Home from Home Worthing

A sensory room and outdoor exploration give Home from Home Worthing a recognisable character, with both featuring in its March 2023 daily life. At its 21 March 2023 inspection, Ofsted rated the nursery Good and found safeguarding effective. It has capacity for 116 children in total.

The account of children's experiences is encouraging, but two weaknesses matter: younger children's play sometimes lost momentum around routine tasks, and group activities could be interrupted. These are useful points to explore when choosing care.

In March 2023, forest school sessions involved exploring the natural environment and learning boundaries around a campfire circle. Outdoor activity therefore included practical lessons about keeping safe. Preschool children also talked enthusiastically about the sensory room, giving a concrete example of a space they enjoyed.

Physical experiences differed by stage. In March 2023, babies practised climbing steps and using a slide, while toddlers exercised their fingers with tweezers and shredded paper. Preschool children practised the sounds in their own names and relatives' names. These examples show how movement and early literacy fitted into the day.

The early years foundation stage is the framework for children's learning, development and care. Here, its inspection-era examples included physical play, conversations, stories and songs. In March 2023, staff used children's interests to shape activities, introduced unfamiliar vocabulary and encouraged children to choose songs during group time.

Chinese New Year and Ramadan featured in March 2023 learning experiences through language, food and ceremonial clothing. These gave children concrete ways to explore cultural differences.

At the March 2023 inspection, Ofsted found that staff understood their key children's individual needs, supported secure relationships and prepared children for their next stage, including school. Everyday preparation included children choosing activities and putting on their own shoes and coats: independence was practised through ordinary tasks.

In March 2023, communication with families combined spoken daily feedback with live online updates. That gave parents both a conversation and a way to follow their child's day.

Care routines also created the inspection's main concerns. In March 2023, the youngest children sometimes had too little purposeful engagement after lunch while staff completed routine work. Some children were taken out of group activities for handwashing before meals, breaking their involvement. The practical question is how routines fit around children's play.

The address is 69 Grand Avenue, Worthing, BN11 5BB. In March 2023, the nursery occupied two large Victorian houses and opened on weekdays from 7.30am to 6pm, across 51 weeks of the year. These are dated operating details rather than a current booking offer.

In March 2023, it received funding for early education for children aged two, three and four. Families considering funded care need to distinguish that historical participation from the terms of their own arrangement.

• Play after lunch. In March 2023, younger children's engagement sometimes dipped while staff handled routines. On a visit, ask how practitioners sustain play during this part of the day.
• Interrupted group activities. March 2023 examples included children leaving group time for handwashing. Ask how meal preparation now fits around an activity already under way.
• Attendance and funding. The operating hours and funding participation above relate to March 2023. Ask which current booking patterns and funded arrangements fit your family's week.

Home from Home Worthing suits families who value opportunities for sensory exploration, outdoor learning and practising independence. The March 2023 examples give those priorities substance. For parents of younger children, the deciding issue is how consistently engaging play continues through care routines.