Peekaboo Childcare, Torquay

Pouring drinks, testing which objects collect water and learning to put on waterproofs give Peekaboo Childcare, Torquay a practical, independence-led character in its April 2024 snapshot. Small everyday tasks matter here. At its 16 April 2024 inspection, Ofsted rated the nursery Good and found safeguarding effective.

The nursery accepts children from nine months to five years and has capacity for 55 children. Its address is 7 Collaton Road, Torquay, TQ2 7HH.

The early years foundation stage is the framework for children's learning, development and care, connecting play with skills such as communication, movement and independence. In April 2024, children explored water collection by comparing objects, while younger children practised pouring drinks and washing themselves. Older children managed their outdoor clothing themselves. These were useful opportunities to practise doing things independently.

Cooking in the pre-school room introduced food preparation in April 2024. Physical play also had a practical emphasis: babies practised standing, younger children used slides, and older children filled large pots with sand and carried bowls of water outside. That gave different ages different ways to practise strength and balance.

Books in different languages and picture boards depicting families supported conversations about other people's lives in April 2024. Signing and picture boards also helped children communicate alongside spoken words, including children learning English as an additional language and those with speech delays.

At the April 2024 inspection, Ofsted found that children made good progress, including disadvantaged children and those with special educational needs and/or disabilities, with staff seeking professional advice when additional support was needed. This was support built around identified needs rather than a single approach for everyone.

In April 2024, staff comforted new children and responded promptly when they needed help. A separate entrance for the toddler room made it easier for parents to speak with their child's key worker and help them settle. Parent feedback had informed that physical change, giving communication a practical place in the nursery's layout.

Health routines in April 2024 included toothbrushing instruction and weekly oral-health tips for parents. Staff supplied nutritious snacks and checked children's lunch boxes for healthy choices, linking nursery routines with habits at home.

During April 2024, the setting operated on weekdays during term time, with session times of 7.45am to 5.30pm. That calendar is an important consideration for families whose childcare needs extend into school holidays.

In April 2024, the nursery provided funded early education for children aged two, three and four. Families considering funding should distinguish that dated provision from their own eligibility and proposed attendance arrangement.

• Challenge during independent play. In April 2024, staff sometimes concentrated on children they were directly working with, leaving nearby independent play less stretched. Ask how practitioners now extend learning across both situations.
• Babies' communication. The April 2024 improvement priorities included making more of opportunities to develop babies' speech. A visit should explore how staff respond to and build on babies' attempts to communicate.
• Term-time planning. The April 2024 operating calendar excluded school holidays. How would your proposed attendance pattern fit your family's holiday childcare needs?

Peekaboo suits families who value practical independence, everyday physical activity and communication supported by pictures and signing. Its April 2024 account gives concrete examples of all three. Families considering a term-time arrangement should weigh those strengths alongside the two teaching priorities: extending independent play and developing babies' communication.