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Sunshine Community Nursery

Sunshine Community Nursery is a day nursery in Leeds for children aged 0 to 4, with 56 registered places. Ofsted report card, 7 September 2026: Strong standard in 6 areas; safeguarding standards met.

Shepherds Lane, Leeds, LS8 5AW

Key facts

Type
Day nursery (Full day care) (Ofsted childcare register, as at 30 June 2026)
Ages
0 to 4 (Ofsted childcare register, as at 30 June 2026)
Registered places
56 (Ofsted childcare register, as at 30 June 2026)
Registered
29 December 2025 (Ofsted childcare register, as at 30 June 2026)

Opening hours

Monday,Tuesday,Wednesday,Thursday,Friday : 07:30 - 18:00

Source: Ofsted report, inspection on 7 September 2026

Who runs it

Sunshine Community Nursery is run by Sunshine Community Nursery Ltd (Ofsted register).

Latest inspection

  • Inclusion: Strong standard
  • Curriculum and teaching: Strong standard
  • Achievement: Strong standard
  • Behaviour, attitudes and establishing routines: Strong standard
  • Children's welfare and wellbeing: Strong standard
  • Leadership and governance: Strong standard
  • Safeguarding standards met

Source: Ofsted, inspection on 7 September 2026. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

What it's like to be a child at this setting

Children are happy, settled and flourish at this vibrant and inclusive nursery. They benefit from highly nurturing relationships with passionate and experienced staff who know them and their families extremely well. Staff have a deep understanding of children's starting points, routines and interests and use this knowledge to provide tailored experiences that fully support their learning. Consistent and purposeful interactions extend children's thinking and encourage them to explore and be creative. All children make excellent progress from their individual starting points and thrive in their development.

Children confidently choose from a wide range of resources and activities and lead their own play alongside their peers. All children, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities, those who face disadvantage and those who experience barriers to learning or wellbeing, are supported to participate fully in nursery life. Staff make appropriate adjustments to support children's communication, engagement and relationships. Children's individual identities, home languages, cultures and family backgrounds are valued, helping children and their families feel welcome and develop a deep sense of belonging.

Children are consistently supported to develop their mathematical understanding through play and everyday routines. For example, children enjoy experimenting with capacity as they fill and empty containers of mud in the mud kitchen. Children develop secure physical skills as they take part in daily yoga sessions, dance classes and negotiate space safety. Children become increasingly independent as they manage familiar routines, such as washing their hands and feeding themselves. Older children enjoy the responsibility of emptying their plates once they have finished eating. These experiences build the confidence, social skills and self-care skills children need for their next stage of learning.

Children develop secure friendships and show kindness and respect towards others. They feel safe and secure and have positive relationships with familiar staff. Children listen attentively and remain engaged during small-group activities and story times. High-quality teaching supports children's communication and language development. Leaders recognise the importance of regular attendance and monitor patterns of absence. They work closely with families to identify barriers and provide appropriate supports where needed.

What Ofsted found in each area

Inclusion: Strong standard

Children's individual needs are identified from the moment they start. Leaders have developed a fully inclusive approach and have a deep understanding of children and their families. Barriers children face are swiftly identified and highly effective support is put in place. Staff work very closely with families and external agencies, such as social services and speech and language therapists, to help reduce barriers to children's learning and wellbeing.

Children with special educational needs and/or disabilities receive highly effective targeted support through adapted routines, activities and small-group experiences. Staff ensure that learning needs are consistently recognised and met. For example, staff work closely with the visual impairment team to develop resources specifically for children's individual needs. These resources are used during one-to-one interventions, helping children access learning. Staff have embedded a clear cycle of planning and reviewing. This helps all children to fully access the curriculum and feel calm, settled and fully included in nursery life.

Children who speak English as an additional language benefit from a diverse staff team who speak many of the languages used by children and their families. Staff use children's home languages alongside English to support communication, helping children develop their speech, language and confidence to express themselves. Leaders work closely with children and families who face disadvantage to identify barriers and provide support that helps children participate fully in nursery life. For instance, families access a clothing bank and oral health kits are provided by leaders. Additional funding is used thoughtfully to meet children's individual needs. For example, extra-curricular activities, such as football and rugby sessions are provided for children. This helps reduce financial barriers and supports children health, wellbeing and participation in nursery life.

Curriculum and teaching: Strong standard

Leaders use their excellent knowledge of child development to design a high-quality, ambitious curriculum. They regularly evaluate its effectiveness and use monitoring, assessment and professional discussions with staff to identify priorities for improvement. Leaders use this information to consistently strengthen teaching and improve children's outcomes. Staff receive highly targeted training that enhances their knowledge and practice. This strengthens the consistency of teaching across the nursery. Learning is clearly sequenced and builds securely on children's starting points and next steps.

Staff deliver the curriculum through purposeful play and meaningful interactions. They follow children's interests while maintaining ambitious learning intentions. Consistent high-quality interactions support children's communication and language incredibly well. Staff ask thoughtful questions and model rich language during conversations. They skilfully weave mathematical language and concepts into children's play at every opportunity. For example, as children search for emotion stones in the mud tray, staff encourage them to count how many they find and compare quantities. Children develop secure knowledge, confidence and independence as they learn.

Leaders adapt the curriculum to meet the needs of all children. Children, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities, those who speak English as an additional language and those who are disadvantaged, receive timely support that helps them overcome barriers to learning and achieve alongside their peers. This means all children access the full curriculum, make sustained progress from their starting points and are well prepared for their next stage in learning.

Achievement: Strong standard

Children achieve extremely well across all areas of learning. All children, including those known or previously known to social care, those with special educational needs and/or disabilities, those who are disadvantaged and those who speak English as an additional language, make rapid progress from their starting points. They develop the knowledge, skills and attitudes needed for future success and their eventual move to school.

Children become confident communicators and express their thoughts, ideas and feelings using a growing range of vocabulary. Babies communicate through sounds, gestures and facial expressions. Older children confidently build on their vocabulary and express their ideas in full sentences. Children who arrive with little or no English quickly learn words to communicate their needs. All children develop early mathematical knowledge as they count, compare quantities and use mathematical language during play.

Children show curiosity about the world around them and confidently recall previous learning. They solve problems together and use their imagination during play. Children show independence and responsibility as they pour their drinks, serve their own food and clear away their plates. These essential skills give children a secure foundation for future learning.

Behaviour, attitudes and establishing routines: Strong standard

Children experience calm, well-established routines and move smoothly between activities and areas of the nursery, with little disruption to their play and learning. Routines are thoughtfully planned and adapted sensitively for children who need additional support. For example, children join in with morning yoga sessions to help them feel calm and ready to learn. Leaders place a clear emphasis on regular attendance and work closely with families to address barriers. This helps children to develop secure routines and positive attitudes to their learning.

Staff model patience, kindness and respect and help children understand how their actions affect others. Children consistently behave well and show secure emotional awareness. They remain engaged in activities, share resources, take turns and show a willingness to learn alongside others. Children develop positive social skills, friendships and show care for one another.

Leaders and staff build positive partnerships with families and give time and attention to understanding children's individual circumstances. They share approaches with parents and provide opportunities to help families understand how to support children's behaviour, wellbeing and routines at home. Family events, such as 'mother and father' day sessions, strengthen these partnerships and promote consistency between home and the nursery.

Children's welfare and wellbeing: Strong standard

Leaders prioritise all children's welfare and wellbeing. Staff provide warm, responsive care throughout the nursery. Leaders and staff are highly responsive to children and their families' circumstances and ensure that children consistently receive the support they need. Staff create a calm environment where children feel safe, secure and valued. Secure attachments are evident across the nursery. Key persons know children extremely well and provide reassurance, helping children to feel safe and emotionally secure. Children confidently seek support and show trust in familiar adults. All children develop a deep sense of belonging.

Leaders and staff are attentive to children safety and comfort throughout the day, such as during meal, sleep and personal care routines. Children feel valued and respected. Staff treat all children with dignity and respect. During care routines, staff explain what they are doing and encourage children to cooperate.

Leaders ensure that children's health and wellbeing are consistently promoted throughout the nursery. Children enjoy nutritious meals and snacks prepared freshly by the nursery chefs. They have daily opportunities to play outdoors and have well-established hygiene routines that support their health and wellbeing. For example, pre-school children take part in an oral health programme and brush their teeth after food each day. Staff use models to demonstrate effective toothbrushing and help children understand how to care for their teeth. This supports children to develop life-long healthy habits.

Leadership and governance: Strong standard

Leaders are committed and highly motivated, maintaining consistently high standards across all aspects of the nursery. They have a clear vision for continuous improvements and high expectations for children's care and learning. Leaders have a thorough understanding of the needs of children and families and make decisions in children's best interests. Governance provides clear oversight and works closely with leaders and area managers to appropriately support and challenge leaders and improve the outcomes for all children.

Leaders regularly evaluate the quality of the nursery and take effective action to improve practice. For example, they have plans to continue to develop the outdoor areas to further support children's understanding of the natural world. Leaders and staff respond to children's emerging needs and use information, including attendance and barriers to learning, to inform decisions. Leaders have established secure partnerships with parents and carers. Parents value the regular communication about their children's experiences and development through daily conversations and an online platform. This collaborative approach supports children's development and contributes to the overall quality of the setting. Leaders continue to strengthen these partnerships and reflect on further ways to support children's next steps at home.

Leaders highly value staff and recognise the importance of their wellbeing and workload. Staff report high levels of job satisfaction and feel extremely well supported in their roles. Leaders monitor teaching closely through regular observations and provide staff with clear and constructive feedback. Staff are provided with regular opportunities for professional development linked to development areas. Leaders promote a supportive and reflective culture, helping staff feel valued and confident in their roles.

What the setting must and should do next

The provider should:

  • Leaders should continue to strengthen parent partnerships to share home learning ideas to achieve a transformational impact on children's learning and development.

Ofsted's words, from the report on the inspection on 7 September 2026. Read the full report on the Ofsted website. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

Ofsted report cards (England, from November 2025)

Since 10 November 2025 Ofsted has graded nurseries and pre-schools on a report card. There is no single overall grade. Instead, each of six areas gets one of five grades: Exceptional, Strong standard, Expected standard, Needs attention, Urgent improvement.

The six areas are inclusion; curriculum and teaching; achievement; behaviour, attitudes and establishing routines; children's welfare and wellbeing; leadership and governance. Safeguarding is judged on its own, as met or not met.

Expected standard means the setting does what Ofsted expects of every setting. Strong standard and Exceptional are above that; Needs attention and Urgent improvement mean Ofsted found things the setting has to put right.

Source: Ofsted reports

Funded childcare hours in England

All 3 and 4 year olds in England can get 15 hours of free childcare a week, for 38 weeks of the year.

Working parents of children aged 9 months to 4 years old can get 30 hours of free childcare a week for 38 weeks of the year (Free Childcare for Working Parents), if they meet the earnings rules. You confirm your details every 3 months.

Some 2 year olds can get 15 hours a week when the family gets certain kinds of extra support.

The hours are used at a registered provider that offers them, so ask each nursery how it offers the funded hours.

Source: GOV.UK: Free Childcare for Working Parents, check if you're eligible · GOV.UK: Free childcare and education for 2 to 4 year olds (checked 31 October 2026)

Other nurseries nearby

  • Shantona Women and Family Services - Day nursery, Leeds LS8 5AW, ages 2 to 4, 36 places, under 0.1 miles
    Ofsted, 19 March 2024: Outstanding overall; safeguarding is effective
  • Best Childcare Nursery - Day nursery, Leeds LS7 4EE, ages 0 to 4, 80 places, 0.4 miles
    Ofsted, 10 May 2023: Outstanding overall; safeguarding is effective
  • Little Owls Nursery Chapeltown - Day nursery, Leeds LS7 4DA, ages 0 to 4, 114 places, 0.5 miles
    Ofsted, 7 July 2021: Outstanding overall; safeguarding is effective
  • Mosaic Centre - Day nursery, Leeds LS7 4AW, ages 0 to 4, 70 places, 0.5 miles
    Ofsted, 27 June 2023: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
  • Hopespring Nursery - Pre-school, Leeds LS7 3EF, ages 2 to 4, 20 places, 0.5 miles
    Ofsted, 15 May 2025: Good overall; safeguarding is effective

Schools nearby

Sunshine Community Nursery on the Ofsted website