Space Cadets
GoodBirth to 8+Long established
A day nursery in Stoke-On-Trent for children from birth to 8+, open 8am to 6pm. They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask. Rated Good by Ofsted in March 2022. Open since 2015, with 32 places.
What you might pay
This setting does not publish its fees, and no national dataset holds them. This is what childcare costs across the council, as a starting point for the call.
What childcare usually costs in Staffordshire
This is not this setting's price. It is the median hourly fee across all providers in Staffordshire from the Department for Education's 2025 provider survey. No national data holds what an individual nursery charges, so ring and ask.
Places, hours and the day
Who they take, when they are open, and what a day there includes.
Where it is
ST8 7DFWhat the inspector found
One grade is one visit. A run of them tells you whether it has been good for years or has only just got there.
Ofsted inspector, 24 March 2022 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Children receive a warm and friendly welcome from the manager and staff. They quickly settle into the routines of the setting and chat with their friends. Children make independent choices on the direction of their play from the available resources and become engaged in their chosen activity. Children make good progress from their starting points. They learn through an effective balance of adult-led activities and child-initiated play. Children are confident and form emotional attachments with staff and their key person, which helps them to feel safe and secure.
Children's behaviour is good. They respond positively to the gentle reminders from staff to share, take turns and be kind to others. Children receive encouragement and praise, which helps to support their self-esteem. This is demonstrated when children show pride in their achievements, sharing their drawings with the inspector. Children demonstrate good pencil control and can recognise and write some numbers and the letters of their name. Children are supported to develop an awareness of cultures beyond their own. Staff teach children about different festivals through planned activities, such as painting pictures of four-leaf clovers for
Saint Patrick's Day. Children have opportunities to learn about the world around them, such as the changing seasons and nature. They have fun as they fill bird feeders with seeds and fat balls. Children use their imagination in the mud kitchen.
What Ofsted told them to improve
To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should:
- support staff to use more opportunities to help children consolidate their learning and understanding n review and enhance the outdoor learning environment, particularly for those children who prefer to learn outdoors.
- 24 March 2022Good
- 4 August 2016Good
Rated Good or Outstanding at 2 of the last 2 graded inspections.
Still missing for Space Cadets
- What it costs
- Funded hours
- Youngest age taken
- Meals
- Nappies
- Waiting list
No dataset holds any of this. Two parents telling us the same thing puts it on the page for whoever looks next.
What to ask them
None of this is in any national dataset and this setting has not published it, which is exactly why it is worth asking.
- What does it cost, all in? What is on top: meals, nappies, late pick-up, and what happens if you are late.
- Can I use my funded hours here? Whether they stretch them over the year, and the minimum days you have to book.
- Is there a place for my child's age? Baby rooms fill first and waiting lists are common.
- Who would my child's key person be? And how long have the staff been there. No dataset holds this and it matters more than anything above.
- Can I visit at a busy time? Mid-morning on a weekday tells you far more than an empty room after hours.
Day nurseries within a couple of miles
This one is first. Tick it and one or two others to see them side by side.