Little Squirrels, Community Nursery

Devonport park sits next door, while the January 2023 account of Little Squirrels shows children exploring further afield by bus, borrowing books and learning everyday independence. That combination gives this Plymouth nursery its character: outdoor play, reading and practical skills rather than a long list of branded activities.

At its 12 January 2023 inspection, Ofsted rated the nursery Good and found safeguarding effective. Little Squirrels, Community Nursery occupies Froebel House on Granby Street and has capacity for 30 children aged two to five. Its current room offer also includes a baby room advertised for children from nine months, an age distinction families should resolve before booking for a younger child.

Opening hours extend to 5pm from Monday to Thursday, with a shorter Friday. This matters for families arranging care around work across the whole week.

Rooms and Ages

The baby room caters for nine months to two years, the toddler room for two to three, and the pre-school room for three to five. These are separate age stages within the nursery's advertised offer; the baby provision needs to be read alongside the two-to-five age range above.

The early years foundation stage sets the framework for children's learning, development and care. In parent language, that connects play with developing communication, physical skills, relationships and early understanding of numbers. It is the common foundation for nursery education, rather than an extra programme unique to Little Squirrels.

Learning and Activities

In January 2023, staff used assessments to decide children's next learning steps and discussed learning and care needs each day. Mathematics appeared in activities rather than only in a separate lesson: older children calculated how many skittles remained standing, while younger children paired quantities with numerals in puzzles. These examples show how ordinary play could become an opportunity to practise counting and reasoning.

Reading also extended beyond nursery time in January 2023. A home library let families take books away, and parent reading sessions helped adults support reading at home. This connected children's experiences across nursery and home, giving parents a practical part in their learning.

Outdoor and Community Life

Devonport park is immediately beside the nursery. Its position is a useful physical feature for families who value proximity to outdoor space, although the nursery's own outdoor play and its outings are separate parts of the account.

In January 2023, children played outdoor games involving skittles, hoops and beanbags, agreeing rules and practising turn-taking together. Bus trips to local museums and the library added experiences beyond the nursery. The value was both physical and social: children could practise movement, cooperate in games and encounter places in the wider community.

In January 2023, close relationships with staff gave children reassurance, including cuddles when they were upset. Staff helped them consider how their behaviour affected others and encouraged practical independence, such as managing coats and pouring drinks. Care and learning overlapped in these everyday tasks.

At the January 2023 inspection, Ofsted found that children with special educational needs and/or disabilities were supported well through identified learning needs, targeted help and additional funding, but called for more consistent language support for children learning English and questions that encouraged older children to develop longer answers. These are specific points to weigh alongside the overall Good judgement.

Parent communication in January 2023 began with information gathered before children started and continued through daily updates. Families were therefore involved both in establishing a child's needs and in following their development. Healthy habits also formed part of the day: children had nutritious snacks and practised toothbrushing. Those examples concerned the nursery's routines at that time.

Sessions and Attendance

Little Squirrels opens throughout the year, from 8.30am to 5pm on Monday to Thursday and from 8.30am to 12.45pm on Friday. The Friday finish is the decisive scheduling detail: a working week requiring afternoon care every day needs to account for that shorter opening window.

The address is Froebel House, 100 Granby Street, Plymouth, PL1 4BN. Enquiries can be made by telephone on 01752 500900 or by email to littlesquirrels@k3y.org.uk.

Getting There

The nursery is close to the Torpoint ferry and major bus routes, as well as beside Devonport park. Those connections give families useful landmarks when considering their route to Granby Street.

Funding and Paid Extras

Funded childcare is offered, including 30 hours of funding for children aged nine months to four years whose working parents are eligible. Eligibility is a condition of that entitlement; it does not establish a place for an individual child. Current prices come in the nursery's written quotation.

• Friday care. Opening ends at 12.45pm on Fridays, compared with 5pm on the other weekdays. Consider how that fits your working week.
• Younger children's admission. The baby room is advertised from nine months, while the nursery's current age range is two to five. At a visit, ask which ages can be admitted under the current arrangements.
• Language development. In January 2023, more consistent support for children learning English and fuller answers from older children were improvement priorities. Ask how practitioners now put those points into everyday conversations and play.

Little Squirrels suits families whose care needs fit an all-year opening schedule with longer Monday-to-Thursday hours and a Friday lunchtime finish. Its January 2023 strengths included reading shared with home, practical independence and learning through outdoor games and community outings. The language-development priorities deserve attention, and families seeking baby care should settle the admission-age question before committing.