Lilliput Montessori Day Nursery, Leicester Forest East

An upstairs outdoor deck, a toddler sensory room and baby rooms arranged around changing mobility give this purpose-built nursery a clear physical identity. The accommodation changes with the children. At Leicester Forest East, that means moving from spaces for babies to sensory exploration and, later, more choice between indoor and outdoor play.

Ofsted rated the nursery Good on 29 May 2024 and judged safeguarding effective, with positive findings about emotional wellbeing, independence and communication. Two improvement points deserve attention alongside that judgement: keeping babies engaged in group activities and getting the timing of younger children's progress checks right.

Lilliput Montessori Day Nursery, Leicester Forest East has capacity for 100 children, with an accepted age range of 2 to 60 months. It stands on Forest House Lane, Leicester Forest East, Leicester, LE3 3NU. Morning and afternoon bookings sit alongside opening hours extending from early morning into the evening.

Rooms and Ages

Under 2's have two rooms sharing access to their own kitchen and bathroom, with children moving to the second room as they begin walking; that space connects through French doors to outdoor play and contains resources suited to their stage of development.

For 2 to 3 year olds, the Toddler rooms combine a bathroom, sensory activities and messy exploration, with fluorescent materials in a room that can serve as a sensory room and direct outdoor access from the other.

The 3 to 4 year olds use three upstairs rooms for creative play and learning, moving between them and an outside deck at first-floor level, so choosing where to play becomes part of their day.

These arrangements give families something concrete to weigh beyond the nursery's overall size. A child beginning to walk has a different room arrangement from an older child choosing between indoor activities and the deck. Moving through the nursery therefore changes both the resources children use and the choices they can make.

Learning and Activities

The nursery follows the early years foundation stage, the framework for children's learning, development and care: its day brings together play, communication and practical skills. Montessori is the additional educational approach, centred on children learning through practical exploration and increasing independence.

In May 2024, babies practised matching sounds with words, while conversations with older children introduced more precise vocabulary. Staff used children's interests and what they were ready to tackle next when planning learning. For parents, the useful detail is the connection between an ordinary conversation or chosen activity and the next thing a child is learning.

Everyday tasks also carried educational weight in May 2024. Babies attempted to put on shoes with adult help; older children served themselves lunch, poured drinks and dealt with their plates afterwards. These are tangible opportunities to practise doing things independently, rather than treating preparation for the next stage as a separate lesson.

Group activities were less consistent for the youngest children. In May 2024, some sessions were arranged in ways that allowed babies' attention to drift. The distinction matters: resources and planned activities are only part of the picture; how staff organise an activity affects whether a baby can stay involved.

Relationships and Communication

In May 2024, each child's key person exchanged information with parents at handover, while an online app provided further updates about care and learning. This paired immediate conversation with a continuing account of the child's day. It gave staff a way to use information from home and parents a way to follow nursery experiences.

Baby care was responsive to individual routines in May 2024. Practitioners offered physical reassurance and took their time over nappy changes, responding to babies rather than rushing through the task. For a family choosing care for a very young child, these ordinary routines are as relevant as the toys and activities.

Inclusion and Wellbeing

In May 2024, staff helped children take turns, share resources and handle disagreements through encouragement. Older children also discussed personal space and sought a friend's agreement before a cuddle. That makes social learning concrete: children practise expressing what feels comfortable and recognising another child's wishes.

At the May 2024 inspection, Ofsted identified two priorities: reorganising baby group activities to sustain attention, and clarifying practitioners' understanding of the correct timing for the two-to-three-year progress check. Some checks had begun before children were two, affecting the accuracy of that assessment. This is a specific assessment issue, separate from the broader account of daily communication with parents.

Sessions and Attendance

Opening hours are 7.30am to 6pm, Monday to Friday. A Morning Session runs from 7.30am to 12.30pm; an Afternoon Session runs from 1pm to 6pm. These give families two clearly different booking windows rather than requiring attendance across the whole opening day.

Education Funding Sessions are also offered, including an afternoon window from noon to 3pm. Bank holidays and Christmas week are closures. The nursery operates across the year, which matters for families whose childcare needs continue beyond school terms.

Funding and Paid Extras

Funded childcare forms part of the offer. In May 2024, the nursery provided funded early education for children aged two, three and four. That dated provision should be kept separate from a family's individual eligibility and the funded booking they arrange. Current prices come in the nursery's written quotation.

Getting There

The address is Forest House Lane, Leicester Forest East, Leicester, LE3 3NU. A dedicated Leicester Forest East contact form provides an enquiry route for this branch.

• Baby group activities. The May 2024 improvement point concerned babies losing attention during some organised sessions. On a tour, ask how practitioners now arrange these activities around babies' stages of development.
• Progress checks. In May 2024, some assessments started before children reached two. Families approaching this stage should discuss when their child's check will happen and how its findings will be shared.
• Funded morning timing. The Education Funding Session morning window is printed as 8.30am to 11.30pm, which conflicts with the 6pm closing time. Confirm the intended end time before choosing this booking.
• Baby-room fit. Babies move between rooms as they become mobile, and a separate branch tour form allows families to request a visit. Ask about the usual number of babies together and how the move between these spaces is handled.

This nursery suits families seeking either morning or afternoon attendance, with accommodation that changes as children develop and outdoor access built into several stages. The upstairs deck and toddler sensory room are useful reasons to look closely at the setting. The May 2024 Good judgement gives the review a positive foundation, while baby group organisation and progress-check timing remain the two specific matters to explore when deciding whether it fits your child.