SureStars Day Nursery

Child-chosen books, large block constructions and hands-on tool use give SureStars Day Nursery a recognisable character in its November 2021 account of daily life. At its 30 November 2021 inspection, Ofsted rated the nursery Good overall. The strongest practical thread was children having resources within reach and choosing what to do with them.

SureStars serves babies and children aged 0 to 60 months at Kingsway Primary School, Baker Avenue, Leamington Spa, CV31 3HB. It has 80 places in total. Its opening hours are 8am to 6pm, Monday to Friday.

The early years foundation stage sets the requirements for children's learning, development and care: play supports learning alongside everyday care routines. In November 2021, activities were planned around what children needed to learn next, with different intentions for the nursery's rooms.

Resources sat within children's reach, making independent choice a practical part of the day. Younger children shared books with staff and recognised familiar pictures; older children built sizeable block structures, drew and explored sand. A gift-wrapping activity introduced scissors and a tape dispenser, combining careful listening with practice using tools.

In November 2021, staff added vocabulary during play, linking words to experiences such as squeezing dough. Stories, festival celebrations and play materials introduced different families and cultures. Outdoors, children practised balance on wheeled equipment, ran freely and dug in earth with tools. These were concrete opportunities for movement and exploration.

At the November 2021 inspection, Ofsted found safeguarding effective, tailored support for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities, and progress in communication for children including those learning English as an additional language. Assessments and work with external agencies helped staff identify the support children needed.

In November 2021, familiar staff helped children settle, while praise supported sharing, kindness and manners. Younger children fed themselves and helped tidy; older children used cutlery to cut food. However, younger children did not consistently get opportunities to practise independence and personal care.

Communication with parents was another improvement priority in November 2021: relationships with key persons needed to support more consistent exchanges of information. Staff also had training and regular discussions with managers about their practice. For families, the important distinction is between the positive daily interactions described then and the consistency of support across routines.

SureStars opens throughout the year, closing for bank holidays and training days. The address is Kingsway Primary School, Baker Avenue, Leamington Spa, CV31 3HB.

In November 2021, session times ran from 8am until 6pm, and the nursery provided funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-old children. Those details describe the attendance and funding arrangements at that inspection.

• Information sharing. Consistency between parents and key persons was a November 2021 improvement priority. A dependable exchange matters when care routines and learning needs change.
• Younger children's independence. In November 2021, opportunities to practise personal care were uneven. Families with younger children should weigh this alongside the examples of self-feeding and tidying.
• Attendance and funded costs. What booking patterns and funded-hour arrangements would apply to your child, including responsibility for meals and consumables?

SureStars merits consideration for families seeking year-round weekday childcare for babies through to children aged 60 months. Its November 2021 account combines accessible resources, purposeful play and outdoor movement. The balance is clear: useful examples of children's daily experiences sit alongside specific improvement priorities around parent communication and younger children's independence.