Smartys Little Stars Nursery

A purpose-built nursery with an enclosed outdoor classroom gives Smartys Little Stars Nursery a clear character: space for babies and toddlers to explore, with outdoor play extending across the seasons. This Stone setting cares for children from birth to three in a double-storey building with an open-plan layout. Its emphasis is firmly on the youngest years.

Ofsted rated the nursery Good on 21 April 2022, with Outstanding behaviour and attitudes. In April 2022, children settled readily, formed close bonds with staff and became absorbed in their activities. The important qualification is teaching consistency: staff sometimes introduced ideas too quickly for a conversation to develop fully. That matters for children whose language is just beginning to emerge.

Learning and Activities

The early years foundation stage sets the requirements for children's learning, development and care, bringing communication, physical development and social learning into everyday experiences. In April 2022, staff built activities around children's interests and used ongoing observations to understand what they were ready to learn next. Learning was connected to the child rather than simply to a fixed activity list.

Books and songs provided practical opportunities to hear and practise language in April 2022. Staff encouraged children to join familiar stories, modelled words clearly and talked with babies and toddlers about their activities. These are useful foundations for children beginning to connect words with actions and experiences.

Sensory exploration also featured in April 2022. Children investigated water and sand, handled coloured balls in the ball pit and watched changing colours in light tubes. The experiences offered different ways to explore texture, movement and visual change. For very young children, participation did not depend on being able to explain their ideas in words.

Outdoor and Community Life

The fully enclosed outdoor classroom is a practical feature of the current setting, extending opportunities for outdoor play through changing weather. The dedicated outdoor area supports exploration and independent play. The open-plan indoor layout and outdoor provision make the physical environment a substantial part of the nursery's offer.

In April 2022, the daily routine allowed substantial outdoor time. Older children searched beneath logs and examined insects through magnifying glasses in the forest environment. That was hands-on investigation: looking closely at something real, rather than only hearing about it. Babies and toddlers also had activities supporting movement and physical development.

Sleep follows children's needs and their parents' preferences rather than a single fixed timetable. Cots, sleep mats and bouncers provide different arrangements, while staff accommodate preferences about where and when a baby sleeps. For families with an established routine, this makes the details of individual care important alongside the activity programme.

Parents supply nappies, wipes and creams, stored in each child's own box; staff change nappies as needed and check them throughout the day. These everyday supplies belong on the family's packing list. Little Stars also has designated safeguarding leadership and an SEN lead role, giving families specific responsibilities to discuss when arranging care.

At its April 2022 inspection, Ofsted found safeguarding effective and described staff working with other professionals on plans for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities. Those findings relate to that visit. They provide a dated assessment of practice, alongside the current leadership arrangements.

Communication in April 2022 included conversations with parents, online learning records that families could contribute to, and meetings with each child's key person about progress and next steps. Staff also shared ideas for learning at home. This created opportunities for parents to add knowledge of their child rather than receive updates alone.

Healthy meals and snacks were part of the day in April 2022, and children discussed fruit, vegetables and their origins. Staff also helped children practise dressing and personal hygiene. These small daily tasks connected care with growing independence.

Sessions and Attendance

The nursery opens Monday to Friday, from 7.30am to 6pm, across 52 weeks, with public bank holidays excluded. That year-round opening pattern is useful for families whose childcare needs continue through school holidays. The setting serves children from birth to three, so the move into preschool is a relevant part of longer-term planning.

Getting There

The address is 35 Tilling Drive, Stone, ST15 0AA. A private off-road car park supports collections and drop-offs.

Funding and Paid Extras

In April 2022, the nursery received funding for early education for two- and three-year-olds. Parents provide nappies, wipes and creams; current prices should come in the nursery's written quotation.

Little Stars maintains links with preschool settings both within the Smartys group and outside it to support children's next steps. This is transition support between early-years settings, giving families a relevant conversation as their child approaches the upper end of the nursery's age range.

• Developing conversations. In April 2022, staff occasionally moved through too many ideas at once, and further development of interactions was an improvement priority. On a visit, ask how practitioners now give children time to respond and extend a conversation.
• Sleep and daily supplies. Sleep arrangements follow individual needs and parental preferences, while nappies, wipes and creams come from home. Discuss how your child's routine would work within the nursery day.
• Moving into preschool. Little Stars cares for children up to three and supports transitions to other preschool settings. Include that next stage when discussing your child's care plan.

Smartys Little Stars suits families seeking care for babies and toddlers in a purpose-built setting, with year-round opening and an enclosed outdoor classroom. Its April 2022 assessment gives a positive inspection position, balanced by a specific teaching-development priority. The strongest practical appeal is the combination of space to explore, individual sleep arrangements and support for the next preschool stage.