Rosedene Sunrise

Natural resources, a spacious garden and child-led exploration give Rosedene Sunrise its character. Based in Sunrise Children's Centre on Yarm Road in Stockton-on-Tees, it combines indoor hands-on play with a Forest School programme, where children explore nature and learn outdoors. This is an offer built around doing and discovering.

At its 6 October 2021 inspection, Ofsted rated the nursery Good, recognising its work on communication and independence while identifying missed learning opportunities in toddlers' chosen activities and weaker interaction during changes between routines. That dated judgement gives parents both strengths and specific points to examine.

There are 72 places in total, for children aged 2 to 60 months. Sunrise offers private childcare and 30-hour government-funded childcare; its opening hours are 8am to 6pm across 38 weeks of the year.

Learning and Activities

The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) provides the framework for children's learning, development and care: here, children engage with it through practical play and activities. Alongside that shared framework, the Curiosity Approach supports exploration led by children's interests, with natural resources available for them to investigate. The practical appeal is the opportunity to handle materials, make choices and pursue an idea rather than simply follow an adult's instructions.

Forest School adds learning in nature to that offer. The garden and spacious indoor environment provide room for outdoor play and creative activity, so the nursery's approach has a physical setting as well as a programme name. For parents weighing an outdoor emphasis, these are concrete parts of the offer to consider.

In October 2021, older children made pizza dough, kneaded it and selected their toppings. Adults introduced comparisons of quantity and size during the activity, while children experimented with making impressions in flour. Cooking brought conversation, mathematical ideas and early mark-making into the same experience. The activity had a clear purpose beyond producing something to eat.

Speech and everyday independence also shaped the October 2021 nursery day. Planning took account of children's experiences and existing abilities, while younger children practised feeding themselves with utensils and managing toileting. These ordinary routines matter because learning to do something independently is part of preparation for later learning, alongside more obviously educational activities.

Outdoor and Community Life

In October 2021, toddlers used containers to gather water and combined it with earth and citrus fruit outdoors. Older children talked about the leaves, cones and conkers they had collected. Both examples show how materials children can touch and change became starting points for exploration and conversation.

Outdoor forest learning in October 2021 included animal-themed yoga and activities involving safe cooperation. These historical examples help explain the outdoor emphasis, while the current Forest School programme and garden remain the practical features of Sunrise's offer. They give families interested in nature-based play a clear reason to consider this branch.

Babies' individual routines were an important part of care in October 2021. Their nursery routines took account of arrangements at home, and familiar adults provided cuddles and comfort. For a family starting childcare with a baby, the useful detail is that care was organised around the child's existing needs rather than a single routine applied to everyone.

At the October 2021 inspection, Ofsted found safeguarding effective, including staff knowledge of reporting concerns and recruitment checks; following a notified safeguarding incident, management acted promptly and strengthened outdoor risk assessments. This is a dated assessment of safeguarding practice.

Communication support in October 2021 included time for children to consider questions before answering and familiar words from their home languages. A book lending scheme connected story reading at nursery with reading at home. These are practical ways of linking language development with family life, rather than treating communication as an isolated activity.

The limitations were specific. In October 2021, adults sometimes let opportunities pass during toddlers' self-chosen play, and interaction became less sustained while staff organised tasks such as handwashing and meal preparation. For parents, the relevant issue is how conversation and learning continue through the less structured parts of the day, as well as during planned activities.

Meals and snacks are prepared on site.

Sessions and Attendance

Sunrise opens from 8am to 6pm, Monday to Friday, across 38 weeks of the year. The 38-week opening calendar matters for families needing care throughout the year: the length of the opening day and the number of weeks of care are separate decisions.

Private childcare and government-funded childcare are both offered. For enquiries, families can use the contact form or contact Sunrise directly on 01642 686062 or sunrise@rosedenenurseries.co.uk.

Getting There

The address is Sunrise Children's Centre, Yarm Road, Stockton-on-Tees, TS18 3PJ. The children's-centre setting is the useful location anchor when planning the journey.

Funding and Paid Extras

The nursery offers 30-hour government-funded places and promotes stretching government funding across the year. Eligibility remains a condition of funded childcare. Families comparing private hours with funded attendance need to consider the nursery's 38-week opening calendar alongside that stretched-funding offer.

• Annual attendance pattern. Sunrise gives a 38-week opening calendar while also promoting funding stretched across the year. Ask how those arrangements work together for the attendance pattern you need, especially if school-holiday childcare is essential.
• Toddler play and routine changes. In October 2021, opportunities to develop toddlers' chosen play were sometimes missed, and adult interaction dipped between activities. During a visit, ask how practitioners now sustain conversation during child-led play, handwashing and preparations for meals.
• The complete childcare cost. Private and 30-hour funded childcare are offered, with meals and snacks prepared on site. Request a current written quotation that separates childcare hours, food, non-food consumables and any additional services for your proposed arrangement.

Rosedene Sunrise suits families seeking child-led learning, natural materials and an outdoor programme within a 38-week opening calendar. Its garden, Forest School and on-site food preparation give that offer practical substance.

The October 2021 judgement provides a positive starting point, with clear questions about toddler learning and the continuity of adult interaction. The decisive practical issue is whether the annual attendance arrangement matches family needs, including how stretched funding works alongside 38 weeks of opening.