URN 2792570 · Inspected 2026-03-04 · Published 2026-05-05 · Inspector: Sarah Dukes
Sunny Skies Day Nursery Unique reference number (URN): 2792570 Address: Sunny Skies Day Nursery, Connor Road, WEST BROMWICH, West Midlands, B71 3DJ Type: Childcare on non-domestic premises Registered with Ofsted: 24/05/2024 Registers: EYR, CCR Registered person: N & K Varma Limited Inspection report: 4 March 2026 Exceptional Strong standard Expected standard Needs attention Urgent improvement Safeguarding standards met The safeguarding standards are met. This means that leaders and/or those responsible for governance and oversight fulfil their specific responsibilities and have established an open culture in which safeguarding is everyone's responsibility and concerns are actively identified, acted upon and managed. As a result, children are made safer and feel safe. How we evaluate safeguarding When we inspect settings for safeguarding, they can have the following outcomes: Met: The setting has an open and positive culture of safeguarding. Not met: The setting has not created an open and positive culture of safeguarding. Not all legal requirements are met. Expected standard Achievement Expected standard Children make steady progress across all areas of the curriculum, achieving age- and stage- appropriate outcomes. They typically develop the skills and confidence they need for the next stage, while enjoying engaging learning experiences. Children communicate effectively and confidently with adults and each other as they answer questions, follow instructions and express their thoughts clearly. They engage in daily singing, storytelling and circle time discussions. Children join in enthusiastically with the words and actions. They also recall characters and events from familiar stories as they apply this knowledge to other learning experiences, such as creative activities and imaginative play. Children develop their independence, social skills, and the knowledge they need to be ready for the next stage of their learning. Babies develop their physical skills through activities, such as regular opportunities to develop core strength. For instance, they sit unsupported while stacking and balancing blocks. Older children continue to build coordination and confidence in movement as they use the outdoor area to run and ride the trikes and scooters. However, older children have limited opportunities to develop their growing independence. Children with special educational needs and/or disabilities, emerging needs or barriers to learning benefit from timely support and clearly identified next steps. This helps them make steady progress alongside their peers. Behaviour, attitudes and establishing routines Expected standard Children typically behave very well and demonstrate consistently positive attitudes towards their learning. Clear routines help them understand what happens during the day. They gather for group times, follow mealtime routines and help tidy away resources, which helps them feel secure and confident. Leaders promote regular attendance through strong parent partnerships, effective communication and ensuring that children benefit from consistent routines and access to a broad curriculum. Staff use consistent language to reinforce behaviour expectations, such as reminding children to use 'kind hands and feet' and helping them manage their actions appropriately. Children enjoy playing with their friends, sharing toys, taking turns and cooperating during activities. Staff model respectful communication and encourage children to listen to one another. As a result, children develop positive social skills and show readiness to participate in group activities and learning experiences. Through daily interactions and group discussions, children learn to respect others. They practise sharing, taking turns and listening, and they begin to understand that people may have different experiences and backgrounds, which supports their social and emotional development. However, during mealtimes, some children spend longer waiting, and older children have fewer opportunities to develop independence. For example, they are not always encouraged to practise the physical skills needed to manage tasks, which limits their chances to build self-care, decision-making and independence in their daily routines. Children's welfare and wellbeing Expected standard Children's welfare is supported through warm and responsive relationships with staff. Staff respond sensitively when children need reassurance, helping them feel emotionally secure and confident as they explore their environment. They closely follow parents' wishes, including requests about bottle feeding and weaning. Staff respond promptly to children's needs, providing comfort and reassurance, or allowing the use of comfort items from home as required during their transition into the setting. Through daily interactions, group times and discussions about feelings, staff help children recognise and name emotions. Children begin to understand how their actions affect others, and they develop empathy as they learn to manage their feelings and behaviours. Staff promote healthy lifestyles through daily routines. Children wash their hands before meals, enjoy nutritious snacks and are encouraged to drink water throughout the day. Milk is offered at mealtimes. Staff talk with children about healthy foods, helping them understand how to care for their bodies and make healthy choices. Children confidently discuss healthy and unhealthy foods and how to look after their teeth. Staff support children appropriately, although opportunities to extend learning or introduce new experiences are sometimes limited. Staff ensure that children are appropriately supervised throughout the day, with risk assessments and safety checks in place to maintain a secure environment. Staff support children in learning how to keep themselves safe by reminding them about safe routines, such as using 'kind hands and feet', walking indoors and following hygiene practices. As a result, children begin to understand simple rules that help them. Curriculum and teaching Expected standard Leaders have developed a curriculum that focuses on supporting children's communication, personal development and independence. Staff provide a range of activities that encourage children to explore and learn through play. For example, children take part in creative activities where they experiment with different materials. These experiences support children's imagination and help them develop their fine motor skills. Staff interact positively with children during activities. They speak with children about what they are doing and encourage them to describe their play. This helps children develop language and communication skills. Learning opportunities are often embedded in daily routines. For example, during snack time, staff talk with children about healthy foods and encourage discussion about different fruits and drinks. These conversations help children develop early knowledge about healthy lifestyles while strengthening communication skills. Overall, the curriculum supports children's development and helps them acquire the skills they need for the next stage of their education. However, staff do not consistently extend children's thinking further. At times, interactions focus mainly on supporting participation rather than deepening learning. For example, staff often miss opportunities to introduce new vocabulary or mathematical language during activities. Inclusion Expected standard Leaders and staff promote an inclusive environment where all children are welcomed and valued. Staff gather detailed information from parents when children first start. This helps them understand children's interests, routines and starting points. Staff use this information to support children in settling quickly and feeling secure. Leaders further strengthen inclusive practice by ensuring that staff access relevant training, such as autism awareness and positive behaviour support. This equips staff with the knowledge and confidence to identify additional needs and adapt their practice effectively. Staff monitor children's development through ongoing observations and regular discussions with parents. When children need extra support, staff collaborate with parents and other professionals to develop effective strategies. Staff adapt activities so that children with special educational needs and/or disabilities or those who may face other barriers to their learning can participate alongside their peers. For example, they provide additional support during group activities and use sensory resources to help children remain engaged. Leaders make effective use of early years pupil premium funding to provide targeted interventions, additional adult interaction and specialised resources. This helps eligible children develop their communication skills, regulate their emotions and remain actively involved in learning experiences. These approaches help children develop confidence and remain involved in activities. All children are valued and are helped to make progress in their learning from their individual starting points. While children are well supported, opportunities to stretch and challenge them beyond expected outcomes are not yet consistently embedded. Leadership and governance Expected standard Leaders have established effective systems to support the day-to-day running of the setting and ensure that children are safe, settled and supported. They promote an inclusive ethos and build positive relationships with families, helping children feel secure and confident. Leaders monitor the quality of the provision and identify areas for improvement. They understand the strengths and areas for development in the setting, as well as the actions needed to enhance provision. Leaders are aware of the need to refine some routines to maintain focus on children and further support their independence. Staff benefit from access to a range of information and training to support their professional development, alongside regular discussions with leaders. However, leaders recognise that there is more to do, as teaching is not yet consistently effective in extending children's thinking and deepening their learning. Leaders work closely with parents, building partnerships through events such as Mother's Day activities, Easter bonnet parades, stay-and-play sessions and other initiatives, such as 'travel teddy'. They respond promptly to concerns, maintain consistent communication, respect parental wishes, and address complaints professionally and promptly. Strategic actions, including developing the outdoor area plans to introduce a therapy dog, demonstrate leaders' commitment to improving learning environments and supporting children's emotional wellbeing. Safeguarding remains a priority, and leaders maintain a positive, inclusive culture that supports all families and children effectively. Compulsory Childcare Register requirements This setting has met the requirements of the compulsory part of the Childcare Register. How we check if a provider meets the requirements of the Compulsory Childcare Register When we check if settings meet the Compulsory Childcare Register requirements, they can have the following outcomes: Met Not met What it's like to be a child at this setting Children arrive happily and separate from their parents with ease. Staff greet them warmly and help them settle quickly into familiar routines. Staff create a warm and welcoming environment where families are actively involved through flexible settling-in arrangements, regular communication and inclusive events that strengthen partnerships. As a result, children feel safe and secure. They move confidently around the environment and select activities that interest them, such as exploring construction materials, engaging in creative play or looking at books in cosy reading areas. Children engage in various play experiences, including creative activities, construction play and small-group discussions. For example, during group time, they gather to listen to stories and discuss their experiences. Staff interact with children throughout their play, encouraging them to share ideas and respond to questions. These interactions help children communicate confidently with adults and their friends. Staff promote an inclusive ethos Inspector: Sarah Dukes where all children, regardless of their background or needs, are encouraged to participate fully and develop confidence, independence and a strong sense of belonging. Children with special educational needs and/or disabilities are fully included in daily routines and learning experiences, supported through personalised planning and targeted strategies that enable them to learn alongside their peers. Daily routines typically help children become increasingly independent. For instance, they help tidy away resources after play and know how to wash their hands before eating. Staff encourage children to try things for themselves and provide support when needed. Through these experiences, children begin to manage simple tasks and develop important self-help skills. Children play cooperatively with others. Staff remind children from a very young age about being kind and using 'gentle hands', and children respond positively to these expectations. They share resources, take turns and enjoy playing alongside their friends. Next steps Leaders should review and refine mealtime routines to minimise waiting times, ensuring that children remain engaged and transitions are smooth and efficient. Leaders should ensure greater consistency in implementing daily routines so that children have more regular opportunities to develop independence in self-care, supporting their continued progress and readiness for the next stage. Leaders should provide further guidance and support so that staff can confidently and consistently identify opportunities to extend children's thinking and deepen their learning. Leaders should continue to support staff in identifying and maximising opportunities to extend children's learning and deepen their thinking to further enhance their progress and overall outcomes. About this inspection The inspector spoke with leaders, staff, parents and children during the inspection. 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. About this setting Unique reference number (URN): 2792570 Address: Sunny Skies Day Nursery Connor Road WEST BROMWICH West Midlands B71 3DJ Type: Childcare on non-domestic premises Registration date: 24/05/2024 Registered person: N & K Varma Limited Register(s): EYR, CCR Operating hours: Local authority: Sandwell Facts and figures used on inspection This data was available to the inspector at the time of the inspection. This data is from 4 March 2026 Children numbers Age range of children at the time of inspection 1 to 4 Total number of places 48 Our grades explained Exceptional Practice is exceptional: of the highest standard nationally. Other settings can learn from it. Strong standard The setting reaches a strong standard. Leaders are working above the standard expected of them. Expected standard The setting is fulfilling the expected standard of education and/or care. This means they are following the standard set out in statutory and non ‑ statutory legislation and the professional standards expected of them. Needs attention The expected standards are not met but leaders are likely able to make the necessary improvements. Urgent improvement The setting needs to make urgent improvements to provide the expected standard of education and/or care. The Office for Standards in Education, Children's Services and Skills (Ofsted) inspects services providing education and skills for children and learners of all ages, and inspects and regulates services that care for children and young people. 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. You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. 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