Little Stars Nursery, Stonehouse

In November 2024, Chat on the Mat, songs and toothbrushing illustrated how conversation and everyday care complemented learning through play at Little Stars Nursery, Stonehouse. This Plymouth setting has 33 places in total for children aged 24 to 60 months, with a toddler room and a pre-school room rather than provision for babies.

At its November 2024 inspection, Ofsted rated the nursery Good and judged safeguarding effective, while identifying improvements needed in support for younger children's home languages and the planning of older children's group activities. Those points matter as much as the grade. Families have a clear basis for discussing how activities are adapted to their child's understanding and stage of development.

The nursery operates during term time, with a shorter opening window on Fridays. Its central position near Plymouth City Centre and major bus routes will be useful for families organising care around journeys into town.

Rooms and Ages

The toddler room and pre-school room separate the younger and older stages of nursery life. The pre-school room serves children aged three to five; the nursery's overall capacity is a whole-setting figure, not the number of children sharing either room. For parents, that distinction matters when thinking about the scale of their child's daily experience.

Learning and Activities

The early years foundation stage sets the framework for children's learning, development and care. In practical terms, play, communication and everyday routines all contribute to learning, rather than education being confined to a formal activity.

In November 2024, children used tongs to move small animal figures into coloured trays. Squeezing and controlling the tool exercised the hands and fingers used later for writing. It was a concrete example of a playful task with a developmental purpose: the equipment made practising coordination part of the game.

Chat on the Mat gave older children an opportunity to recount experiences and practise descriptive language. In November 2024, discussion of fireworks prompted children to describe what they had seen. This gave conversation a subject children could contribute to, rather than asking them to speak in the abstract.

Frequent singing also featured that November. Younger children contributed sounds and individual words to The Wheels on the Bus, while older children joined songs with actions and talked about the days of the week. Different forms of participation allowed children to take part at different stages of speech development.

The limitation was in some adult-led group work. In November 2024, a picture-making activity did not give every child an appropriate challenge; some found it easy and soon moved away. An appealing activity still needs to be adjusted to the children taking part.

In November 2024, children sought affection from staff and brought them into their play. Staff supported sharing through simple turn-taking language, which children then used with one another. These small exchanges made the expectations for playing together understandable.

Personal care was handled with respect that November. Staff sought children's agreement before nappy changes and used singing and humour during the routine. Toothbrushing was another practical part of the day: children followed a video and brushed alongside staff, including practising how to reach their back teeth. Care routines became opportunities to participate and learn.

Communication with families included an online app through which parents could follow their child's progress in November 2024. Staff also met regularly with the children's centre on site to coordinate support for children and families. This connected nursery care with another local service.

Language support needs careful attention. In November 2024, visual prompts and signing helped younger children understand, but their home languages were not used consistently; some children learning English moved away because they could not follow what was being said. At the same inspection, Ofsted asked staff to strengthen this support and to tailor older children's group activities more closely to individual development.

Sessions and Attendance

Little Stars is at 25 Manor Street, Stonehouse, Plymouth, PL1 1TL. Opening hours are 9am to 5pm from Monday to Thursday and 9am to 12.45pm on Friday, during term time only. The Friday finish is a substantial practical difference for anyone arranging a working week around nursery care.

Enquiries go directly to the Little Stars team by telephone on 01752 223181 or email at littlestars@k3y.org.uk.

Funding and Paid Extras

Funded childcare is offered. The group-wide funding announcement carried by Little Stars covers 30 hours of funding for eligible working parents with children aged nine months to four years; the nursery's own accepted age range still applies. Eligibility for an entitlement and the age at which this particular setting accepts a child are separate considerations.

Current prices come in the nursery's written quotation.

• Home-language support. The November 2024 findings identified inconsistent use of younger children's home languages. Ask how staff would help your child understand activities and contribute using the languages spoken at home.
• Challenge for older children. Some group work in November 2024 was too easy for children taking part. During a visit, ask how the pre-school room adapts shared activities to different stages of development.
• Friday and holiday cover. Friday opening ends at 12.45pm and the nursery operates only in term time. Families needing care throughout the working week or school holidays will need arrangements that fit those boundaries.
• Starting age. The toddler room description begins at 18 months, while the nursery's current accepted age range begins at 24 months. Confirm the starting age before planning an enrolment for a younger toddler.

Little Stars suits families seeking term-time care for toddlers and preschool children, especially those whose schedules accommodate the early Friday finish. The November 2024 picture combines conversational activities, practical health routines and affectionate staff relationships with two clear areas needing attention: home-language support and the challenge offered in group work. Parents can use those precise points to judge whether the nursery's approach fits their child.