Opening hours
The centre operates 52 weeks a year, but childcare services are closed on bank holidays and for two weeks between Christmas and New Year.
The Sheffield Children's Centre
Ofsted: Outstanding
(Jan 2025)
Number of places
54 places
Age range
0–5 yrs
Last inspected
Jan 2025
Local authority
Sheffield
About this day nursery
The Sheffield Children's Centre is a comprehensive facility that extends its services beyond traditional childcare to encompass a wide array of support for children, young people, and families in the community. The centre emphasises a holistic approach to early years development, providing enrichment activities such as phonics, drama, sign language, dance, and music, which go beyond the basic requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS).
They are dedicated to supporting children with special educational needs and disabilities, and actively participate in funding schemes like the Disability Access Fund. The centre operates year-round, offering childcare services for 52 weeks, with closures only on bank holidays and for two weeks over the Christmas and New Year period.
In addition to childcare, they provide online CPD courses, adult education services, a food and clothing bank, and family support and therapy services, demonstrating their commitment to the wider well-being of the community. They have a clear policy on handling funded hours, requiring parents to complete grant agreements before each term and giving priority to "Looked After Children" and those with special educational needs for unavailble sessions.
The centre provides healthy meals and snacks at no extra cost, catering to various dietary requirements while encouraging parents to provide nut-free snacks if they choose to bring their own. They also have a detailed policy regarding late collections and the termination of care, ensuring clear communication with parents.
Our ethos
The Sheffield Children's Centre emphasises a holistic approach to early years development, extending beyond the EYFS to include enrichment activities in phonics, drama, sign language, dance, and music. They are dedicated to supporting children with special educational needs and disabilities, and provide a wide array of community support services.
What it's like
Children make rapid progress from their starting points and are highly motivated and eager to join in with activities. They continually build on their knowledge and experiences, swiftly developing skills needed for future learning, particularly children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). Children demonstrate high levels of respect for staff and other children, are self-assured in social situations, and exhibit strong self-control.
Community Support ProgrammesFocus on SENDComprehensive Enrichment ActivitiesYear-Round OperationNut-Free Snacks Policy
Pricing & funding
Funding accepted
15 hours — universal (3–4 yrs)30 hours — working parents (3–4 yrs)Tax-Free Childcare
Pricing on request
This nursery doesn't publish its fees online. Contact them directly for an up-to-date price list and availability.
Key facts
Food
Morning snack, hot lunch, and afternoon snack are provided free of charge. The centre caters to various dietary needs and offers vegetarian/vegan alternatives. Parents can bring packed lunches but they must be healthy, nut-free, and in an insulated, labelled bag. Chocolates and sweets are not permitted.
Term time / All Year
All Year
Established
1994
Ofsted Inspection
Ofsted rating for The Sheffield Children's Centre
Last inspected 30 January 2025
Overall effectiveness
Outstanding
Quality of education
Outstanding
Behaviour and attitudes
Outstanding
Personal development
Outstanding
Leadership and management
Outstanding
What it's like to attend
Children make rapid progress from their starting points and are highly motivated and eager to join in with activities. They continually build on their knowledge and experiences, swiftly developing skills needed for future learning, particularly children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). Children demonstrate high levels of respect for staff and other children, are self-assured in social situations, and exhibit strong self-control.
Inspector highlights
- Leaders demonstrate an exceptional commitment to continued improvement and are highly ambitious in providing excellent care and learning.
- Leaders have an in-depth understanding of their diverse community, providing support to families and promoting healthy lifestyles.
- Staff promote children's love of reading, using books successfully to enhance learning across various subjects.
- Children build physical skills highly successfully during outdoor play in an exceptionally well-equipped outdoor area.
- Partnerships with parents are exceptional, involving them fully in nursery life and providing a wealth of information and support for their children's learning at home.
Areas to develop
- 1Leaders recognise that some staff need additional support to implement the curriculum highly effectively and give children the best opportunities to extend their learning, and have a clear and sharply focused professional development plan in place to help staff in raising their skills to the highest level.
Inspection #10377103 · Source: OfstedView full Ofsted report
Inclusion & environment
How they support every child
SEND provision
Children swiftly develop the skills they need for their future learning, particularly children with special educational need and/or disabilities (SEND). Occupational therapists provide training for parents in promoting a 'sensory diet', which supports children who struggle to process sensory information, so they can attend nursery, learn and manage their own behaviour more successfully.
Outdoor space
The garden is undergoing further development to ensure children who prefer to learn outdoors always have access to high-quality resources. Children build their physical skills highly successfully during outdoor play in the exceptionally well-equipped outdoor area, which offers a wealth of opportunities and particularly benefits children who do not have access to an outdoor space. Children build their core strength using hula hoops, learn to assess risk as they climb and slide, and navigate wobbly bridges and a firefighters' pole, promoting their balance, coordination and strength.
Parent Reviews of The Sheffield Children's Centre
4.5
(45)
Ruby Orton
7 months ago
My son has attended the Sheffield children's center for the last year since he was 10 months old. I have worked as a teacher for 10 years and the service and staff are amazing. The service is well managed, staff have an excellent understanding of early years and monitor children closely. My son loves it and can't wait to go in the mornings. Their focus is on indirvidual development and progression they attempt to work with parents as much as possible. They give excellent feedback to me about his progress which is often mapped against the early years frame work. I vistied several other nurserys when I was looking and rarley found a service with the outdoor space, and warm and loving atmospher that the sheffield childrens center provides. I couldn't reccomend it enough.
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Alan Robertson
8 months ago
Our little girl has just finished her last day at the Sheffield Children’s Centre today and what an amazing four years it’s been. A fantastic group of teachers and staff who have been nothing but supportive from start to finish. Cannot recommend the centre enough for any family looking for a place to send their young child. My wife and I will be forever grateful for the amazing start they gave our daughter in the early years of her education.
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Jenny Robertson
8 months ago
4 absolutely wonderful years of our little girl attending here end tomorrow. We couldnt be more grateful to the wonderful staff who helped her grow develop and learn. I would absolutely encourage everyone to consider Sheffield Childrens Centre if you are looking for a supportive, friendly and safe place to send your kids - we definitely dont regret our decision!
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Fatoumata Diaby
10 months ago
This nursery is one of the best in Sheffield. My son started when he was two years old and he’s leaving this year. I know that he’s already feeling sad because he has had a good relationship with all the staff. As a parent I am so grateful for all the care, attention and education my son has had since he started. But must importantly from Stacey the head manager of this nursery. She’s always been there for my son and I. We will miss you all . I highly recommend this nursery guys you will be very pleased with your child improvement and socialisation…
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Charlotte Victoria
a year ago
I was very nervous about sending my twins to nursery at such a early age, after sending my twin boys to Sheffield children centre I found they settled in very well and the nursery made us and the boys feel very comfortable. The Nursery has always met my sons needs and gone above and beyond to help him. I am so happy with there service and couldn’t be more grateful. There SEND team has been exceptional. The staff have always provided us with the right guidance whenever it was needed. I couldn’t recommend them enough All the staff there are amazing and wouldn't send my children anywhere else
Read on GoogleReviews from Google for The Sheffield Children's Centre. See all on Google Maps
Inspection history
Date: March 2012
- January 2025Outstanding
- February 2019Outstanding
- March 2016Good
- March 2012Outstanding
Frequently asked about The Sheffield Children's Centre
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