Sunny Days

Dorchester

Hello,

I’m Aimée and I am the Dorchester Manager.

I have been part of the Sunny Days family since I was a toddler in 1995. I attended Sunny Days throughout my childhood and then found my love and passion in early years when I turned 14.

When I was old enough, I began my level 2 NVQ in childcare with Side by Side Training around the age of 17 and progressed to level 3 as I worked in the Dorchester Sunny Days developing my experience and knowledge.

I have had brilliant opportunities to work in all our Sunny Day Nursery settings to better my practice, and over the years I have learnt a lot by taking on new challenges and stepping into different roles including nursery nurse, room supervisor, nursery manager, administration manager, and marketing manager.

I still learn something new every day, especially when I meet the children and have little snippets of playing or talking with them during my day. The children are really at the heart of what we all do at Sunny Days.

My own children attend Sunny Days, and they absolutely love every minute of their time here, being creative, enjoying the large spaces, exploring outdoor areas, and eating all the delicious freshly cooked food!

I am hugely proud of my excellent team for the opportunities they provide to our families and for the hard work, commitment, and fun!!

Dorchester has a very exciting future ahead and we welcome you to book your very own tour via the ‘Get started’ page.

See you soon!

Aimee Sadden, Manager of Sunny Days Bridport

Babies: 3 months – 2 years

The same key carers will look after your baby each day on a 1:3 adult to child ratio. We will work with you to ensure that their time at Sunny Days follows your routine at home as closely as possible.

We will also support and encourage them in meeting those precious milestones, such as crawling and learning to walk!

To welcome babies into the nursery, we offer a number of settling in sessions. Parents are invited to stay, or remain close by, to ensure their baby is comfortable and settled before leaving them.

Breakfast, lunch & snacks are included for babies who have been weaned. We also supply water and formula milk (from brands including Hipp Organic, SMA and Cow & Gate) as well as cow’s milk and plant-based milk.

We provide nappies, wipes, creams and sun cream. All you need to pack is a change of clothes, some weather appropriate accessories for outdoor play, and any comforters you’d like them to have.

Toddler girl with blue mac blowing bubbles

Toddlers: 2-3 years

We provide care for 2–3 Year-olds on a 1:4 adult to child ratio. Our bright and spacious toddler rooms are the perfect setting for inquisitive toddlers to enjoy a wide range of activities!

At Sunny Days we encourage learning through play and follow the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) Curriculum. We support children with their communication and language skills so they are able to engage with others clearly and with confidence.

Potty training is a big stage for children at this age and we are here to support you with this when you feel your child is ready.

We offer a number of settling in sessions for children. Parents are invited to stay, or remain close by, to ensure their child is comfortable and settled before leaving them.

Breakfast, lunch and snacks are included and we also supply water and cow’s milk or plant-based milk.

We provide nappies, wipes, creams and sun cream. All you need to pack is a change of clothes for when playtime gets a little messy and some weather appropriate accessories for outdoor play.

Pre-schoolers: 3-4 years

3–4 year-olds are cared for on a 1:8 adult to child ratio. Children are encouraged to become more independent with activities such as toileting, hand washing, and dressing themselves.

At Sunny Days we encourage learning through play and follow the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) Curriculum.

While your child is at Sunny Days, we will do our best to help build their confidence, resilience and communication skills in preparation for them starting school.

Breakfast, lunch and snacks are included and we also supply water and cow’s milk or plant-based milk.

Children playing in a colourful ball pit

Play Club: 5-11 years

Our play clubs provide a safe and happy environment! Children are welcome before and after school, as well as throughout the school holidays. They can take part in a range of activities or just hangout and relax with friends.

During term time, your child will be given a nutritious breakfast before we drop them off at school in our Sunny Days minibus.

After school, we can collect them and bring them back to Sunny Days for some afternoon snacks and fun activities.

Come the holidays, they can look forward to themed activities, including trips, crafts, games and plenty of outdoor fun.

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We’ll provide you with regular updates using the Parent Zone App. Your child’s key worker will upload photos, videos and comments, keeping you informed of your child’s routines, including their sleep patterns and toilet habits.

Don’t worry about packing up food for your little one when they come to Sunny Days. We’ve got it covered.

See our latest menu

We provide delicious, healthy meals and snacks based on a nutrition programme which has been developed in collaboration with the Early Years Nutrition Partnership.

All of our meals and snacks include variations that cater for allergies, as well as dietary and cultural requirements. Vegan, vegetarian, dairy-free, gluten-free and more — it all looks and tastes great thanks to our fantastic team.

Head Chef Sarah at Sunny Days Dorchester

These brilliant meal plans are brought to life by our in-house Children’s Chef Sarah and her assistant Kevin.

Sarah and Kevin use fresh ingredients which are delivered daily, to prepare breakfast, morning & afternoon snacks, and a 2-course hot lunch for each of our little ones.

So you can be sure they’ve got all the energy they need for a day full of adventures!

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At Sunny Days, little ones spend their days with us learning through play.

Activities are carefully designed to engage children in fun and educational experiences that support their physical, emotional and cognitive development.

Children playing together with tambourines

We go above and beyond to provide lots of exciting opportunities for children including sporting activities such as Rugby Tots, as well as creative arts, music, languages, mindfulness and more!

We provide a variety of tabletop, floor and tuff tray activities that support children’s curiosity and exploratory skills – the children love messy, sensory play such as making play dough and having fun with slime!

Crafts are often based on upcoming celebrations, such as Easter, Diwali festival, St Patrick’s Day, and Roald Dahl Day!

Nursery activities often include opportunities for outdoor play in our huge nursery garden, and the Play Loft, our large indoor soft play area, is a firm favourite with everyone!

The children have lots of fun playing group games which are designed to promote social interaction, language development and physical coordination.