Sunshine Nursery

In July 2025, pirate treasure hunts, votes for the next story and experiments with guttering gave Sunshine Nursery a recognisable character: children had practical things to investigate and choices to make. At its July 2025 inspection, Ofsted rated the nursery Good and judged safeguarding effective.

Based at Hawkedale School on Stratton Road in Sunbury-on-Thames, Sunshine has capacity for 30 children aged 24 to 60 months. Its term-time calendar makes school holidays an important part of the childcare decision.

In July 2025, children searched for hidden jewels during pirate-themed play, marking their discoveries on clipboards. Story choices were made by putting pegs on book covers. These examples gave children different ways to participate: pursuing a shared game or choosing what the group would hear next.

The early years foundation stage sets the framework for children's learning, development and care. Here, the July 2025 examples included language through picture discussions and mathematics through practical play. Children explored how changing the slope of guttering affected balls travelling towards tin cans. Shape vocabulary extended from rectangles to cuboids, connecting new words with objects and experiments.

Physical play also had a clear place in that month's activities. Digging and sieving sand accompanied the treasure game, while parachute play involved moving balls into the air. These activities linked physical movement with practical exploration.

At the July 2025 inspection, Ofsted found good progress in communication and language, with visual prompts helping children with special educational needs and/or disabilities to participate. That gives useful substance to the nursery's inclusion work beyond a general statement of intent.

In July 2025, staff worked with professionals on healthcare plans for children with medical conditions. They also shared daily information, learning priorities and ideas for continuing activities at home with parents. This connected nursery experiences with family life.

Mealtimes that month included children helping to lay the table, alongside handwashing routines. Children ate nursery-provided food, including noodles, making everyday care another opportunity to practise independence.

The address is Hawkedale School, Stratton Road, Sunbury-on-Thames, TW16 6PG. Sunshine operates during term time and closes for school holidays. Opening hours are 8am to 5.30pm Monday to Thursday and 8am to 3pm on Friday; the earlier Friday finish matters for working families.

In July 2025, the nursery provided government-funded early education for eligible children.

• Support for younger children. In July 2025, interactions sometimes favoured older children, and younger children's learning needed more precise planning. During a visit, ask how activities now build on the youngest children's existing skills.
• Online safety. Teaching children how to stay safe online was a July 2025 improvement priority. Ask how this is now included in their learning.
• Term-time timetable. School-holiday closures and the 3pm Friday finish require a childcare arrangement that fits those breaks and shorter hours.

Sunshine suits families seeking term-time childcare. In July 2025, inspection findings highlighted practical play, opportunities for children to make decisions and communication between home and nursery, giving its learning a concrete character. Families with younger children should give particular attention to how their learning is planned, alongside the practical fit of the weekly timetable.