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New Beginnings

Ofsted: Expected standard·
5.0(3 parent reviews) ·Austin House Family Centre, 22 Shakespeare Street, Sunderland, SR5 2JX · Sunderland
Number of places
43 places
Age range
0–4 yrs
Last inspected
Dec 2025
Local authority
Sunderland

About this day nursery

New Beginnings, established in 2005, operates as a childcare setting on non-domestic premises in Sunderland, catering to children aged 0-4 years. " The dedicated staff at New Beginnings foster a nurturing and secure environment, building strong relationships with children and their families.

This allows children to feel safe, happy, and confident to explore. The setting places a high value on enriching experiences, including extensive outdoor play where children develop physical skills and learn about safety.

Leaders are passionate and knowledgeable, with a clear vision to create a thriving environment for everyone. They ensure that children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) receive effective support through prompt referrals and high-quality support plans, collaborating closely with other professionals and actively involving parents in their child's development.

Children who speak English as an additional language also benefit from additional support, helping them to make good progress from their individual starting points. The curriculum focuses on giving children the ability to independently select their own activities and resources within well-established routines, fostering positive attitudes towards learning and preparing them for their next stages of education.

Our ethos

The ethos of New Beginnings Nursery centres on a foundational set of beliefs, morals, and ideas that guide all activities. The nursery has refined its vision and values, considering cultural capital and the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) curriculum. They highly value the input from staff, governors, parents, and children to continually develop their practices and ensure children are well-prepared for future success.

What it's like

Children are safe, happy and thrive in this inviting, welcoming nursery. Staff develop nurturing and trusting relationships with children and their families, helping them to feel safe and secure. The environment allows children to independently select their own activities and resources, with well-established routines fostering a positive attitude to learning.

Nurturing RelationshipsEffective SEND SupportOutdoor Learning FocusStrong LeadershipPositive Attitudes to Learning

Pricing & funding

Fees are structured around half-day and full-day sessions, with prices effective from May 2025. Additional options include an early start session with breakfast and optional hot meals. Morning and afternoon snacks are included in the standard rates.

Funding accepted

Tax-Free Childcare15 hours — eligible 2-year-olds15 hours — universal (3–4 yrs)30 hours — working parents (3–4 yrs)

Good to know

  • Morning and afternoon snacks are included in the session fees.
  • Early starts from 7.30am are available and include breakfast.
  • Lunch and tea are charged as additional daily extras.

Key facts

Opening hours

7:30am – 6pm Monday to Friday. Closed between Christmas and New Year and every bank holiday.

Session types

half a session (8am-1pm or 1pm-6pm), full day (8am-6pm)

Age range

Birth to 5 years

Term time / All Year

All_year

Established

2005

Ofsted Inspection — new report card

Expected standard

Last inspected Dec 2025

Headline: Expected standard

Grade summary

Exceptional
—
Strong standard
Expected standard
Needs attention
—
Urgent improvement
—

Each dot represents one of the six inspection categories. Headline is the average of the six grades, rounded up.

Category grades

AchievementExpected standard
Behaviour, attitudes and establishing routinesStrong standard
Children's welfare and wellbeingStrong standard
Curriculum and teachingExpected standard
InclusionExpected standard
Leadership and governanceExpected standard
Age range
0 to 4
Registers
Early Years Register
Ofsted Inspection

Ofsted rating for New Beginnings

Last inspected 5 December 2025 · Julie Campbell

Safeguarding effective

What it's like to attend

Children are safe, happy and thrive in this inviting, welcoming nursery. Staff develop nurturing and trusting relationships with children and their families, helping them to feel safe and secure. The environment allows children to independently select their own activities and resources, with well-established routines fostering a positive attitude to learning.

Inspector highlights

  • Children benefit from staff's high expectations and learn about good behaviours.
  • Children are happy and settled in the presence of caring and attentive staff, who provide cuddles, reassurance and consistent routines.
  • Children make good progress across all areas of the curriculum, with a particular focus on communication and language.
  • Leaders are passionate and knowledgeable, with a clear vision to provide an environment where all children, staff and families thrive.
  • Adults plan a wide variety of activities to support children's physical development, and children really benefit from the outdoor area and engage in meaningful learning.

Areas to develop

  • 1Leaders should ensure information gathered from parents is used to identify starting points for children, so staff are aware of what children know and can do when they first start at the setting.
Inspection #10117636 · Source: OfstedView full Ofsted report

Inclusion & environment

How they support every child

SEND provision

Children with special educational needs and/or disabilities receive effective support. Leaders and staff ensure that swift referrals are made, and support plans are of a high quality. Staff have established highly effective partnership working with other professionals to develop strategies that ensure children make good progress from their initial starting points. Leaders provide appropriate training for staff to strengthen their skills in supporting children with SEND, and parents are actively involved in children's individual plans and meet with staff regularly to review and discuss children's progress.

Outdoor space

Children really benefit from the outdoor area and engage in meaningful learning. Older children climb, run and jump in the outdoor area and eagerly demonstrate their skills, recalling safety messages, which helps to develop their balance and coordination.

EAL / language support

Children who speak English as an additional language benefit from additional support and make good progress from their starting points.

Parent Reviews of New Beginnings

5.0
(3)
Virginia Madrid
8 months ago

I can only recommend this nursery in every way. The teachers are very kind and helpful. You feel confident with them, and the best thing is that you leave your baby in good hands.

Read on Google
Robert “Bert” James
9 years ago

Really lovely staff and management my child loves going

Read on Google

Reviews from Google for New Beginnings. See all on Google Maps

Inspection history

Date: January 2013

The most recent inspection point has been hidden because the parsed entry didn't match the headline Ofsted rating (Good). We're re-checking it against the original report.

  • June 2020Good
  • January 2013Outstanding

Frequently asked about New Beginnings

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