Little Stars Nursery, Mancetter

Growing food, caring for wildlife and learning to manage everyday tasks give Little Stars Nursery, Mancetter a practical character. Its forest school area featured in June 2026, alongside garden play that involved children cooperating over a shared bicycle. These are experiences with a purpose: exploring living things and learning to work together.

At its 16 June 2026 inspection, Ofsted awarded Strong standard in all six assessed areas, including curriculum and teaching, inclusion and leadership, and confirmed that safeguarding standards were met. The nursery on Old Farm Road in Atherstone accepts children from birth to five and has capacity for 56 children.

In June 2026, babies explored coloured eggs and handled books, toddlers painted pathways with water and large brushes, and preschool children mixed natural materials with coloured water. The activities gave different ages different ways to investigate, make marks and develop ideas. Learning involved doing.

The early years foundation stage is the framework for children's learning, development and care. Here, June 2026 examples included conversation, imaginative play and practising everyday skills: children learnt to handle outdoor clothing, wash their hands and manage mealtimes through demonstrations and repeated practice.

Language ran through ordinary interactions. During that month, babies named toy animals while staff supplied sounds and rhymes; older children explained their drawings and discussed their ideas. Books and songs also gave children opportunities to choose, join in and connect words with objects.

Outdoor experiences extended beyond energetic play. In June 2026, children used the forest school area to grow food, tend plants and care for wildlife; in the garden, they helped each other move a shared bicycle when it became difficult. Both examples connect exploration with responsibility.

Before children started, families took part in a personalised programme of events in June 2026. Staff gathered information about children's preferences and existing skills, then used it to shape interactions and activities. This made settling and learning part of the same conversation with parents.

At the June 2026 inspection, Ofsted found that early identification, adapted activities and collaboration with families and other professionals supported children with SEND, with some children progressing enough in communication and language to stop needing additional support. Practical measures included resources for recognising emotions and finding words to express them.

During June 2026, staff shared children's achievements and their next learning steps with families. Leaders also held parent events and gave practitioners time to discuss and adjust their work. For parents, the useful thread is the connection between what a child does at nursery and what staff plan next.

The address is Old Farm Road, Mancetter, Atherstone, CV9 1QN. The nursery is open all year, with opening hours of 7.30am to 6pm, Monday to Friday. That window provides a clear starting point for fitting care around work and family routines.

• Support beyond initial progress. The June 2026 next step was to extend the impact of work removing barriers to learning across children's achievement and wellbeing. Families whose children need extra help should discuss how progress will be reviewed over time.
• Settling with a purpose. June 2026 practice included events tailored to families before children started. On a visit, discuss how that introduction would reflect your child's preferences and routines.
• Attendance and costs. With an all-year opening window from 7.30am to 6pm, which booking patterns and written charge arrangements would fit your family?

Little Stars suits families seeking all-year care from infancy through the preschool years who value practical exploration and individual support. The June 2026 assessment gives substantial grounds for considering it: learning through conversation and everyday tasks sat alongside targeted help, with extending that help's impact remaining the next step.