Doodles and Pops Nursery

Emotional readiness sets the tone at Doodles and Pops Nursery: children have repeated settling sessions before starting, with comfort taking precedence over a hurried introduction. Based at Braefel Inn, Perran-quay Tourist Park in Hendra Croft, Newquay, it has 42 places in total and caters for children from birth to five years. Three named rooms separate babies, toddlers and older children.

At its July 2025 inspection, Ofsted rated the nursery Good and found safeguarding effective, with positive findings about the curriculum, relationships and children's behaviour. There were also practical weaknesses: crowded outdoor activities, resources younger children could not reach, and inconsistent communication support for quieter older children. These matter because choosing an activity and being able to express a need are central to a child's day.

Opening hours are 7.30am to 5pm, Monday to Friday, across the year.

Rooms and Ages

The Tiny Twinkles takes children aged zero to two, The Sunshine Room serves ages two to three, and The Rainbow Room is for children aged three and over. These age bands give families a clear picture of the stages within the nursery, while the whole-setting capacity should not be read as the size of any individual room.

In July 2025, babies had a quiet setting and help with balancing as they learnt to walk. Younger children worked dough with different implements, practising the hand movements needed for making marks. Older children selected colours for painted fish. Those examples show how movement, making and choice featured in the day, rather than learning being confined to adult-led tasks.

Learning and Activities

The early years foundation stage provides the framework for children's learning, development and care: play supports communication, physical skills and growing independence. In July 2025, stories and books were part of that learning, while staff used signs with younger children to help them communicate feelings and ideas.

Music also brought movement into activities. Younger children moved scarves alongside singing, and older children joined action songs before exploring what exercise did to their bodies by feeling their heartbeat. This linked a physical experience with conversation about it.

Outdoor and Community Life

Outside in July 2025, hollow tubes became tools for investigating sound. Children tried different voices and listened to how the tubes changed them. The activity gave their questions a practical outlet.

Space was the limitation. As more children joined the area, collisions interrupted play and younger children struggled to get to their chosen activity. Indoors, a story display with sea creatures attracted interest but was beyond younger children's reach. Attractive materials need to be accessible to support independent choices; both examples informed the improvement priorities.

Repeated settling sessions are an explicit part of the nursery's approach. The intention is to begin regular attendance when a child is emotionally comfortable, giving the move into nursery time to develop. Its emphasis on recognising individual differences and understanding emotions also gives families a useful starting point for discussing their child's temperament.

In July 2025, morning routines had been adjusted to protect uninterrupted time with a child's key person. Parents received an account of the day at collection, creating an opportunity to connect what happened at nursery with life at home. The team includes baby, Sunshine and Rainbow room leader roles, alongside a nursery cook, and several staff hold paediatric first aid.

At the July 2025 inspection, Ofsted found that staff tracked development and sought specialist help promptly, with children receiving targeted speech and language therapy making rapid gains in communication. This was a concrete example of additional support being brought in when needed, rather than concerns simply being watched.

The nursery cook adapts food presentation to children's preferences. In July 2025, meals were freshly prepared, and younger children practised feeding themselves while eating alongside others, making mealtimes part of learning to manage everyday tasks.

The address is Braefel Inn, Perran-quay Tourist Park, Hendra Croft, Newquay, TR8 5QP. The nursery opens throughout the year, with weekday hours of 7.30am to 5pm. That closing time is a useful practical boundary for parents planning work and collection.

Show-arounds can be arranged with the team. Enquiries can be made by telephone on 07395603486 or by email at doodlesandpops@outlook.com, giving families a direct route to starting the joining process.

In July 2025, the nursery offered government-funded childcare places. Families should obtain a current written quotation for prices.

• Space and independent access. July 2025 findings identified crowding during outdoor activities and younger children's difficulty reaching resources. On a visit, look at how children move between activities and reach materials for themselves.
• Quieter older children. Communication techniques were used less consistently with older children in July 2025, leaving some shy children less involved. Discuss how staff help a child who is reluctant to speak or join a group.
• Settling at the child's pace. Repeated introductory sessions are part of the approach. Discuss how the team and family decide that a child is ready to start regular attendance.
• Funded-place terms. Government-funded places were offered in July 2025. What attendance arrangements and charges for food or consumables would apply to your child's funded place?

Doodles and Pops suits families who value a gradual start, an emphasis on emotions and separate age-stage rooms. The July 2025 picture combines caring relationships and practical play with specific improvements needed in access to resources, outdoor organisation and support for quieter older children. Its weekday opening window will suit parents who can collect by 5pm; the settling approach deserves equal weight in the decision.