Dragonflies Day Nursery

Climbing, buying goods at the local shop and learning to manage a coat gave everyday learning a practical purpose at Dragonflies Day Nursery in April 2024. The Calverton setting has capacity for 55 children, with an accepted age range of three to 60 months.

Ofsted rated the nursery Good on 29 April 2024, with successful teaching and good progress overall, alongside weaknesses in the pace of introducing ideas and the suitability of literacy activities. Those details matter more than the grade alone.

The early years foundation stage is the required framework for children's learning, development and care: education and everyday wellbeing belong together. In April 2024, practical experiences included shopping locally, learning how money is used and revisiting that experience through pretend play.

Outdoor learning involved both movement and problem-solving. In April 2024, older babies tackled a small slide before progressing to a climbing frame with staff support; older children balanced on beams laid between crates and helped construct an obstacle course. These activities gave children opportunities to test physical skills and work out how to arrange equipment.

Independence had a concrete place in the day. In April 2024, preschool children learnt a coat-flipping technique so they could dress themselves for outdoor play rather than wait for an adult.

Family photographs connected nursery life with home in April 2024. Displayed in children's rooms, they provided familiar subjects for conversation. Books about emotions also helped children explore feelings through story characters, giving them a way to discuss their own responses.

At the April 2024 inspection, Ofsted judged safeguarding effective; the safeguarding lead attended local professional meetings and shared information about emerging risks with staff. This linked staff awareness to issues affecting families locally.

At lunchtime in April 2024, children helped pass food to others around the table. Staff also addressed difficulties with sharing by adding resources while helping children practise the skill: everyday situations became opportunities to learn consideration.

Dragonflies Day Nursery is at 16 Crookdole Lane, Calverton, Nottingham NG14 6GF. Opening hours are 7.30am to 6pm, Monday to Friday, across the year, with closures on bank holidays and during the week between Christmas and New Year.

In April 2024, the nursery provided funded early education for children aged two, three and four. This is an inspection-time description of its funding provision.

• Pace of learning. In April 2024, some activities introduced several unfamiliar ideas together before children had consolidated earlier learning. Children needing more repetition may find the sequencing of activities especially important.
• Literacy planning. The April 2024 improvement priorities included adapting literacy activities more closely to children's development and ages. This matters for keeping early reading and writing experiences appropriate to the child.
• Attendance arrangements. The weekday opening window runs from 7.30am to 6pm. At a visit, which booking patterns would fit your family's week?

Dragonflies suits families who value practical independence, outdoor challenges and learning linked to everyday life. The April 2024 picture gives those strengths substance, from coat skills to shopping and garden construction, while the teaching priorities warrant attention. Its year-round weekday opening window is also a useful practical consideration for working families.