Doodlebugs Nursery

Counting friends before a song gave children a small responsibility with a clear purpose at Doodlebugs in September 2025. Communication ran through play, snack time and group activities, with signing helping children express what they wanted.

At its September 2025 inspection, Ofsted rated the nursery Good, judged safeguarding effective and found that targeted teaching supported children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND).

Doodlebugs Nursery has capacity for 16 children in Portland. Children attending in September 2025 were aged two to four.

The early years foundation stage sets the requirements for children's learning, development and care: play supports learning alongside attention to children's everyday needs.

In September 2025, potion-making introduced ideas about how much containers held, while sign and sing sessions gave children opportunities to count their friends before singing. These were practical reasons to use language and numbers. Taking a turn as mini teacher also gave children responsibility within the day.

Outdoor play involved thinking about personal comfort and safety. That September, children used a review board to consider thirst, temperature and other needs before going outside. Group activities needed adjustment, however: expectations for listening and attention sometimes exceeded what children could manage at their stage of development.

In September 2025, staff used communication boards consistently with children experiencing speech and language delays. Signing also helped children request more milk at snack time, giving them another way to make themselves understood.

Support for younger children's sleep needed improvement that September. Procedures did not reliably enable restorative rest, making sleep arrangements an important consideration for families whose children still nap.

Parents received help with toilet training, behaviour and introducing different foods. However, in September 2025, children's next learning steps were not shared effectively enough for parents to support them at home. Older children visited local primary schools for sports, picnics and celebrations, helping make the next stage more familiar.

The address is 1 West Way, Southwell Business Park, Portland, DT5 2NA.

In September 2025, the nursery operated Monday to Friday during term time, with sessions running from 8.30am to 3pm. It also provided government-funded childcare places at that time. These are dated attendance arrangements rather than a current booking promise.

• Daytime sleep. Rest procedures needed improvement in September 2025. Families with a child who naps should discuss how restful sleep is now organised.
• Listening expectations. Group-time support was not consistently matched to children's development in September 2025. Consider how activities are adapted for a younger child.
• Learning at home. Sharing next steps needed improvement in September 2025. Discuss how staff turn learning updates into practical ideas for home.
• Term-time attendance. September 2025 sessions ran on weekdays during term time. What attendance patterns and funded-hour arrangements can the nursery offer your family now?

Doodlebugs suits families drawn to communication through play and small opportunities for children to take responsibility. Its September 2025 term-time pattern may appeal to families seeking care within that rhythm. Sleep, age-appropriate group activities and useful learning updates deserve attention alongside the positive inspection judgement.