Zoe's Childcare Dallas Street

A plank balanced on tyres became a pretend bus, complete with drivers, passengers and tickets: imaginative outdoor play gives Zoe's Childcare Dallas Street its character in the June 2024 account. At its 10 June 2024 inspection, Ofsted judged the nursery Good and found safeguarding effective.

Based at The Lodge in Mansfield, the nursery accepts children aged 3 to 60 months and has 30 places in total. The strongest practical examples concern independence, physical play and following children's curiosity, alongside two clear points for improvement: changes between activities and the consistency of staff conversations.

The early years foundation stage sets the requirements for children's learning, development and care; here, play provided opportunities to practise movement, language and early writing skills.

In June 2024, children steered ride-on vehicles through obstacles, climbed large play equipment and used a slide with staff support. Their pretend bus gave them scope to choose roles and invent a journey. Discovering a snail prompted discussion about its shell, movement and careful handling, turning a small outdoor encounter into language learning.

Painting offered another route into early writing. In June 2024, children made marks using forks, rollers and brushes of different sizes, exercising the hand movements they would later need. Separate group activities also helped younger children participate in adult-led learning.

In June 2024, everyday tasks helped children practise doing things for themselves: pouring water, managing shoes and coats, cleaning their faces and learning to handle cutlery. Staff encouraged sharing and turn-taking, while visual prompts helped children manage difficult feelings and resume playing.

At the June 2024 inspection, Ofsted found that staff recognised special educational needs and/or disabilities early, developed individual plans with families and professionals, and used small-group support to help children progress.

Health routines were part of the June 2024 day too. Children washed their hands around meals, toilet use and outdoor play; parents received advice on dental care and healthy recipes.

The address is The Lodge, 4 Dallas Street, Mansfield, NG18 5TA. Opening hours are 7.30am to 6pm, Monday to Friday, with closures on bank holidays, during May half term and for a week at Christmas.

In June 2024, session times ran from 7.30am to 6pm, and the nursery provided funded early education for children aged two, three and four.

• Finishing an activity. In June 2024, children were sometimes moved away from painting before completing it, leaving them confused. On a visit, ask how staff now prepare children for changes in the routine.
• Quieter children. In June 2024, some less confident children received fewer meaningful exchanges with staff. Consistent attention matters for children who are less likely to initiate conversation.
• Closure pattern. May half term and a week at Christmas sit alongside bank-holiday closures. Families needing care across those periods should factor these breaks into their plans.

Zoe's Childcare Dallas Street suits families who value imaginative outdoor play and opportunities for children to practise independence. The June 2024 examples give that judgement substance, while the concerns about interrupted activities and quieter children's interactions deserve weight in the decision. Its weekday opening window is useful for working families who can accommodate the closure pattern.