Tiny Stars

Language and everyday independence shaped the September 2024 inspection picture: staff supported children's home languages alongside English, while children practised serving food and preparing for outdoor play. At its September 2024 inspection, Ofsted rated the nursery Good, judged safeguarding effective and found that children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), and those learning English as an additional language, made good developmental progress.

Based at Normacot Hotel in Stoke On Trent, Tiny Stars has capacity for 72 children aged 18 to 60 months. In September 2024, everyday routines helped children learn to do things for themselves.

In September 2024, language learning ran across the age groups, with staff supporting both English and children's home languages. Interactive storytelling brought together touch, smells and listening, giving younger children several ways to engage with a story.

The early years foundation stage sets the framework for children's learning, development and care; here, the September 2024 examples included learning mathematical language through play. Scooping balls onto a tray became a chance to talk about colour, quantity and size. Everyday materials carried the learning.

Outdoor activity that September included bikes, a swing and a ladder to climb. Beyond the nursery, visits to a pizza restaurant and local barbers, alongside walks around the neighbourhood, introduced children to their surroundings and road safety. Celebrations included Christmas and Eid, helping children encounter different cultures.

In September 2024, activities needed to build more consistently on children's existing skills before introducing new ones. Engaging activities needed a clearer progression.

In September 2024, an established key-person arrangement helped children build relationships with staff as they settled. Adults supported younger children with managing emotions, and encouraged sharing, taking turns and polite language.

Independence was practised through small, useful tasks that September: children washed their hands, helped clear up and put on coats. At lunch, they poured drinks and used tongs to choose and serve food. These were opportunities to participate in daily routines.

Support for SEND included referrals to outside agencies and individual learning plans informed by their advice. In September 2024, communication with parents covered children's learning and ways to continue it at home, including support with toileting and early speech. Staff development included peer coaching and observations of practice.

The address is Normacot Hotel, Normacot Road, Stoke On Trent, ST3 1QY. Opening hours are 7.30am to 6pm, Monday to Friday, across the year, with closures for bank holidays and the Christmas period.

In September 2024, session times ran from 8.30am to 6pm, and the nursery provided funded early years education. Those session times describe the arrangement at that date.

• Learning progression. The September 2024 improvement point concerned the order in which skills were introduced. Activities should connect what a child already understands with the next step.
• Settling and attendance. The September 2024 key-person arrangement supported early relationships. On a visit, how would settling and a booking pattern work together for your child?

Tiny Stars suits families who value support for language alongside practical independence. The September 2024 picture combines home-language support, community outings and purposeful daily routines, with activity sequencing the clear improvement priority. Its year-round opening pattern also matters for families planning regular weekday care.