Tiverton Little Stars

A canopy-covered outdoor area and learning built around children's interests give Tiverton Little Stars its character in the October 2023 account. Based at Methodist Church on St. Peter Street in Tiverton, it has 16 places in total.

Ofsted rated the setting Good on 16 October 2023. Children attending then were aged two to four; their day combined practical play, outdoor movement and opportunities to do things for themselves.

In October 2023, children could move between indoors and outdoors for much of the day. The canopy extended outdoor play into rainy weather. Practitioners demonstrated hoop rolling and scooter balancing, then allowed time for practice: movement became an opportunity to develop skills rather than simply expend energy.

The early years foundation stage sets the requirements for children's learning, development and care, bringing these together in everyday experiences. In October 2023, snack time linked counting with independence as children served food and poured drinks. Conversations about exercise helped them connect movement with changes in their bodies.

Planning followed children's interests. Block construction gave children opportunities to try again after a tower collapsed, while veterinary role play introduced words such as stethoscope. These were concrete ways to combine persistence, language and play.

At the October 2023 inspection, Ofsted found safeguarding effective and described successful support for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities, including using puppets to help them participate in group activities.

In October 2023, staff also used a book to distract a child distressed during nappy changing. The response adapted care to the child's immediate needs. Staff tracked development and planned subsequent learning, while relationships with families helped them understand the care and experiences each child needed.

Work with outside agencies helped families access additional support and funding. Safeguarding arrangements included staff training, visitor checks and risk assessments; padding around the canopy supports addressed a specific outdoor hazard.

The address is Methodist Church, St. Peter Street, Tiverton, EX16 6NU. In October 2023, the setting operated in converted rooms attached to Tiverton United Church.

At that time, it ran Monday to Friday in term time, with sessions from 9.15am to 3.15pm. Funded early education was provided for children aged two, three and four. These arrangements describe the October 2023 offer.

• Listening conditions. In October 2023, adults sometimes spoke over one another, making concentration harder for children. Reducing noise was an improvement priority, relevant to children who need a quieter space to listen.
• Time to answer. Staff sometimes supplied answers before children could respond. The October 2023 improvement action called for more thinking time, an important distinction between hearing vocabulary and practising speech.
• Attendance fit. The October 2023 pattern was term-time weekday sessions. What attendance arrangements now apply for your child's age?

The October 2023 picture suits families drawn to outdoor play, practical independence and learning shaped by children's interests. The canopy, self-service snacks and imaginative play give that assessment substance. Listening conditions and time to respond remain the two teaching points to weigh alongside the Good judgement. For families considering term-time sessional care, this is a useful inspection-era picture of the setting.