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Dollymixtures Day Nursery

Ofsted: Outstanding
(Jul 2025)
·
4.3(6 parent reviews) ·The New Lodge, Corporation Street, Stafford, ST16 3AG · Staffordshire
Number of places
74 places
Age range
0–4 yrs
Last inspected
Jul 2025
Local authority
Staffordshire

About this day nursery

Dollymixtures Day Nursery, located in Stafford, provides outstanding childcare for children aged 0-4 years, as upheld by its latest Ofsted inspection on 29th July 2025. The nursery operates for 51 weeks of the year, Monday to Friday, with sessions running from 6:45 am until 6:00 pm.

Children are welcomed into a nurturing environment where they quickly build trusting relationships with staff, aiding in smooth transitions from home. The dedicated team acts as positive role models, fostering kindness and respect, which contributes to children's good behaviour and confidence in routines.

The nursery offers a unique outdoor learning experience, where children delight in exploring an outdoor area. They practice moving in various ways, using slides and climbing equipment under careful supervision, and enjoy making mud cakes in the outdoor kitchen.

Engaging activities extend to using a parachute and observing the nursery's pet tortoise, learning about its care. This commitment to outdoor exploration is complemented by visits to an allotment, where older children plant seeds, learn about life cycles by observing caterpillars, and take part in harvesting vegetables.

This enriches their understanding of the natural world and promotes physical development. The nursery is proactive in supporting all children, including those with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).

Staff collaborate with external agencies like speech and language therapists and physiotherapists to tailor learning plans, ensuring all children make excellent progress from their individual starting points. The creative layout of the nursery offers inviting spaces for individual and small group work.

Leaders are passionate about fostering independence and life skills, such as putting on coats and practising changing into school uniforms, preparing older children for their transition to primary school. Dollymixtures Day Nursery maintains a communication-rich environment, encouraging interaction between children and with staff, through storytelling, songs, and group activities, enriching vocabulary and confidence.

Parents speak highly of the "nurturing team" and are encouraged to be involved in their children's journey through stay-and-play sessions.

What it's like

Children are excited to attend this nurturing nursery, where they build trusting relationships with staff and settle well. Staff are positive role models who promote kindness and respect, leading to children behaving well and confidently following routines.

Nurturing environmentRich outdoor learningLife skills educationCommunication-richSEND supportAllotment visits

Pricing & funding

Funding accepted

15 hours — universal (3–4 yrs)

Key facts

Opening hours

Monday to Friday for 51 weeks of the year. Sessions are from 6.45am until 6pm.

Ofsted Inspection

Ofsted rating for Dollymixtures Day Nursery

Last inspected 29 July 2025 · Ali Myers

Safeguarding effective
Overall effectiveness
Outstanding
Quality of education
Outstanding
Behaviour and attitudes
Outstanding
Personal development
Outstanding
Leadership and management
Outstanding

What it's like to attend

Children are excited to attend this nurturing nursery, where they build trusting relationships with staff and settle well. Staff are positive role models who promote kindness and respect, leading to children behaving well and confidently following routines.

Inspector highlights

  • Children explore an outdoor area with delight, engaging in activities like making mud cakes, using a parachute, and observing a pet tortoise.
  • Leaders enhance learning opportunities, teaching life skills such as removing shoes, putting on coats, and practising changing into school uniform.
  • The nurturing team provides an inclusive environment where all children access equal learning opportunities, promoting confidence and independence.
  • Staff and leaders commit to a communication-rich environment, fostering opportunities for children to learn from and converse with older peers, enjoy stories, sing songs, and engage in group activities.
  • Children visit an allotment, where they plant seeds, observe growth, learn about life cycles, and participate in harvesting vegetables.
  • Staff skilfully teach children about managing risk, identifying plants, and road safety.
  • Leaders and managers offer various opportunities for parents to engage in their children's nursery journey, like stay-and-play sessions, strengthening partnerships.
  • Staff report feeling supported in their roles with prioritised well-being and robust safeguarding systems.
Inspection #10399641 · Source: OfstedView full Ofsted report

What parents say

Verbatim quotes recorded in the Ofsted inspection

parents speak highly of the nurturing team.

Inclusion & environment

How they support every child

SEND provision

Staff and leaders work in collaboration with other agencies to enhance learning opportunities for children. They liaise with speech and language therapists and physiotherapists to plan appropriate next steps that support children's unique needs. The creative layout of the nursery offers inviting spaces for staff to spend time working with children individually or in small groups. As a result, all children make exceptionally good progress from their starting points.

Outdoor space

Children explore the outdoor area with delight. They practise moving in different ways and explore the slides and climbing equipment under the supervision of the attentive team. Staff engage with children as they make cakes with stones and mud in the outdoor kitchen.

Parent Reviews of Dollymixtures Day Nursery

4.3
(6)
Kieran Bourke
a year ago

Outstanding Nursery that has helped to nourish my little boy who adores the place. I love the updates I get of the activities they do such as beach day where they get a bouncy castle a paddling pool and a visit from the ice cream van, to trips to the local allotment.

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Tian T
7 years ago

Outstanding nursery by Ofsted. Chose this nursery after viewing a few, this is a very cosy and homey nursery. I can see Children are happy being there and practitioners are nice and friendly. Just hope my son settles well soon:) Update in Sept: My son has been going to the nursery for nearly 5 months and moved from Jelly tots to Tiger tots smoothly, I can tell he has been very happy in both rooms and progressing very fast. Personnel there are very stable and kids get to know each of them and they know all kids too. Nurses are very responsible and caring. I am glad to have made a good decision to send him here.

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Dan K
4 years ago

Didnt allow rescheduling of timeslots without penalty. Continued to charge for slots during coronavirus pandemic even if child didnt attend. Monopoly. My way or the high way attitude. No doubt happy to take the perks of government subsidies during the pandemic, but seemingly not willing to extend small courtesies/mercies to customers. Poor.

Read on Google

Reviews from Google for Dollymixtures Day Nursery. See all on Google Maps

Inspection history

Date: September 2011

  • July 2025Outstanding
  • December 2019Outstanding
  • January 2016Outstanding
  • September 2011Outstanding

Frequently asked about Dollymixtures Day Nursery

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