Information Density: Southdown Nursery and Forest School – Signal Evidence & AI Readability

EYR Ofsted Inspection Report May 2023 EIF

[H1] “Children flourish in this outstanding, nurturing nursery.”
‘Outstanding’ Ofsted report, May 2023

[H1] “All children make rapid progress in all areas of learning and development”
Ofsted report, May 2023
[H1] “The teachers are wonderful and caring”
Parent, 2018
Southdown Nursery is a special place in the heart of Steyning:
Judged ‘Outstanding’ in all areas by Ofsted May 2023
Large, secure outdoor environment, with sensory garden and vegetable patch, for discovery and play
Forest School trained staff
Friendly, happy, community nursery
Free flow setting, with children moving between indoor and outdoor settings
Experienced Early Years Professionals, including a qualified Early Years Teacher
All staff are first-aid trained
Adult-led, child-initiated play

EYR Ofsted Inspection Report May 2023 EIF

We are proud to be recognised as a Forest School by the Forest School Association.
[H2] “Children thoroughly enjoy exploring all areas of the spacious and well presented outdoors environment”
‘Outstanding’ Ofsted report, May 2023
[H2] “The staff at Southdown are skilled practitioners at delivering the Forest School programe – thank you for encouraging children to appreciate nature.”
Forest School is a philosophy – a way of working in an outdoor environment that helps build children’s self esteem, confidence, independence, creativity and knowledge of the natural environment.
Amanda is our Forest School Leader and runs sessions with the older children on a regular basis (at least once a week for 6 weeks). Our amazing outdoor space is used to weave Forest School principles and activities into our daily plans and routines so every child benefits.
Going out for Forest school
Bug hunting this summer
Exploring our local nature spots
Our main objective in our implementation of Forest School is to:
Provide children with experiences that encourage an appreciation, awareness and knowledge of the natural environment;
Help children learn to respect and care for their own local environment.
Encourage children to abide by rules and set standards of behaviour, to work cooperatively in groups and to respect each other.

28/02/26 Thank you to everyone who came along to our garden and fix it day, cakes, fairy tunnels, adapted and enhanced equipment in our nature zone and so much more! We are so grateful to you all.
Wishing everyone a very Happy New Year. We have loved the cold and frosty start to 2026.

Nativity. You raised £49 towards resources for the children ?
23/10/25 Thank you so much to everyone who came to the Halloween Disco, it was lovely to see so many past, present and future friends we raised a fantastic £380 which is going towards our mud kitchen and nature area/
10/6/25
Our Eco Sustainability policy and Action planEco sustainability Action Plan 2025
17/06/25
Thank you to everyone who came along to the Summer fair, we raised a magnificent £600. A special thank you to my staff and the events team. team work really does make the dream work:)
08/05/25
What a lovely picnic to celebrate VE Day. The children made flags, bunting, cakes and sandwiches.
02/04/25
We had a visit from some skippity friends today. A huge thank you to Archie’s Mum Rachel, the loveliest Shepherdess in town ?
10/03/25
Thank you for a wonderful World Book Day
10/01/25
Bird spotting guide in preparation for the nation’s Big Bird watch between 24th – 25th January
BGBW2025_HowToGuides_English_A4 _low
6/01/25
This terms curriculum and plans:-
Spring Term 2025 Long term planning
Not one but two wonderful nativities, one at nursery and one for our friends at Love to Move ?
Thank you to the Wilson Memorial Trust for Funding new technology and inside building blocks. We are very grateful for their support ?
Last Day of term/Party/Leavers ceremony – Wednesday 17th July
Party for all children 9.30am-11.30am. If it is your usual day, come at your usual time. if it is not, please don’t arrive before 9.30am. Thank you.
ALL parents to arrive at 11.30am for the leavers ceremony. Thank you ?
What a wonderful Sports Day! So lovely to see so many families
2.06.24
Thank you to everyone who came along to Steyning Greening Day and the parade. What a lovely community event ?
Here are the plans for the Summer Term.15.04.24
Summer long term planning 2024
Love to Move 26.03.24
Thank you to our friends at love to move for inviting us to show our Easter crowns and sing some songs ?
Fix it day 16.03.24
Thank you to everyone who came along to our termly Garden and Fix it morning, we are very grateful to you for your valuable contribution.
World Book Day ?
Please support the Early Years Sector by reading this ?
the_free_childcare_offer_what_parents_and_carers_need_to_know_-_jan_2024_update_1
Coop Funding
A huge thank you to Steyning Coop and their Coop pioneer Gemma for all their support.
We are so excited to receive £3634.09 towards a climbing frame.
Halloween disco
Thank you to everyone who came along and supported the disco on the day and to use of you behind the scene. We raised an amazing £230 which I have been busy spending on much needed resources ?
Thank you to everyone who came to our gardening and fix it morning, the garden looks amazing! We are very grateful to you for sparing your time ?
Wilson Memorial
Thank you to Wilson Memorial for funding the revamp of our playground ?
img src=”https://www.southdownnursery.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/IMG_20230922_101026-300×225.jpg” alt=”” width=”300″ height=”225″ class=”alignnone size-medium wp-image-1755″ />
******Latest Ofsted Report*****
EYR Inspection Report EIF
What a fantastic sports day ?
Summer fair 2023
Thank you so much to everyone who helped organize, donated to and supported this year’s summer fair. We made an absolutely fantastic £875 towards some much needed resources. It was such a wonderful day ?
Up and coming events
Sports Day Wednesday 28th June 9.15-10.15am
–Spring term 2023 newsletter
In the event of restricted opening due to government advice or staff shortage children will be allocated places using the following priority structure:-
1) Children who have been awarded inclusion support or 2yr funding by West Sussex and Children of key workers (upon receipt of written evidence).
2) School leavers born in the summer term – April 1st – August 31st.
3) School leavers born in the Spring term – January1st – March 31st.
4) School leavers born in the Autumn term – September 1st – December 31st.
5) Non school leaving 3yr olds awarded 15 hours of government funded places.
*Early Years Alliance guidance for Strep and Scarlett fever*
Strep A infection guidance for parents and carers
Scarlet fever poster
5.12.22 *The Nativity is postponed until further notice due to staff shortage*
Steyning Primary Schools Nativity for nurseries Wednesday 7th of December
This is for school leavers only. We will be leaving Southdown promptly at 9.30am for the 10am performance. If you have volunteered to walk down with us, you need to be free to walk back with us too.
Alternatively you can meet us there with your child, if it is not their usual day you will need to remain with your child. ?
Nativity Performance Tuesday 6th December 9.30am-10am
Children’s nativity, limited to 2 adults per child.
Carols after Dark Thursday 1st December 4.30pm-6pm
Please join us for Carols, children’s craft activities, lucky dip, hotdogs, tea and cake and hot chocolate. This is an open event, friends and family welcome.
25.10.22
We have been selected as Coops local cause. Please support us by selecting Southdown Nursery on your Coop card. Please share your friends and families.
Halloween disco Monday 31st October 4.30pm – 5.30pm £3.50 a ticket, lucky dip 50p. Siblings and fancy dress welcome.
Nursery Closed
Monday & Tuesday
Leavers Ceremony Wednesday 20th July 9.30 – 10.00am
14.07.22End of term party and Leavers ceremony Tuesday 19th July.
*********UPDATE*********
The party element is now cancelled due to the Amber warning.
2.30pm leavers ceremony for all school leavers and their families.
Parents Evening Monday 27th June 3.60pm – 5pm/
23.6.22
*Thank you to everyone for coming to our summer fair and raising a fantastic £800 towards a new climbing frame *
A special thank you to Steyning Coop, The Sussex Grocer, The Steyning book shop
Children’s Parade 2022
Thank you to everyone who came, such a lovely morning ?
16.02.22 Please take the time to read the latest guidance for parents and carers on childhood immunisations.
measles-flyer
Up and coming events
This years childrens parade is on Saturday the 28th of May – we hope you can join us.
Children’s Parade Poster 2022
Parents evening
Thursday 17th of March
Carols, crafts and winter BBQ
Thursday 25th of November 4.30pm – 6pm
Oral Health Toothbrushing challenge.
Izzy’s Dad is a dental nurse and has provided us with some literature and stickers to promote healthy snacks and drinks and teeth cleaning. All the children will receive a ‘My toothbrushing chart’, I will be talking this through with them and doing the toothbrush challenge too ?
For more info and some fun videos have a look at the colgate for kids website. https://www.colgate.com/en-us/oral-health-education.
11.05.21
We are absolutely loving our newly completed outside classroom. Many thanks to Nick Jones for designing it, Will Power for the first stage build. Clive from The Budding Foundation for his donation, the Taylor family for the donation of the decking, Coop for our community funding and for Jamie’s Gardens for putting together our vision.
02.11.20 Plans in place for the opening and running of nursery during this period
Covid incident management plan+
14.01.21
Southdown Nursery is open currently to all children ?
09.01.21
Southdown Nursery is open currently to all children ?
23.12.20
In the event of nursery closure due to government restrictions enforcing schools and Early Years settings to close we will open for vulnerable children and children of key workers only (upon receipt of written evidence).
In the event of restricted opening due to government advice or staff shortage children will be allocated places using the following priority structure:-
1) Children who have been awarded inclusion support or 2yr funding by West Sussex and Children of key workers (upon receipt of written evidence).
2) School leavers born in the summer term – April 1st – August 31st.
3) School leavers born in the Spring term – January1st – March 31st.
4) School leavers born in the Autumn term – September 1st – December 31st.
5) Non school leaving 3yr olds awarded 15 hours of government funded places.
6) Children who have self funded places – sessions missed will be credited to the following terms invoice.
Thank you everyone for all your support. We look forward to seeing you all in September 2020 ?
Welcome Bubble A!
Welcome back Bubble B!
Nursery looks a little different – lots of fun and smiles today on our first day back ?
11.05.2020 Update
Following government guidelines regarding unlocking I am gearing up to opening the week of June the 1st for school leavers and children of keyworkers only. I will be contact these families individually with their child’s allocated sessions taking in to consideration staff availability and ensuring the safety of all. The sessions will have the maximum of 12 children. Details to follow as things become clearer.
Thank you all for your support at this time. I will be in touch as soon as I have news. xx
25.04.20
THE STRESS BUCKET – TIPS AND ADVICE TO HELP YOU ?
The stress bucket[124507]
11.05.2020
Here’s a short video of me making a smoothie!!!! If you decide to this activity with your children please assist them throughout ?
21.04.20
Southdown Nursery PDF- SUMMER TERM ACTIVITIESe
09.04.2020
FRENCH ACTIVITY SHEETS
HOME AND FAM Activity Sheet FRE
Home and family newsletter – Colour
Los lingos SEA Newsletter BW FRE[69898]
LITERATURE TO SUPPORT CHILDREN THROUGH COVID
These books have been forwarded to me by my West Sussex Advisor.
dave-the-dog-coronavirus-1-1Coronavirus-ABookForChildren Axel Scheffler
Hello my name is conornavirus book
PLANTING WITH HEATHER
https://youtu.be/LaCOVGBNp5khttps://youtu.be/LaCOVGBNp5khttps://youtu.be/LaCOVGBNp5k
02.04.20
WEBSITES WITH ACTIVITY IDEAS
Tiny Happy people hungrylittleminds.campaign.gov.uk, and pacey.org.uk Five small things
For den making – https://www.actionforchildren.org.uk https://woodlandtrust.org.uk
Making dens and junk modelling is a great way for your children to use their creative side, their imagination and their critical thinking skills – your old cardboard box and sheet will make a fantastic pirate ship!
COOKING IDEAS
https://www.bbcgoodfood.comeasterrecipes https://goodhousekeeping.com
Cooking is a fantastic way to use mathematical language (more, less, behind, under etc), listening and attention skills and it gives an opportunity to talk about healthy eating ?
Don’t forget to send some pictures of activities so we can keep in touch. XX
George making his smoothie and keeping busy.
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Aubrey and Ziggy making smoothies (separately in their own homes!)
Tommy doing activities
Niall and his chicken and Harper ?
Freya and her sister Sophia keeping busy

Jessica enjoying the outdoors
Coralie’s been busy inside and outside
Finley’s been keeping busy
Aubrey being busy
Dolton enjoying the fresh air
Betty enjoying some activities
Isaac busy working from home
S 26.03.20 some bits and bobs to keep you busy. Getting ready for school checklists and guidance, French activity sheets and a minibeast hunt. I miss you all! x/strong>
FRENCH Cold Newsletter Colour spring 2020
FRENCH Activity sheet spring 2020
minibeast-hunt (1)
T-T-23105-I-Am-Independent-School-Preparation-Checklist-For-Children
t-tp-365-my-starting-school-checklist_ver_2
trong>Easter Activities
Children love to collect things – you could decorate an egg box or a shoe box together and set items to collect such as a feather, a leaf, a flower, a stone, blades of grass, a bug, a worm (!) For inside:- a button, a rubber band, a ball, a crayon, a coin, a biscuit cutter, a sock,
t-tp-1297-starting-school-skills-parent-and-carer-information-sheet_ver_1
Sports relief 2020
A big thank you to Gary Dicker who took a break in playing with his usual team mates to spend the morning at Southdown ?
World Book Day
Thank you all for making such a wonderful effort:)
Updated Public Health England Advise 04.03.20
Letter to parents coronavirus 3.3.2020 (1)
Latest government guidelines for Coronavirus in educational settings
Coronavirus_advice_for_educational_settings_poster
RecylLancing
Recycling-in-Lancing-List-of-items-we-can-take-September-2019-v7.4
Coronavirus guidelines for preschools from the Health and Safety Executive<
Advice for schools preschool settings and parents v2.3
A big thank you to Clive who visited us on Monday the 3rd of Feb with compost, pots and lots of seeds, these were supplied jointly by The Budding Foundation, a local charity supporting young people & Tates of Sussex, Old Barn Garden Centre, Dial Post. All are to be used for our end of term plant sale.
This half term in French we are learning about ‘the cold’ with Tonia from Los Lingos. Here are the activity sheets and newsletter to compliment your child’s learning.
FRENCH Activity sheet spring 2020
FRE Cold newsletter – BW spring 2020
Spring Term Supper Club
Thank you to everyone who came along to the nativities. The following images were taken by the Photographer Nicky Allen.
Little Lingos
This term we are having French lessons with Tonia. We are learning about our family and home.
Here are the worksheets and information to compliment the activity.
Home and family newsletter – ColourHOME AND FAM Activity Sheet FRE
A very big thank you to everyone who came along to our termly fix it community day. So much got done, including the re roofing of our shed and a mass tidy up of the garden. ?
The ploughing match at Applesham Farm Saturday 21st of September
We made some lovely wooden disc necklaces
Well done to Jessica Passmore for her marvellous lamb showing.
It was lovely to see some of our old nursery friends.
Sports Day June 27th of June 2019
Wow!!!! What a wonderful day, thank you so much to all the adults that came and supported the fabulous children and especially to the volunteers that came along too. Thank you for your support we raised £81 ?
.
Summer Fayre –
Thank you so much to everyone who came and supported us in the sunshine and the rain. We raised a wonderful £750 towards a permanent all weather shade ?
Steyning primary school visit 2019
Easter Hunt
Thank you to everyone who came along to our Easter Hunt. What a fab morning. We raised a marvellous £88.36 through coffee and cake sales and £11 from tomato plants the children grew. I have bought lots of new small world figures and some new gardening equipment for the children.
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New Trustees
I’m delighted to welcome Jodie Bryan, Kaiya Parks and Laurel Donker onto our board of Trustees who are headed by newly appointed Mia Marshall along with Daisy Cooper (secretary) Sara Passmore (Finance) Nick Jones(maintenance) Nicky Allen (photographer and media) what a fab team ?
Thank you to every

2025/2026
Sports Day – Tuesday 30th June – 9.15-10am
Summer Fair – Saturday 20th June 12-4pm
Steyning Festival Children’s parade Saturday 23rd of May – Meet at the big top at 11.30am.
Fix it day and AGM, Saturday 9th of May 9.30-11.30am – Bring the whole family for a morning of fixing and gardening our beautiful nursery, this year we are combining it with our AGM, a chance for you to hear about our past year and future plans, please let me know if you would like to join our team of Trustees.
Stay and play Monday 27th April 9-10am – Come and see what your child gets up to in a session, grandparents welcome too.
What we will be up to this term ……
Summer Long term Planning 2026
Tuesday 16th December – Last Day of Term, no afternoon session
Party 9.30am- 11.30am
Thursday 4th December
Nativity 9.15am
Thursday 23rd October
Halloween Disco for past. present and future families, Entrance £3 per child
Monday 17th November
Parents/carers catch up 3.30pm – 5pm
Nativity
Thursday 4th of December 9.15 – 9.45am

Summer 1st half term
Summer Newsletter 1st half 2026
Newsletter Spring 2nd half term 2026
Spring term 1st half newsletter 2026
Autumn newsletter 1st half term 2025
06/01/25
This terms curriculum
Spring Term 2025 Long term planning
Healthy packed lunch attachment from Newsletter.
As a rough guide a balanced packed lunch should contain

Monday to Thursday 9 am – 3 pm
Option to extend with early drop off 8.30 am @ £6 and/or pick up 3.30 pm – @ £6
Friday 9 am -12 pm
Option to extend with early drop off 8.30 am and/or 1 pm
Term Dates 2025/26
First day of Autumn Term
Thursday 4th September
Half Term Monday 27th October – Friday 31st
Last day of Autumn Term
Tuesday 16th December (no afternoon session on this day)
First day of Spring Term 2026
Monday 5th January
February Half Term
Monday 16th – Friday 20th
Easter Holidays
Last day of term Thursday 26th March (Friday 26th March is an Inset day)
First day of Summer Term
Tuesday 14th April (Monday 13th is an Inset day)
May half term
Monday 25th of May – Monday 29th May
Last day of Summer Term
Wednesday 16th of July at 12pm
*Occasionally these dates need to be adapted. I will always give plenty of notice if this is necessary.
FEES
Please note that all fees are subject to an annual review.
[H2] Funding
Self funded fees are £26 per morning or afternoon session or £52 for a day.
Fees and entitlement are calculated based on 2 x 12 week terms and 1 x 14 week = 38 weeks a year.
pattern of delivery policy
*There are no hidden, extra costs for consumables at our nursery*
You may be entitled to 30 hours free entitlement funding for 3-4 year olds if you and your partner are working (or just you if you are a single parent family) . Contact the nursery for information or visit the Government’s Childcare Choices website.
FAQ about Early Years Funding Expansion
Parents FAQ 2024. Funding expansion
[H2] Voucher payment
We accept childcare vouchers, so please let us know if you want to use these to offset the cost of your childcare against Tax and National Insurance payments.
* Fees will still be due, even if your child is away for any reason, as our overheads remain the same. Fees will also be charged for Bank Holidays.
When making a payment, please give your child’s name as a reference.