Ladybirds Early Years Care & Education

Foam, jelly and musical instruments give a concrete picture of baby play at Ladybirds in August 2021: exploration through touch, sound and conversation. At its 10 August 2021 inspection, Ofsted rated the nursery Good and judged safeguarding effective.

Ladybirds Early Years Care & Education is on Pilton Causeway in Barnstaple, EX32 7AA, with capacity for 100 children aged 11 to 60 months. That is the whole nursery's capacity, rather than the size of an individual group.

In August 2021, babies explored foam and jelly while staff talked with them about their play; singing and instruments added opportunities to respond through sound. Toddlers practised taking turns with a soft play step and a bean bag aimed at a hoop. These were everyday opportunities to combine movement with learning how to play alongside others.

The early years foundation stage sets the framework for children's learning, development and care. Here, the August 2021 activities illustrate how play and conversation can bring those elements together.

For preschool children in August 2021, conversation was a central part of learning: staff explained ideas and encouraged children to discuss experiences and pursue their interests through questions. Outdoor areas were used daily, giving children another setting for active play. However, support for developing pencil grip was inconsistent, an important qualification for families weighing preparation for writing.

At the August 2021 inspection, Ofsted found that children with additional needs benefited from staff working with parents and specialists on learning plans, adapting resources and activities, and providing continuing support.

Settling in August 2021 involved getting to know both the child and their family, with extra help for children adjusting to time away from parents. The practical emphasis was on relationships before expecting children to settle into nursery life.

An online learning system had been introduced by August 2021 to share observations and development with families. Staff helped parents use the app, but some families were not fully engaging with it. That limited staff's understanding of whether learning was being followed up at home.

Opening hours are 7am to 6pm, Monday to Friday. Ladybirds operates across the year, with closures on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year's Day. The opening window gives working families a useful starting point for planning their day.

In August 2021, the nursery received early education funding for children aged two, three and four. This is a dated account of participation, rather than a promise of a funded place now.

• Early writing. In August 2021, children received uneven help with pencil grip development. On a visit, ask how practitioners now support the steps towards comfortable pencil use.
• Communication with home. Some parents were not fully using the online learning system in August 2021. Ask how updates and home learning are shared with families who find an app difficult to use.

Ladybirds merits consideration by Barnstaple families who value sensory exploration, conversation and attention to settling. Its August 2021 account gives those priorities substance through specific activities and family relationships. The dated Good judgement is encouraging, while pencil grip teaching and engagement with parent updates remain useful subjects for a visit.