Based at Ridgeway Family hub in South Shields, the nursery has capacity for 20 children aged two to three. Its term-time calendar makes it a choice for families whose childcare needs fit around school holidays.

In November 2024, learning combined movement, language and play. Staff selected words to introduce during sand activities, then returned to vocabulary through stories, rhymes and singing. This gave children opportunities to encounter words in different situations rather than as an isolated exercise.

The early years foundation stage is the framework for children's learning, development and care. In everyday terms, that brings learning through play together with communication, physical development and growing independence.

Drawing to action songs was another November 2024 example: children practised broad pencil movements while developing their shoulders and elbows. Group play with stretchy fabric introduced ideas about direction, speed and volume through movement and song. The activities joined physical practice to language.

Social learning was equally concrete. In November 2024, adults first practised turn-taking with children, then supported them in sharing with each other. Visits to libraries and local play centres extended experiences beyond the nursery.

At the November 2024 inspection, Ofsted found safeguarding effective and praised the way staff adapted support to individual needs, worked with other professionals and helped families. These findings give parents a dated assessment of care as well as teaching.

During that month, secure nursery doors and prompt attention to spills formed part of everyday safety practice. Children sat down to eat and learnt about handwashing and dental care. Pouring milk or water and preparing their sleeves for washing were practical opportunities to do more for themselves.

Work with families also went beyond everyday conversations in November 2024. Staff listened to parents and offered workshops and tips on behaviour and early mathematics, connecting nursery learning with things families could practise at home.

The address is Ridgeway Family hub, Park Avenue, South Shields, NE34 8AB. Opening hours are 9am to 3.45pm, Monday to Friday, during term time; the nursery closes for school holidays.

In November 2024, session times were 9am to midday and 12.45pm to 3.45pm. Government-funded childcare was offered at that time. These dated session arrangements give useful context alongside the opening window.

• School-holiday cover. Attendance follows a term-time calendar. Families needing childcare through the holidays will need to plan around those closures.
• Learning in action. Vocabulary work, drawing to songs and supported turn-taking featured in November 2024. On a visit, ask to see how these activities fit your child's stage of development.
• Funded attendance and extras. Government-funded childcare was offered in November 2024. What would your child's funded attendance include, and would you provide or pay separately for food and consumables?

Stanley's merits consideration for families with a two- to three-year-old who want term-time childcare and value deliberate language teaching alongside everyday independence. Its November 2024 practice gives that recommendation substance: movement, songs and practical tasks carried the learning. The school-holiday closures are the key practical consideration.