Little Stars Day Nursery, Gosberton

A pretend doctor's surgery, autumn leaves and ice-block investigations give a concrete picture of play at Little Stars Day Nursery, Gosberton. At its 11 October 2022 inspection, Ofsted judged the nursery Good and found safeguarding effective, with children settling comfortably and developing independence.

The nursery is on Quadring Road, Gosberton, Spalding, PE11 4NB, and accepts children aged 2 to 60 months. The inspection picture is useful, but belongs to October 2022.

In October 2022, adult-directed activities sat alongside play chosen by children. The early years foundation stage sets the framework for learning, development and care: here, play linked practical exploration with communication, movement and making things.

Babies explored autumn-themed dough with their fingers. Toddlers used a pretend doctor's surgery to act out familiar experiences, including writing an appointment. Preschool children cut leaves for pictures and used tools to retrieve autumn objects from ice. These were concrete opportunities to practise handling materials and making choices.

Outdoor activity also featured in October 2022. Children rode wheeled toys, adjusting their direction and speed as they moved around. Physical play included opportunities to judge manageable risks, rather than simply avoid them.

Other October 2022 examples show how different activities served different stages of development. A magnetic fishing game involved coordinating a hook with a fish. Babies took turns with an adult operating a pop-up toy, while toddlers investigated cereal alongside farmyard materials. These experiences brought movement, anticipation and sensory exploration into play, giving children several ways to participate rather than relying only on spoken answers.

For preschool children, circle-time discussion linked language to seasonal change. In October 2022, children described leaves falling and changing colour. Practitioners also questioned toddlers and older children during investigations. The useful distinction is between giving children something to handle and helping them think about it: the inspection examples included both, although extending that thinking further remained an improvement priority.

In October 2022, babies sought comfort from staff after sleeping, toddlers requested help with bathroom routines, and older children shared what they had been doing. These examples put everyday relationships into practical terms: reassurance, assistance and conversation.

Independence extended to meals and snacks. During that October 2022 visit, babies were encouraged to feed themselves; toddlers and preschool children poured drinks and prepared their own snacks. Staff also encouraged sharing and turn-taking, using clear boundaries and their own behaviour as examples.

The October 2022 snack example was specific: children spread cream cheese on a cracker themselves. Alongside pouring drinks, this made an everyday routine an opportunity to practise doing things independently. Babies were also offered choices during play. Independence therefore involved decisions as well as physical tasks, with adults available for the reassurance and assistance described above.

Staff support had a practical structure in October 2022. The manager watched teaching and gave feedback, and practitioners undertook regular training. Supervision provided another route for supporting their work. These arrangements matter alongside the activities themselves: the improvement priority concerned how staff used opportunities to take learning further, rather than simply adding more resources.

Safeguarding practice in October 2022 included refresher training, procedures for raising concerns about a colleague, recruitment checks and staff supervision. Children also received practical safety guidance, such as holding a handrail on the stairs. This connected adult procedures with an ordinary action children could understand and practise.

Opening hours are 7.45am to 5.30pm, Monday to Friday, with care across the year. The address is Quadring Road, Gosberton, Spalding, PE11 4NB.

In October 2022, funded early education was provided for two-, three- and four-year-olds. That is a dated funding position, rather than a promise about a family's entitlement today.

• Learning beyond the nursery. In October 2022, opportunities to encounter people and communities outside the setting needed broadening. The nursery had signed up for the local church flower festival, and children had brought vegetables from a local grower. Ask what community experiences children now take part in, including how those experiences introduce them to people's lives and work.
• Stretching older children. The October 2022 improvement priorities included developing staff's ability to extend learning, with some preschool interactions stopping short of further challenge. Ask how practitioners build on an older child's questions and discoveries.

Little Stars suits families considering year-round weekday care who value practical play and increasing independence. Its October 2022 inspection offers concrete examples of both, from handling tools to serving snacks. The two improvement priorities give families useful points to explore: experiences beyond the nursery and how far staff extend children's thinking.