Opening hours
Monday to Friday, all year round, except for bank holidays. Sessions are from 7.30am until 6pm.
Smartys Pre-School Nursery
Ofsted: Good
(Feb 2022)
Number of places
40 places
Age range
2–5 yrs
Last inspected
Feb 2022
Local authority
Staffordshire
About this day nursery
Smartys Pre-School Nursery, established in 2006, is a well-regarded childcare setting located in Little Stoke, Staffordshire, registered as Smarty's Day Nursery (Stone) Limited. The nursery operates from Monday to Friday, all year round, closing only for bank holidays, with sessions running from 7:30 am until 6:00 pm.
The dedicated team of five childcare staff includes two individuals with Level 3 early years qualifications and two qualified teachers, ensuring a high standard of education and care for children aged 2 to 7. The nursery, with a capacity for 40 children and 34 currently on roll, provides funded early education for two-, three-, and four-year-old children.
Committed to fostering independence and individuality, Smartys Pre-School Nursery offers a diverse curriculum with a focus on children's interests and developmental needs. The setting creates a welcoming and stimulating environment where children are encouraged to engage in various activities, from manipulating play dough and building with natural materials to developing physical skills and early literacy through engaging storytelling.
What it's like
Children arriving at the pre-school nursery are welcomed by warm and caring staff and quickly become engaged in various interesting activities. Staff use these opportunities to strengthen hand muscles, laying the foundations for handwriting. Children are eager to learn new skills due to high expectations from staff. Staff provide a curriculum that gives clear focus to children's interests, helping them make good progress.
Warm and caring staffStimulating activitiesFocus on individuality
Pricing & funding
Funding accepted
15 hours — eligible 2-year-olds15 hours — universal (3–4 yrs)
Key facts
Term time / All Year
All_year
Established
2006
Ofsted Inspection
Ofsted rating for Smartys Pre-School Nursery
Last inspected 10 February 2022
Overall effectiveness
Good
What it's like to attend
Children arriving at the pre-school nursery are welcomed by warm and caring staff and quickly become engaged in various interesting activities. Staff use these opportunities to strengthen hand muscles, laying the foundations for handwriting. Children are eager to learn new skills due to high expectations from staff. Staff provide a curriculum that gives clear focus to children's interests, helping them make good progress.
Inspector highlights
- Children are welcomed by warm and caring staff and quickly engage in interesting activities.
- Staff provide a curriculum that focuses on children's interests and helps all children make good progress.
- Children develop a love of books through enthusiastic reading and questioning by staff.
- The setting promotes children's independence and individuality, exposing them to various traditions and festivities.
- Staff are proud of the environment and opportunities for children to freely access activities, fostering motivated learners.
- Children develop physical skills through stimulating experiences like making scented 'potions' and practicing fine motor skills with scissors and drawing.
- Parents speak highly of the nursery, receiving regular feedback on their children's progress.
- The management team is knowledgeable, with a clear vision for development, and supports staff through supervision and peer-to-peer observations.
- The safeguarding arrangements are effective, with staff consistently focusing on children's safety and carrying out effective risk assessments.
Areas to develop
- 1Support staff to use consistent and effective questioning techniques to further extend all children's communication and language skills.
- 2Help staff to identify further opportunities to develop children's understanding of numbers, counting and mathematical concepts as they play.
Inspection #10116294 · Source: OfstedView full Ofsted report
Inclusion & environment
How they support every child
SEND provision
All children have a designated key person and build good bonds with all staff. Through recent staffing changes, this system has helped to ensure children's individual needs are being cared for well.
Outdoor space
Children benefit from stimulating learning activities outdoors. They have opportunities to develop their physical skills and use their imaginations well in their play.
Inspection history
Date: June 2010
- February 2022Good
- June 2014Outstanding
- June 2010Outstanding
Frequently asked about Smartys Pre-School Nursery
Nearby day nurseries in Stone
Other Ofsted-registered day nurseries close to Smartys Pre-School Nursery.
-
0.3 miOfsted: Good
Smartys Toddler Nursery
Stone · ST15 8QF
-
0.8 miOfsted: Outstanding
Smartys Little Stars Nursery
Walton, Stone · ST15 0AA
-
0.8 miOfsted: Good
Smartys Little Stars Nursery
Stone · ST15 0AA
-
1.0 miOfsted: Good
Mumbles Day Nursery
Stone · ST15 0EQ
4.4(10 reviews) -
1.1 miOfsted: Good
Elmhurst House Day Nursery
Stone · ST15 8EL
4.5(8 reviews) -
1.6 miAwaiting first inspection
Kids Planet Stone
Stone · ST15 8LL
Are you the owner of this nursery? Claim this listing to manage photos, hours and contact details.
Claim listingShare this nursery
Send to a partner, friend or family member.
This listing has been compiled from official Ofsted records, the nursery's own website, details provided directly by the nursery where available, and other trusted public sources. We regularly review and update listings to keep the information as accurate as possible. Learn more