Skip to content

Help us get it right

Sign in (free) to send feedback, so we can tell you when it's fixed.

Early years · Early years inspection (EIF)

Sunshine Day Nursery 2003 LTD

Inspected 9 Apr 2025 · published 13 May 2025 · URN EY273928

Help us get it right

Sign in (free) to send feedback, so we can tell you when it's fixed.

Original PDF ↗

Summary

Requires improvement

Lynn Hughes

What we read, and from where

Click a reading to see it highlighted in the report.

  • Group verified

    Sunshine Day Nursery 2003 Limited

  • Group reference verified

    RP521843

  • Inspection date verified

    9 Apr 2025

  • Inspectors verified

    Lynn Hughes

  • Behaviour and attitudes verified

    Requires improvement

  • Leadership and management verified

    Requires improvement

  • Overall effectiveness verified

    Requires improvement

  • Personal development verified

    Requires improvement

  • Previous overall verified

    Good

  • Quality of education verified

    Requires improvement

  • Postcode verified

    SS0 0AX

  • Name on report verified

    Sunshine Day Nursery 2003 LTD

  • URN verified

    EY273928

Page 1 of 6
Page 1 of the report

Deep dive

What this report says

In plain English

Join free to get a short, plain-English summary of any report.

Grade profile

Hollow rings show the previous inspection, 2019.

  • OverallRequires improvement
  • Behaviour and attitudesRequires improvement
  • Leadership and managementRequires improvement
  • Personal developmentRequires improvement
  • Quality of educationRequires improvement

6% of comparable inspections in the last three years were graded Requires improvement (17,905 inspections).

Tone of the report

How positive or critical the inspectors' language is, from the words they chose. No AI involved.

−10Mixedmore positive than 10% of reports of this type graded Requires improvement
OutstandingGoodRIInadequate

Reads more critically than most reports of this type graded Requires improvement.

Markers show where typical reports of each grade sit.

Praiseenjoyhappywarmeffectivepositiveeffectivelykeenclear
Criticismweaknesseslimitednot consistentlynot sufficientlynot strongnot effectivelynot confident

How the report reads, start to finish

Every paragraph in order, sized by length. Tap one to see it on the page.

FindingsWhat needs to improveSafeguardingAbout the inspection positive critical
  • Findings484w−39
  • Safeguarding20w+50
  • What needs to improve247w+12

Strengths

Quoted from the report. Tap to see it on the page.

No standout praise found.

Concerns

Quoted from the report. Tap to see it on the page.

Next steps

Quoted from the report. Tap to see it on the page.

What the report dwells on

Topics by how often they come up, coloured by how they are described. Open one for an example.

Anatomy of the report

How the report is built, against others of the same type and grade.

Pages
6
Words of findings
713
about usual (typical 857)
Reading level
Fairly hard
Flesch 54, typical 53
Average sentence
15 words
Next steps
8
typical 8
Hedged sentences
9%
“some”, “not always”, “most”…

Where the words go

Findings 39%Safeguarding 2%What needs to improve 20%About the inspection 40%

Full report text

Inspection of Sunshine Day Nursery 2003 LTD Clatterfield Gardens, Westcliff-on-Sea, Essex SS0 0AX

p.1

Overall effectiveness Requires improvement

The quality of education Requires improvement Behaviour and attitudes Requires improvement Personal development Requires improvement Leadership and management Requires improvement Overall effectiveness at previous inspection Good

p.1

The provision requires improvement

Variabilities in the quality of teaching children receive, does not fully support them to make the best progress. The curriculum is not effectively based on what staff know children can already do. This means that children are not provided with sufficient challenge to help them to remain focused and interested in learning. Staff do not provide enough opportunities for children to develop independence and to guide their own play and learning.

p.2

The provision requires improvement

Despite these weaknesses, children are happy and content during their nursery day. They know the routines well and follow staff's directions. Staff are on hand to support children to manage tasks and to join in with planned, group activities. Children have some opportunities to guide their own play. They enjoy exploring in the nursery garden, where they experience a selection of sensory activities such as shaving foam, mud and water painting.

p.2

The provision requires improvement

Babies receive warm, care and attention. Staff know the individual babies' daily routines well and work with parents to identify changing patterns. Staff support the less confident babies when visitors are present, reassuring them and helping them to build their confidence and self-assurance.

p.2

need to do better?

n There are some weaknesses in the leadership and management of this nursery. The provider does not ensure that staff's professional development is focused enough to help them to develop their teaching skills and learn teaching techniques that are based on current early years practice. As a result, the quality of teaching is not consistently strong. Staff and managers are keen to improve their knowledge and use this to enhance outcomes for children. n The nursery curriculum is very much based around daily routines, such as snack and mealtimes. As a result, children sometimes have to stop their focused learning to participate in these activities. There is little scope for children to guide their own play and learning. For example, when they self-select resources, they are expected to play with them on a table, rather than being able to explore the environment, expressing their creativity. n At times, children are not sufficiently challenged in their thinking as staff do not

p.2

need to do better?

take enough account of what children can already do. They have limited opportunities to develop independence. For example, staff pour drinks for them, serve meals and write their names on drawing and pictures, before encouraging them to have a go themselves. Staff often manage transitions, for example, after snacks and meals by grouping children together in the carpet area while they clear up. This provides limited purposeful learning for children for periods of time throughout the day.

p.2

need to do better?

9 April 2025 n Parents are encouraged to share their views of the nursery through annual questionnaires. The management team take account of parental and carer's comments. For example, they have recently reviewed and re-designed their snack and meal menus to include less processed food, following feedback from parents. They are also encouraging parents to share ideas of snacks and meals they have at home that children are familiar with. Staff provide parents with feedback on their child's day at collection time, which parents generally find helpful. n Children enjoy participating in singing and rhyme sessions. They excitedly choose visual prompts from a bag that represent a familiar song or rhyme. Staff sing along with them, encouraging them to join in with actions. n Children enjoy decorating pictures relating to a current theme or celebration. They carefully paint Easter eggs brightly coloured, making sure that they follow

p.2

need to do better?

the pre-printed patterns with great skill. Staff ask questions about the colours they are using and what their favourite colours are. Children show pride in their achievements as they present their completed work to visitors. n Babies have fun making marks on large pieces of paper taped to the floor. They choose from a selection of large and smaller crayons and smile as they create their masterpiece. Staff are close by helping them to complete the task and name colours to encourage their communication and language skills.

p.3

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

p.3

Safeguarding

There is an open and positive culture around safeguarding that puts children's interests first.

p.3

should:

n guide staff to consider ways to further develop children's independence n strengthen teaching so that staff manage time effectively when delivering adult- led, group activities and routine activities and children fully benefit from such experiences.

p.3

Setting details

Unique reference number EY273928 Local authority Southend-on-Sea Inspection number 10393797 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises

p.4

Registers

Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register, Voluntary Childcare Register Day care type Full day care

p.4

inspection

Total number of places 53 Number of children on roll 114 Name of registered person Sunshine Day Nursery 2003 Limited

p.4

reference number

Telephone number 01702 333 313 Date of previous inspection 14 November 2019

p.4

Information about this early years setting

Sunshine Day Nursery 2003 LTD registered in 2003. The nursery employs 12 members of childcare staff, all of whom hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 2 or above. The nursery opens Monday to Friday from 7am until 7pm, all year round. The nursery provides government funded early years education for all eligible children.

p.4

Inspection activities

n The inspector viewed the provision and discussed the safety and suitability of the premises. n The manager joined the inspector on a learning walk and talked about their curriculum and what they want the children to learn. n The children spoke to the inspector during the inspection. n The inspector spoke to staff at appropriate times and took account of their views. n The inspector observed the quality of education being provided, indoors and outdoors, and assessed the impact that this was having on children's learning. n The inspector and the manager carried out a joint observation of an activity. n Parents and carers shared their views of the nursery with the inspector. n The manager showed the inspector documentation to demonstrate the suitability of staff.

p.5

Inspection activities

We carried out this inspection under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 on the quality and standards of provision that is registered on the Early Years Register. The registered person must ensure that this provision complies with the statutory framework for children's learning, development and care, known as the early years foundation stage.

p.5

Inspection activities

9 April 2025 regulates and inspects to achieve excellence in the care of children and young people, and in education and skills for learners of all ages. It regulates and inspects childcare and children's social care, and inspects the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (Cafcass), schools, colleges, initial teacher training, further education and skills, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It assesses council children's services, and inspects services for looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

p.5

Inspection activities

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk .

p.6

Inspection activities

You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/ , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk

p.6

Inspection activities

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.6

Inspection activities

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

p.6

Discuss this inspection

Members compare notes on inspectors and inspections here. Join free to read and post.

Join the discussion