Bright Stars Nursery

A slug examined with magnifying glasses, cars sent down angled piping and toast spread independently: Bright Stars Nursery's September 2022 activities put exploration and everyday independence alongside each other. At its September 2022 inspection, Ofsted rated the nursery Outstanding and found that its individually planned education helped children make excellent progress.

Based at Thorntree Community Centre in Middlesbrough, Bright Stars has capacity for 24 children aged 24 to 60 months. It operates during term time, closing for school holidays.

In September 2022, children chose between indoor and outdoor play, investigating a slug's body and discussing where it lived. Magnifying glasses gave that curiosity a practical outlet. Staff encouraged children to test ideas rather than supplying every answer: changing the angle of piping became an experiment in how quickly toy cars travelled.

The early years foundation stage sets the framework for children's learning, development and care, bringing play and everyday routines into their education. In September 2022, learning included sand transferred between containers to explore volume, alongside songs, rhymes and books. Children visited the local library and selected reading that interested them; families could also borrow books for home.

During that same period, stories about different faiths, cultural props and cooking chapattis and noodles introduced children to different ways of life. A toothbrushing scheme brought personal care into learning. These were concrete experiences children could take part in, rather than abstract lessons.

At the September 2022 inspection, Ofsted found safeguarding effective and judged that children with special educational needs and/or disabilities made excellent progress through support coordinated with families and external agencies.

In September 2022, each child's key person used learning plans to identify where extra help was needed. Learning packs and factsheets gave parents practical ideas for supporting behaviour and learning at home. Staff also drew on a speech and language therapist within the Community Hub, giving families a route to specialist support.

Summer stay-and-play sessions were part of settling arrangements in September 2022. Staff used what they learnt about children's interests to plan their first sessions. During daily activities, children had time to attempt tasks themselves, including spreading toast and cleaning paint from their faces with a cloth and mirror. Support remained close, but independence had room to develop.

Thorntree Community Centre, Birkhall Road, Middlesbrough, TS3 9JW is the nursery's address. Opening hours are 9am to 4pm, Monday to Friday, during term time; school holidays are closures.

In September 2022, session times ran from 9am to 4pm, and the nursery provided funded early education for children aged two, three and four. That funding provision belongs to the inspection period.

• School-holiday closures. Attendance follows a term-time calendar. Families needing care during school holidays will need that covered separately.
• Communication support. In September 2022, the Community Hub's speech and language therapist supported work with children and families. At a visit, ask how that support is organised now for a child who needs it.

Bright Stars suits families seeking term-time care for children aged 24 to 60 months. Its September 2022 Outstanding judgement was backed by tangible examples: practical investigation, independence, reading and individual learning plans. The calendar is a clear deciding factor, while the dated account of communication support gives families a useful starting point for a visit.