Sixpenny Day Nursery

Woodland exploration, a meadow and a garden with little slopes gave Sixpenny’s children room to stretch themselves in October 2023. Outdoor learning provided the clearest sense of this Devizes nursery’s character: babies tackled uneven ground, while older children combined imaginative construction with movement outside.

Sixpenny Day Nursery has capacity for 138 children, with an accepted age range from 2 months to 5 years. At its 17 October 2023 inspection, Ofsted rated it Good overall, with improvements needed in teaching for younger children, opportunities for independence and the organisation of their routines.

The early years foundation stage sets the requirements for children’s learning, development and care, connecting play and exploration with growing communication and practical skills. In October 2023, singing and stories featured for babies and toddlers, while older children used counting and language about size during their activities.

Outside, that month’s experiences included toddlers mixing sticks, leaves and water in the woodland. Older children explored pumpkins during a forest school session, an opportunity to investigate natural materials outdoors, and practised yoga in the meadow. Large construction blocks became a helicopter that children moved together. These examples brought physical activity and shared problem-solving into the same day.

The balance was less consistent for younger children. In October 2023, some activities demanded more than they were ready for, and their interest faded. Adults also sometimes completed tasks that children could have attempted themselves, including managing food, fitting lids and putting toys away.

At the October 2023 inspection, Ofsted found safeguarding effective, care needs well supported and communication developing well, including for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). Staff allowed quieter children time to answer and worked with families and other professionals to coordinate support.

During that month, a key person and a supporting colleague used observations to identify each child’s next learning steps. Babies looked through books containing family photographs with staff, linking familiar people with time at nursery. Younger children practised taking turns; older children developed friendships through playing together.

Daily organisation needed attention. In October 2023, toddlers sometimes waited for everyone before going outside, and some baby areas took too long to prepare. These were practical interruptions to children’s day, rather than concerns confined to curriculum planning.

The address is Old Farrowing House, Roundway Business Centre, Devizes, SN10 2LT. Opening hours are 7.30am to 6pm, Monday to Friday. The nursery operates throughout the year, closing for bank holidays and Christmas.

In October 2023, funded places were offered for children aged two, three and four. That dated offer should be distinguished from a family’s current funding and attendance agreement.

• Younger children’s routines. The October 2023 findings included waiting before outdoor play and delays preparing baby areas. On a visit, ask how transitions now work in your child’s age group.
• Learning to manage independently. In October 2023, adults sometimes stepped in too quickly. Ask for examples of how children are now supported to keep trying with everyday tasks.
• Your attendance agreement. With a weekday opening window running from early morning into the evening, ask which booking pattern fits your routine and request a written quotation covering funding, meals and consumables.

Sixpenny merits consideration for Devizes families who value outdoor exploration and want childcare across the year. Its October 2023 experiences gave children concrete opportunities to move, investigate and collaborate. For parents of babies and toddlers, the decisive questions concern how younger children’s activities and daily transitions have developed since those dated findings.