Sunflower Day Nursery, The Racecourse

A nursery in the middle of Newton Abbot Racecourse has an outdoor setting with a difference: children can use the grounds under supervision when racing is not taking place. Sunflower Day Nursery, The Racecourse combines that access with a purpose-built building, age-related playrooms and a shared outdoor play area. The racecourse is part of the children's surroundings, rather than simply an address.

At its June 2023 inspection, Ofsted rated the nursery Good, identified care and learning for babies as a strength and judged safeguarding effective. Those findings give families a useful starting point, but the detail matters: older children's learning, toddlers' language support and early intervention each needed more precise attention.

The nursery has capacity for 38 children and accepts children from four months old, with care extending to five years. Full-day, morning and afternoon attendance patterns serve different family routines.

Three playrooms divide children by age, while the outdoor play area is shared. That gives the day both an age-related base and an outdoor space used across the setting. Supervised access to Newton Abbot Racecourse on non-race days adds another setting for outdoor experiences; families should distinguish that access from the nursery's own play area.

The early years foundation stage sets the expectations for children's learning, development and care. In everyday parent language, this means that play, conversation, movement and care routines all contribute to learning, rather than education being confined to an organised activity.

In June 2023, books were an important part of the babies' day: staff engaged them in stories, introduced vocabulary and encouraged their interest. Babies also had room to move and adults encouraged their physical exploration. These are concrete examples of how learning and care can work together for the youngest children.

Movement took different forms for older children at that visit. Toddlers played with balls, throwing, kicking and following them, while preschool children used bikes and ride-on toys and practised steering around obstacles. Everyday independence featured too: toddlers helped put toys away, and preschool children handled cutlery and poured drinks themselves.

The June 2023 improvement priorities were specific. Preschool activities needed clearer learning intentions tailored to individual children, and toddlers needed steadier conversational support when staff were occupied with routines such as meal preparation and potty use. For parents, the question is how adults extend learning through the whole day, including its less organised moments.

In June 2023, new babies formed relationships with their key person and began exploring toys and interacting with other children. Babies and toddlers sought physical reassurance from staff, while adults helped children understand the sequence of daily routines. A familiar adult and a predictable day are practical foundations for settling.

At the June 2023 inspection, Ofsted found that staff recognised children who needed additional help and sought advice from other professionals, but required stronger coaching so staff could provide more precisely targeted early intervention while children awaited assessments. This matters for families whose child needs support before an outside assessment is completed: identifying a concern and adapting daily practice are separate tasks.

Communication also had a practical purpose in June 2023. Parents received information about children's development and what they were working towards next, giving families something to build on at home. The useful detail was the connection between nursery learning and home activities, rather than simply an update about what a child had done.

Sessions and Attendance

The nursery opens Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm, throughout the year. It sells full-day sessions as well as morning and afternoon sessions, allowing families to choose between a whole day and a shorter part of the day.

Four weeks' notice applies when reducing attendance or leaving. That is a planning consideration for families whose working arrangements may change, rather than just an administrative detail. Visits can be arranged by telephone or email: 01626 334070 or theracecourse@sunflowerdaynurseries.com.

Getting There

The address is Newton Abbot Racecourse, Newton Road, Kingsteignton, Newton Abbot, TQ12 3AF. The nursery sits in the centre of the racecourse.

Funding and Paid Extras

Funded early education is offered for two-, three- and four-year-olds, with additional hours charged when attendance exceeds the child's funded allocation. Current prices come in the nursery's written quotation; the fees information explains the charge structure.

Meals are included in private session fees; for sessions covered solely by two- or three-year-old funding, lunch, breakfast and high tea are charged separately, with parents able to supply those meals instead and avoid the food charge.

• Learning through routines. The June 2023 priorities covered both preschool learning intentions and toddlers' conversational support during care routines. On a visit, ask how staff now extend each child's learning during activities and everyday tasks.
• Help before assessments. In June 2023, early intervention needed more precise targeting while children waited for outside assessments. Families needing additional support should discuss the steps that would begin within the nursery.
• Funded meals. Food is charged separately for sessions covered solely by two- or three-year-old funding, although families can provide it themselves. Factor that choice into the attendance plan.
• Changing attendance. Reducing sessions or leaving requires four weeks' notice. Build that period into changes to childcare arrangements.

Sunflower suits families considering full-day care or morning and afternoon sessions, with its racecourse setting adding a clear outdoor attraction. The June 2023 strengths were most convincing for babies, backed by concrete examples of relationships, books and movement. For toddlers, preschool children and children needing extra help, the improvement priorities make the quality of individual support the central decision point.