Davison Day Nursery

A hill to roll down, a painting wall and vegetable-growing space give Davison Day Nursery its character. School sports facilities extend physical play beyond the garden.

At its 15 December 2022 inspection, Ofsted rated Davison Day Nursery Outstanding, finding exceptionally strong progress and an ambitious curriculum. It accepts children aged three months to five years in a purpose-built, single-storey building on the Davison High School site in Worthing. Baby Room, Toddler Room and Pre-School Room each use a key-person system. Term-time attendance includes mornings, afternoons and full days.

Rooms and Ages

Baby Room takes up to nine babies; interaction and exploration shape its activities, with carpeted play space, outdoor play and cots supporting the youngest children's day. That published room limit is useful for parents weighing the scale of their baby's first childcare setting. It is a room maximum, rather than a promise about attendance on a particular day.

Toddler Room also takes up to nine children per session, combining individual exploration with shared activities that practise communication and taking turns, plus a dedicated outdoor area. Pre-School Room accommodates twenty-four children, with planning built around individual interests, adjoining toilets and access outside supporting growing independence. Moves between rooms follow children's development and readiness, rather than treating a room change as a single abrupt step.

Learning and Activities

The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) provides the learning framework: play develops communication, physical skills, relationships and early understanding. Observations inform activities, including preschool stories, construction, painting and mark-making.

Babies explore wooden pieces, brushes and kitchen utensils in treasure baskets. Toddle Boxes let them crawl, climb, rock and move while holding on. Sign language accompanies meals, singing and nappy changes, including baby gestures for milk and food. Toddlers have a quiet book area; preschool children choose equipment and snack when it fits their play.

In December 2022, adults developed castle play through explanations of moats and drawbridges, and introduced language to babies through songs and naming objects. Learning extended ordinary play and care.

Outdoor and Community Life

Free-flow outdoor play includes the mud kitchen, slide, tyres, whiteboards and painting wall, alongside growing plants and vegetables. Children can choose between movement and creative exploration.

By April 2026, the toddler garden had been enlarged and had new wooden planters. A new gazebo was intended for small-group activities, stories and snacks. All rooms also use the main garden during the week.

Davison High School Main Hall and Gym extend physical play indoors. Outings include the beach, park and St Georges residential care home. In December 2022, weekly sports and garden games developed movement, turn-taking and following instructions.

Relationships and Communication

Each child has a key person from the start. Flexible settling visits, an All About Me form and settling photographs help staff and children prepare. Baby routines reflect home through conversations with parents.

Dayshare shares observations, photographs and daily information, including babies' eating, sleep and nappy changes. Parents contribute home experiences through its Footstep function. Termly key-person discussions cover next steps, and an annual parents afternoon or evening allows fuller conversations about progress.

Inclusion and Wellbeing

At the December 2022 inspection, Ofsted found safeguarding effective, strong relationships through the key-person system and excellent SEND support, including visual cards that helped children make choices. Current support arrangements include a SENCO/INCO role, discussion with families and access to the Special Educational Needs Advisory Team with parental permission. Concerns can also lead to a referral to The Healthy Child Programme, again with parental permission.

Accessibility has practical features: each room has a ramp to the garden, and the building has an accessible toilet and a wide entrance pathway. These details matter for a child or parent using a wheelchair. Support planning also involves the family and outside agencies, allowing discussion of the child's needs alongside the physical arrangements.

Babies have an assigned cot or pushchair with their own clean bedding, and routines are agreed with parents. The sleep area is kept as dark and quiet as possible, although it shares the sounds of nursery life. Toddlers can sleep when needed, while preschool naps can be accommodated on toddler beds with individual sheets.

Lunches are supplied by Zebedees, and dietary requirements are discussed with families. The April 2026 newsletter reiterated the nursery's nut-free policy; families affected by allergies should confirm current handling arrangements when visiting.

Sessions and Attendance

The address is Selborne Road, Worthing, West Sussex BN11 2JX, on the Davison High School site. Opening hours are 8am to 5pm, Monday to Friday, during term time. The nursery operates for 39 weeks each year, so the school-holiday closure pattern is a substantial part of the childcare decision.

Three booking patterns are offered: Session A runs from 8am to 1pm, Session B from 1pm to 5pm, and Session C from 8am to 5pm. The distinction matters for funded bookings too, because the hour from 1pm to 2pm is outside funded entitlement and is charged separately when attended.

For enquiries, telephone 01903 820260 or email daynursery@davisondaynursery.co.uk.

Getting There

A disabled parking space is provided. Other parents may use the school car park for collection and drop-off, but parking on site is restricted to staff, so it cannot serve as parking for the rest of a parent's day.

Funding and Paid Extras

Working-family funding covers eligible children aged nine months to four years, starting in the term after they reach the eligible age. Davison also offers funding for eligible two-year-olds receiving additional support and the universal entitlement for three- and four-year-olds. Funding is stretched across the nursery's 39-week year: the working-family offer is up to 29 hours weekly, while the other two entitlements provide up to 14.5 hours weekly. Families using funding complete a declaration form; increases to funded hours take effect at the start of the following term.

Ordinary funded bookings carry separate charges for lunch and snacks, additional activities and consumables such as wipes, nappy cream and art materials. Funded-only sessions have different terms: everything except lunch is included, and families can buy a hot lunch or send a healthy packed lunch. Those sessions are allocated in application order, with priority for Children We Care For.

For Baby Room private fees, snacks, lunch and milk, including formula, are included. Parents supply nappies; sun cream is supplied unless families choose their own, while consumables are charged separately under ordinary funded-booking terms. This makes the particular booking arrangement important when comparing the overall cost.

Private fees are paid a month ahead. Joining involves a non-refundable registration charge and a deposit returned at the end of the placement; written withdrawal notice must be at least one calendar month, while changes to hours require a month's notice. Current prices come in the nursery's written quotation.

School preparation includes communication with receiving primary schools and visits from new teachers. Sharing information supports the transition, but attending nursery on a school site does not guarantee a Reception place; families still use the local authority admissions process.

• A school-year timetable. Attendance is term-time only, across 39 weeks. Morning, afternoon and full-day sessions offer choice within that calendar, but families needing holiday care must account for the closures.
• The funded-booking distinction. Ordinary funded attendance and funded-only sessions have different meal and consumables terms, and 1pm to 2pm is unfunded. Request a written quotation for the exact pattern you intend to book.
• Baby sleep and settling. Baby Room has a maximum of nine, with individual sleep arrangements in a setting where activity can still be heard. During a visit, discuss how your baby's home routine would fit the room and settling visits.
• Dietary needs. The nursery's April 2026 reminder set out a nut-free policy. Allergy-affected families should discuss current food handling and the arrangements for a bought or packed lunch before joining.

Davison suits families seeking morning sessions, afternoon attendance or full days within a term-time calendar. Its strongest practical attractions are the small published baby-room maximum, substantial outdoor resources and access to school sports spaces. Dayshare and termly key-person discussions give parents several ways to stay involved.

The December 2022 Outstanding judgement provides a strong dated assessment; today's decision also rests on whether the calendar, sleep arrangements and funded-booking terms fit the child and family. For parents who value active play, gradual room transitions and everyday independence, Davison offers a clearly defined nursery experience.