Tops Day Nurseries: Devonport Nursery

Brick bridges, play-dough pizzas and seed planting characterised the nursery day in June 2021 at Tops Day Nurseries: Devonport Nursery. These were practical ways for children to explore ideas through their own interests. At its June 2021 inspection, Ofsted rated the nursery Good and found safeguarding effective.

Based at Green Ark Childrens Centre in Devonport, Plymouth, the nursery accepts children aged 0 to 60 months and has 50 places in total. Its opening hours run from 7am to 6pm, Monday to Friday.

In June 2021, children chose their play across indoor and outdoor spaces, with staff responding to their interests and allowing time for uninterrupted exploration. The early years foundation stage provided the required framework for learning and care: here, experiences included making constructions, sharing stories, singing and practising physical skills.

Babies had tummy time to help them begin crawling, while older children handled tools for painting and digging. Babies watched tractors, then explored farm-themed pretend play using miniature tractors; older children discussed animals and their characteristics. These examples connected observation with hands-on activity.

Outdoor learning also included forest school sessions in June 2021, supported through additional funding. Stories prompted conversations about characters, and younger children learnt movements to accompany songs. For families, these examples give a concrete picture of the activities children experienced at that time.

Shared expectations shaped play in June 2021. Children understood the nursery's rules, responded to practitioners and reminded one another about those rules during activities. For families, this adds a social dimension to the account of child-chosen learning: children were also practising how to play alongside others within agreed boundaries. Their freedom to choose activities sat alongside expectations about behaviour, making relationships part of the learning day.

The educational weakness was precision. In June 2021, the intended learning in staff-planned activities was sometimes unclear, and staff needed a better understanding of each child's development to plan an appropriate challenge. Following substantial staff turnover, new recruits were still building their knowledge of the children.

At the June 2021 inspection, Ofsted found that children, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities, received support that helped them make good progress. Babies developed relationships with practitioners who respected their individual routines.

In June 2021, upset babies received physical comfort and reassurance, while children had spaces where they could pause and consider their emotions. Everyday independence was also encouraged: children served food themselves and poured drinks into glasses. Care and learning met in these small, practical tasks.

Environmental choices extended into personal care in June 2021: babies could use reusable nappies, and every child was offered a toothbrush made from bamboo. At lunchtime then, families could select a hot or cold menu for their child.

Child protection practice in June 2021 included keeping staff knowledge current, recognising possible signs of harm and understanding how to raise concerns about a child or a colleague. Recruitment checks addressed suitability for the role, and practitioners acted promptly when they identified hazards. These details give families specific aspects of safeguarding to understand: how concerns reach the right people, how staff are recruited and how potential dangers are dealt with during the nursery day.

The address is Green Ark Childrens Centre, Leander House, Devonport Family Centre, Fore Street, Devonport, Plymouth, PL1 4DW.

Open throughout the year, the nursery operates Monday to Friday from 7am to 6pm, with closures on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Years Day. That opening window matters for families fitting childcare around work across the year. In June 2021, attendance could be booked flexibly.

• Individual learning. In June 2021, staff needed to support children's next learning steps more consistently and understand their development more precisely. Ask how practitioners now identify an individual child's next step and turn it into an activity.
• Continuity of care. Substantial staff turnover affected how well practitioners knew children in June 2021. On a visit, discuss how relationships are maintained when staff change, especially for a baby with established routines.
• Attendance arrangements. The nursery opens throughout the year, with three named holiday closures. Ask which booking pattern would fit your working hours within the opening window.

For families needing childcare across the year, the weekday opening window is a useful practical starting point. The June 2021 picture combined child-chosen play, outdoor learning and attention to babies' routines, alongside a clear need for more precise individual learning plans. The deciding conversation is how that planning works for your child today.