Cliffe House Day Nursery Burley-in-Wharfedale

A daily story vote and imaginary unicorn biscuits give Cliffe House’s nursery day some character: in June 2023, children helped choose their reading and used writing materials to plan pretend baking. These were small opportunities to make decisions and give their ideas a purpose.

At its June 2023 inspection, Ofsted rated the nursery Good and found safeguarding effective. The setting on Main Street, Burley in Wharfedale, accepts children from 3 to 60 months and has 70 places in total; that capacity is not a room size or a measure of how many children attend together.

The early years foundation stage sets the framework for children’s learning, development and care. Here, the June 2023 examples show what learning through play could look like: toddlers explored temperature and weight through ice containing small creatures, while babies investigated cereal through their senses.

Language and early mathematics ran through those experiences. In June 2023, staff responded to babies’ sounds and gestures, helped toddlers build short sentences and encouraged families to borrow books. Counting scoops while filling containers gave toddlers a practical reason to use numbers and compare shapes. Older children explored words for position through play.

Outdoor play also had a clear physical purpose in June 2023. A climbing frame, sandpit and mud kitchen gave toddlers opportunities to climb and manipulate materials; babies had room to crawl and practise standing. Older children pushed scooters and other wheeled toys. Bug hunting with a magnifying lens brought observation and counting into the garden, connecting movement with close attention to living things.

In June 2023, children turned to their key person and other familiar staff for comfort and shared play. Babies enjoyed books alongside an adult. Those everyday interactions matter because reassurance and exploration need to work together, especially for the youngest children.

Staff also helped children consider other people’s feelings in June 2023, talking through the effects of their actions and supporting turn-taking. Assessments were reviewed when children needed extra help, so the next steps could respond to individual needs.

Fresh meals and snacks accommodated children’s dietary requirements and preferences in June 2023. Handwashing around meals and toileting, alongside conversations about teeth and healthy food, connected care routines with growing independence.

The address is Main Street, Burley in Wharfedale, LS29 7DG. Opening hours are 7.30am to 6pm, Monday to Friday, with year-round opening and closures for bank holidays and Christmas. That operating calendar matters for families organising care across working weeks and holiday periods.

In June 2023, the nursery provided funded early education for children aged two, three and four. Families should obtain current prices in a written quotation from the nursery.

• Time to talk. In June 2023, some adults moved conversations along before children had enough thinking time, and pronunciation was not consistently modelled accurately. During a visit, ask how staff now support children to finish their answers and hear words spoken clearly.
• Funding and the total bill. Funded early education formed part of the June 2023 offer. Which funded attendance arrangements would suit your child now, and what would the written quotation cover for additional hours, food and consumables?

Cliffe House suits families seeking year-round weekday care on Main Street, with provision spanning babies through older preschool children. Its June 2023 examples give substance to the nursery day: sensory exploration, imaginative writing and outdoor movement. The language improvements remain an important discussion point, alongside the practical fit of the attendance arrangement.