National Specialist Family Service
OutstandingBirth to 8+Open for decades
A day nursery in Sheffield for children from birth to 8+, open 8am to 6pm. They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask. Rated Outstanding by Ofsted in January 2023. Open since 2001, with 13 places.
What you might pay
This setting does not publish its fees, and no national dataset holds them. This is what childcare costs across the council, as a starting point for the call.
What childcare usually costs in Sheffield
This is not this setting's price. It is the median hourly fee across all providers in Sheffield from the Department for Education's 2025 provider survey. No national data holds what an individual nursery charges, so ring and ask.
Places, hours and the day
Who they take, when they are open, and what a day there includes.
Where it is
S10 2BJWhat the inspector found
One grade is one visit. A run of them tells you whether it has been good for years or has only just got there.
- 15 August 2024 — Concern: actions taken what Ofsted published
Ofsted inspector, 26 January 2023 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
This unique and inspiring nursery provides high levels of care and education for the community which it serves. Babies make excellent progress from their individual starting points in development. They are extremely well prepared for the next stage in their learning and development. For example, staff make excellent use of flashing balls and colourful containers to help babies to learn that objects are permanent and do not go away just because they cannot see them. Staff have high expectations, which provide a firm basis for children's further development and future learning.
Babies are very safe and secure. They behave very well. For instance, babies learn to follow simple instructions and concentrate. They build very strong bonds with the experienced and very skilled staff who care for them. Babies rapidly acquire the confidence to explore the world around them. For instance, they love to challenge themselves by stretching and steadily reaching further for the many different fabrics, colourful lights and other enticing sensory objects that staff offer them.
Babies, including those who are vulnerable for medical or other reasons, make very strong progress in developing their health and well-being. Staff work very closely with parents to support their children's safe sleeping routines, weaning and positive eating habits. Parents are highly appreciative of the professionalism, warmth and care which the manager and her staff show at all times.
- 26 January 2023Outstanding
- 20 June 2017Outstanding
- 19 March 2015Good
Rated Good or Outstanding at 3 of the last 3 graded inspections.
Still missing for National Specialist Family Service
- What it costs
- Funded hours
- Youngest age taken
- Meals
- Nappies
- Waiting list
No dataset holds any of this. Two parents telling us the same thing puts it on the page for whoever looks next.
What to ask them
None of this is in any national dataset and this setting has not published it, which is exactly why it is worth asking.
- What does it cost, all in? What is on top: meals, nappies, late pick-up, and what happens if you are late.
- Can I use my funded hours here? Whether they stretch them over the year, and the minimum days you have to book.
- Is there a place for my child's age? Baby rooms fill first and waiting lists are common.
- Who would my child's key person be? And how long have the staff been there. No dataset holds this and it matters more than anything above.
- Can I visit at a busy time? Mid-morning on a weekday tells you far more than an empty room after hours.
Day nurseries within a couple of miles
This one is first. Tick it and one or two others to see them side by side.