Sunshine Corner Day Nursery

An outdoor kitchen, fresh herbs and conversations about murky water give Sunshine Corner Day Nursery a recognisable character in its August 2021 account of daily life. Play gave children something concrete to investigate and talk about.

At its August 2021 inspection, Ofsted rated the nursery Good and found safeguarding effective. Sunshine Corner has capacity for 32 children aged 0 to 96 months, at Abundant Life Church in Lakenheath. Those whole-setting figures should not be read as the size of a child's group.

In August 2021, children combined water with rice, pasta and herbs in the outdoor kitchen, while adults joined their experiments and introduced vocabulary. Indoors, role-play areas supported imaginative play with friends. Activities followed children's interests, giving them opportunities to choose what to explore.

The early years foundation stage is the framework for children's learning, development and care: here, the August 2021 examples included learning through play, conversation, counting and practical tasks. Children practised recognising their names and using scissors safely, connecting preparation for school with everyday experiences.

A sand timer made changes of activity easier to understand in August 2021. Children could see when outdoor play was nearing its end and had time to finish what they were doing. Staff also reviewed the indoor and outdoor spaces and adjusted them around children's interests.

At the August 2021 inspection, Ofsted found that children formed secure relationships with their key person, speech and language concerns prompted support from other professionals where needed, and children receiving additional funding made good progress. These findings give substance to the Good judgement, especially for families weighing communication support.

In August 2021, adults responded calmly when emotions became difficult and helped children consider their friends. Independence was practical: putting on coats and shoes, developing hygiene habits and working with parents on toilet learning. Families also received ideas for learning at home during the pandemic.

Staff supervision and further training supported reflection on practice in August 2021. The improvement priority was more specific: children needed fuller opportunities to share the languages, traditions and cultural practices of their home lives.

The address is Abundant Life Church, Back Street, Lakenheath, Brandon, IP27 9HF. Opening hours are 8am to 4pm, Monday to Friday, across the year, with closures for bank holidays and Christmas.

In August 2021, daytime sessions ran from 8am to 4pm, and funded early education was provided for children aged two, three and four. That funding description belongs to the inspection period.

• The age of the assessment. The Good judgement dates from August 2021. During a visit, how do today's routines and communication support compare with the practices described here?
• Home languages and traditions. The August 2021 improvement priority concerned opportunities to share home cultures. Ask how family languages and customs now enter children's activities.
• The working-day fit. An 8am opening and 4pm close set a clear boundary. Families needing care later in the afternoon should weigh that finish against their working hours.

Sunshine Corner merits consideration for families whose schedules fit its daytime hours and who value play linked to conversation and practical independence. The August 2021 assessment supplies encouraging detail, alongside a clear cultural-inclusion priority. Its age makes a visit to explore current practice an important part of the decision.