Business Details
17 Years
experience
Award-Winning Childcare & Early Education in the West Midlands
Shooting Stars is a family-owned network of six childcare settings established in 2009. Our nurseries provide secure, thoughtfully designed environments that prioritise child-led learning through heuristic play and adult-guided activities. With over 200 staff members, we deliver high-quality early years education focused on building confidence, self-esteem, and school readiness. Our values of Respect, Accountability, Passion, Integrity, and Delivery underpin all operations.We maintain strong parent partnerships through the eyLog app and NurseryCam CCTV, ensuring transparency and communication. Each nursery features purpose-built outdoor spaces and flexible registration options to accommodate family needs.
Services
Day Nursery Care
Early Years Education
Parent Partnership
Heuristic Play Sessions
School Readiness Programs
Nutrition Services
CCTV Monitoring
Flexible Registration
Details
- Year established: 2009
Highlights and features
- We operate six purpose-built nurseries with secure outdoor learning spaces
- Our staff teams combine paediatric first aid training with early years expertise
- We implement a blended learning approach combining heuristic play with EYFS frameworks
- Our Parentcam system provides real-time visibility of children's activities
- We maintain 15-minute daily communication windows for parent-staff interactions
What people say
Highly recommended
Amazing allergy support
Great daily updates
Secure CCTV access
Excellent school preparation
Services
Day Nursery Care
Our nurseries provide full-day childcare from 7:30am to 6pm, featuring secure outdoor play areas and age-appropriate learning resources. Staff maintain a 1:8 adult-child ratio for preschoolers, with dedicated key persons overseeing each child's development. The environment combines neutral tones with stimulating play spaces to prevent sensory overload.
Early Years Education
We deliver the Early Years Foundation Stage curriculum through a balanced approach of child-led exploration and structured learning. Daily activities develop communication, physical coordination, and social skills, with progress tracked through eyLog digital portfolios. Our school readiness programs prepare children for formal education through targeted developmental milestones.
Heuristic Play Sessions
Specially designed heuristic play sessions encourage sensory development through open-ended materials like natural objects and household items. These sessions promote problem-solving skills and creativity, with practitioners observing and extending children's self-directed learning. The approach supports cognitive development and motor skill refinement in early years.
Parent Partnership
We maintain continuous parent engagement through the eyLog app, sharing real-time observations and care updates. Regular partnership meetings review progress records, while NurseryCam provides encrypted video access to nursery activities. Parents contribute to learning journeys through home observations and 'My World' documentation updates.
Nutrition Services
Nutritionally balanced meals and snacks are prepared on-site following dietary requirements. Menus accommodate allergies and cultural preferences, with detailed records maintained for milk consumption, nappy changes, and sleep patterns. Daily food intake information is shared with parents through digital platforms and handover communications.
People
Jon Higgins
Owner/Director
Founded Shooting Stars in 2009 after identifying a need for quality childcare. Oversees strategic direction while maintaining focus on core values. Parent of three children, with personal experience of nursery selection challenges. Leads a team of over 200 staff across six locations.
Tracy Hedges
Area Manager
Responsible for operational standards across multiple nurseries. Ensures consistent delivery of childcare quality and staff development. Works closely with nursery managers to maintain regulatory compliance and implement best practices in early years education.
Stephanie Dickinson
Area Manager
Manages nursery operations and staff training programs. Focuses on maintaining safe environments and effective parent communication systems. Collaborates with strategic development teams to enhance educational outcomes across the nursery network.
Kully Dhillon
Strategic Development Manager
Drives continuous improvement initiatives and staff development programs. Develops training frameworks to enhance childcare practices across all locations. Works on implementing technological solutions like eyLog and NurseryCam to improve parent engagement.
Questions
What age groups do you cater for?
We provide childcare for children from 3 months to 5 years old across all nursery locations.
How do you support children with allergies?
Our staff receive specific training for allergy management, with individual care plans developed for each child requiring special dietary provisions.
Can parents view nursery activities in real time?
Yes, our NurseryCam system allows encrypted live video access for up to 15 minutes daily per child.
How do you track children's development?
We use the eyLog app to record observations, share progress reports, and maintain digital learning journeys accessible to parents 24/7.
What are your operating hours?
Nurseries operate Monday to Friday from 7:30am to 6pm, with flexible session options available.
Do you offer school readiness programs?
Yes, our curriculum includes specific school preparation activities focusing on social skills, independence, and foundational learning concepts.
