Sunny Day Nursery & Play Club
GoodTakes funded hoursBirth to 8+Open for decades
A day nursery in Dorchester for children from birth to 8+, open 8am to 6pm. They take the funded hours. They do not publish prices, so ask. Rated Good by Ofsted in October 2024. Open since 2002, with 170 places.
What it costs
Prices change without notice. Treat these as what to ask about, not a quote.
Funded hours
30 hours funding for working parents, 15 hours funding for eligible families, 2-year-old funding.
Worth knowing. Consumables charges apply; can opt out termly; exact items vary by location.
What childcare usually costs in Dorset
This is not this setting's price. It is the median hourly fee across all providers in Dorset 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
DT1 3WAWhat 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.
- 8 June 2023 — Concern: actions taken what Ofsted published
- 8 March 2023 — Concern: actions taken what Ofsted published
Ofsted inspector, 24 October 2024 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Children enjoy their time at the nursery. They form positive relationships with staff.
Those who need more reassurance receive cuddles and support from staff, who show empathy and consideration for children's feelings and emotions. Key persons know children well, including their experiences at home and where the children are in their development.
Staff understand the learning intentions of the activities they provide. There are clear expectations for all children's learning and progress. The curriculum builds as children progress through the nursery. For example, the baby and toddler rooms currently have a focus on children's communication and language development and their personal, social and emotional needs. In the pre-school room, the curriculum then further builds on children's independence and self-help skills, preparing them for their eventual transition to school. Staff skilfully weave these priorities into the daily routines. They offer a wide range of sensory and messy play opportunities.
What Ofsted told them to improve
To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should:
- review and improve transition periods so that children are engaged in meaningful learning during these times n use effective questioning techniques to help them think critically and solve problems independently.
- 24 October 2024Good
- 8 April 2024Needs improvement
- 5 July 2023Needs improvement
- 17 April 2023Inadequate
- 5 April 2022Good
- 8 December 2016Good
Rated Good or Outstanding at 3 of the last 6 graded inspections.
Still missing for Sunny Day Nursery & Play Club
- What it costs
- 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
Some of this is above, from the setting or from parents, and it can go out of date. The rest is in no dataset anywhere. Either way it is worth ten minutes on the phone.
- What does it cost, all in? What is on top: meals, nappies, late pick-up, and what happens if you are late.
- How do you apply my funded hours? 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.