Stars Pre-School Dogsthorpe

Independence has a practical meaning at Stars Pre-School Dogsthorpe: in January 2023, children proudly poured their own drinks while staff recognised their efforts. That small example captures the appeal of this Central Avenue setting, where learning includes the everyday skills children will use beyond nursery.

At its January 2023 inspection, Ofsted rated the setting Outstanding, with teaching, behaviour and children's development among its strengths. Today, it accepts children from 9 months until their fifth birthday and has capacity for 42 children. Outdoor space, a regular staff contact for each child and an app for parents are part of the offer.

Morning, afternoon and all-day attendance give families different ways to use the setting, including paid hours alongside funded childcare.

Learning and Activities

The Early Years Foundation Stage provides the requirements for children's learning, development and care: here, play and learning experiences help children practise independence and prepare for primary school. Alongside that shared framework sits the Stars group's ASPIRE curriculum, which includes learning about relationships, food, culture and traditions. These topics connect learning with children's lives and the people around them.

ASPIRE is organised around Learn, Achieve, Protect, Develop and Be Ready. It is a group-wide approach rather than a programme unique to Dogsthorpe. The branch combines it with experiences tailored to individual children, so the curriculum's name matters less than how activities respond to a child's interests and next steps.

In January 2023, early maths was woven into play: staff encouraged children collecting balls to count them and compare their sizes. At a water tray, children used pincers to move coloured animals into matching cups. These are concrete examples of learning through doing, bringing counting, sorting and careful hand movements into activities children wanted to pursue.

Storytelling also had a clear place in the day in January 2023. Children remembered familiar phrases and talked about what might happen next, while a local librarian visited to read stories. Staff demonstrated sentences and repeated vocabulary, giving children opportunities to hear language and try it themselves. That detail is useful for parents weighing how conversation and books feature alongside physical play.

Outdoor and Community Life

Outdoor space and excursions are part of the current offer, with forest school experiences included within sessions. Forest school involves learning through outdoor exploration; families can weigh that addition alongside the setting's indoor activities rather than treating it as a separate educational framework.

In January 2023, the garden supported child-made obstacle courses, with children testing balance and climbing. The value lay in using the space actively: children helped shape a physical challenge rather than simply spending time outside. Regular charity events and work with a local children's centre also connected the setting with people beyond its immediate group.

Relationships and Communication

Each child has a regular member of staff who works closely with them and provides guidance. For parents, that offers an identifiable contact for discussing their child's experiences and development. An online app shares activities and progress, creating another connection between home and nursery.

Family involvement also extends to preparation for primary school. Staff work with parents on children's development and the move to the next stage, while play and learning experiences encourage confidence and independence. The emphasis is on helping children become more capable in daily life as well as ready for new learning.

In January 2023, staff gathered information about children's abilities before they started and used observations to follow their development. This gives a practical picture of how home knowledge informed nursery activity at that time: staff began with the individual child rather than assuming everyone needed the same starting point.

Inclusion and Wellbeing

At the January 2023 inspection, Ofsted found safeguarding effective and reported rapid progress for children, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities, supported by attentive staff and prompt recognition of additional needs. These are dated judgements that matter when considering the setting's approach to care and inclusion.

In January 2023, health education included practising toothbrushing with pretend teeth and brushes. Everyday self-care was made into something children could explore themselves. The current food offer includes breakfast and an afternoon snack, both free within the child's session.

Sessions and Attendance

The address is 100b Central Avenue, Peterborough PE1 4LJ. Opening hours are 8am to 6pm, with the setting operating for 40 weeks each year. Morning, afternoon and all-day sessions are offered, giving parents a choice between shorter attendance and a whole day.

Paid sessions serve families who do not receive government funding and those adding hours beyond their funded entitlement. This distinction matters for budgeting: funded hours and additional childcare are separate parts of an attendance plan. Enquiries can be made directly to the branch on 01733 554416.

Funding and Paid Extras

Funded childcare includes 30 hours for eligible working families from 9 months, 15 hours for families receiving qualifying government support, and the universal 15-hour entitlement for three- and four-year-olds. The universal entitlement covers 38 weeks annually and starts in the term after a child's third birthday. Eligibility conditions still apply to the relevant schemes.

Breakfast and snacks are included at no extra cost, including within funded sessions. Under a group-wide policy applied here, consumables, resources and materials carry no additional charge. That gives families a clearer starting point for comparing funded hours with paid additions. Current prices come in the nursery's written quotation.

Parking is provided at the setting. Its Central Avenue address is near Dogsthorpe Primary School, a useful local reference point for families planning their routine.

• Care from 9 months. The current age range includes babies, while the January 2023 visit covered children aged two to four. On a visit, ask how the youngest children's sleep, feeding and settling routines are organised.
• A 40-week calendar. Opening runs from 8am to 6pm across 40 weeks of the year. Match the nursery calendar against the weeks your family needs care before choosing an attendance pattern.
• Shorter sessions or a whole day. Morning, afternoon and all-day bookings are offered, with paid additions beyond funded hours. Request a written attendance plan showing the chosen session boundaries and how funded and paid hours fit together.

Stars Pre-School Dogsthorpe suits families seeking morning or afternoon preschool attendance as well as those needing all-day care within its 40-week calendar. Its practical attractions include free breakfast and snacks, consumables at no extra cost and a regular staff contact supported by app updates.

The January 2023 examples give the review its substance: counting through ball play, conversations around stories and children building their own garden challenges. For parents, the decision centres on how that learning approach fits their child, alongside the calendar and attendance pattern they need.