Opening hours
each weekday from 7am until 6pm, for 50 weeks of the year.
Puffins Day Nursery
Ofsted: Good
(Feb 2023)
Number of places
76 places
Age range
0–5 yrs
Last inspected
Feb 2023
Local authority
Cornwall
About this day nursery
Puffins Day Nursery, located in Helston, provides a caring and nurturing environment where children from 0 to 8 years old thrive. The nursery received an overall "Good" rating in its Ofsted inspection on 3 February 2023, demonstrating good quality in education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, and leadership and management.
Staff are dedicated and deliver a suitably challenging curriculum that supports all children, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). The manager is committed to using funding effectively to provide extra support where needed.
Children enjoy age-appropriate activities; babies benefit from a calm, well-resourced room and excellent support for physical development. Younger children receive guidance in social skills, while older children develop independence and communication, preparing them for future learning.
The nursery fosters good behaviour and respect among children, with staff acting as positive role models. The owner/manager is highly committed to staff's continuous professional development, ensuring effective teaching practices.
Strong partnerships with parents and other professionals support children with SEND, with managers trained in speech, language, and communication. Staff are creative in planning activities based on children's interests, promoting confidence and communication through engaging play.
The leadership team fosters a strong team ethos and focuses on continuous improvement. The nursery operates from a large warehouse-style building, with staff maintaining good hygiene and robust risk assessments to ensure a safe indoor and outdoor environment.
A friendly cook provides healthy menu options and caters to all dietary needs. The outdoor area is well-utilised for exploration and imaginative play, encouraging children to learn about nature and develop social skills.
What it's like
Children thrive in this caring and nurturing nursery, building strong bonds with supportive staff and feeling safe and emotionally secure. Sessions free of charge are routinely offered to help children to become familiar with their room. Dedicated staff deliver a suitably challenging curriculum that supports all children.
Caring and nurturing environmentStrong staff-child bondsSupport for SENDAge-appropriate activitiesChild-centred curriculumEffective leadership and managementGood behaviour and mannersCreative outdoor playHealthy menu optionsStrong parent partnerships
Pricing & funding
Funding accepted
15 hours — eligible 2-year-olds15 hours — universal (3–4 yrs)
Key facts
Ofsted Inspection
Ofsted rating for Puffins Day Nursery
Last inspected 3 February 2023
Overall effectiveness
Good
Quality of education
Good
Behaviour and attitudes
Good
Personal development
Good
Leadership and management
Good
What it's like to attend
Children thrive in this caring and nurturing nursery, building strong bonds with supportive staff and feeling safe and emotionally secure. Sessions free of charge are routinely offered to help children to become familiar with their room. Dedicated staff deliver a suitably challenging curriculum that supports all children.
Inspector highlights
- Children thrive in this caring and nurturing nursery, building strong bonds with supportive staff and feeling safe and emotionally secure.
- Dedicated staff deliver a suitably challenging curriculum that supports all children, including children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND).
- Effective partnerships with parents and other professionals provide targeted interventions to help children with SEND achieve their full potential.
- Staff are creative and plan activities that follow children's interests.
- The owner and the deputy manager work well together to provide effective leadership and management, with a strong team ethos and high levels of staff well-being support.
Areas to develop
- 1build on plans to provide better monitoring of teaching, to ensure all children experience the curriculum content at a greater depth
- 2continue to implement and embed plans to further improve the environment, to ensure all children benefit from them
- 3consider ways to improve the cleaning of high ceilings and windows.
Inspection #10277103 · Source: OfstedView full Ofsted report
What parents say
Verbatim quotes recorded in the Ofsted inspection
Parents speak highly of the nursery and comment on the wonderful progress their children make.
They enjoy talking to the helpful staff when they come to collect their children, and they make good use of the secure online systems to read more information.
Inclusion & environment
How they support every child
SEND provision
Dedicated staff deliver a suitably challenging curriculum that supports all children, including children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). The manager acts with integrity in using the funding the nursery receives to provide extra support to those children who need it the most. There are effective partnerships with parents and other professionals to provide targeted interventions to help children with SEND achieve their full potential. Managers have attended specialised speech, language and communication training and provide extra guidance for staff to support children who need this.
Outdoor space
The outdoor environment is used well. For example, children carefully look for different-coloured leaves and receive good support to talk about the different shapes and sizes. They add the leaves to mud and twigs and enjoy their imaginary play in the 'rainforest café', making meals for staff. The inspector observed the quality of education being provided, indoors and outdoors, and assessed the impact that this was having on children's learning.
Parent Reviews of Puffins Day Nursery
5.0
(1)
Asia G
2 years ago
Such a lovely nursery. Our little one is very happy at Puffins. Kids spent lots of time in the garden, build things, play and learn. Staff are all so lovely!
Read on GoogleReviews from Google for Puffins Day Nursery. See all on Google Maps
Inspection history
Date: February 2008
- March 2023Good
- February 2023Good
- August 2017Good
- July 2017Good
- November 2016Requires improvement
- May 2015Good
- April 2015Good
- March 2011Good
- February 2011Good
- February 2008Good
Frequently asked about Puffins Day Nursery
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This listing has been compiled from official Ofsted records, the nursery's own website, details provided directly by the nursery where available, and other trusted public sources. We regularly review and update listings to keep the information as accurate as possible. Learn more