Thornbury Play & Learn Nursery CIC

A shared story travels home with every family at Thornbury Play & Learn Nursery CIC: Book of the Term gives children a book to keep, daily readings at nursery and activities built around the same story. It is a concrete connection between nursery learning and time with parents. The setting is a purpose-built nursery on Thornbury Road in Bradford, run as a community interest company with an aim of providing care and education rather than making a profit.

At its 5 October 2023 inspection, Ofsted judged the nursery Good overall. It accepts children aged two to five and has 24 places in total. Individual planning, a key person working with each family and quieter spaces for rest shape the current offer. Attendance is term-time only, with morning, afternoon, full-day and extended-day patterns.

Learning and Activities

The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) provides the framework for learning through play, covering children's communication, physical development, relationships and early understanding of subjects such as literacy and mathematics. Here, children's interests inform individual plans, while adult-led activities introduce seasons, festivals and other topics. That gives the day both a personal starting point and shared experiences.

Each child's key person gathers information from parents alongside observations at nursery. Development is assessed when children start and again each term, with regular meetings to discuss those assessments. The practical value is continuity: something a child enjoys at home can inform an activity at nursery, and parents can discuss how their interests and skills are developing.

Book of the Term adds a specific rhythm. A story is selected each term, read daily and used to inspire activities; families receive their own copy to keep. Stay & Play invites parents to spend an hour joining activities linked to that book. Repetition connects the experiences, rather than leaving the nursery story behind at the end of a session.

A small library also lends books and story sacks for children to take home. These are different arrangements: the term's chosen book belongs to the family, while library materials are borrowed. For parents who enjoy sharing stories, both create opportunities to continue familiar learning at home.

Outdoor and Community Life

In October 2023, children investigated snails and insects outdoors with magnifying glasses, then shared their discoveries with others. Water play introduced language about quantities, while a cooking activity involved counting spoonfuls into cupcake cases. These examples show how ordinary play could carry conversation, observation and early mathematical thinking in the same activity.

Outdoor physical play in October 2023 included crates to climb on, ball games, bikes and other wheeled toys, alongside large slides and climbing frames. There was scope for movement as well as close investigation. Those examples describe the nursery day at that time, rather than a timetable of current recurring sessions.

Relationships and Communication

Settling is planned around the child. Parents and staff agree an individual plan, recognising that some children settle quickly while others need more time. Key persons support the move into nursery, work with parents to understand children's interests and help children develop relationships with one another. For a family beginning nursery for the first time, that gives settling a personal structure.

Quieter areas provide space to rest and relax. Practitioners help children learn familiar routines, while regular assessment meetings give parents a way to discuss development. A regular newsletter provides another connection with nursery life, alongside the shared stories and parent activities.

Inclusion and Wellbeing

At the October 2023 inspection, Ofsted found safeguarding effective and identified effective SEND strategies that helped children anticipate daily routines, with staff sharing relevant information with other professionals. That is a dated judgement about practice, rather than a general promise about every child's future experience.

There were also clear points to develop in October 2023. Staff encouraged friendships through games with other children, but needed to do more to help children understand their emotions, manage behaviour and recognise its effect on others. Staff supervision and performance management arrangements also needed to become more firmly established so emerging weaknesses could be addressed promptly.

Snacks take account of children's dietary needs. In October 2023, staff encouraged hygiene habits and children made healthy snack choices. The current individual settling arrangements and key-person relationships are useful starting points for families, while the dated improvement points give a specific subject for a visit discussion.

Sessions and Attendance

The address is 103 Thornbury Road, Bradford, BD3 8SA. Care runs during term time, Monday to Friday, with school holidays closed and no fees payable during those holiday periods. This matters for the annual family schedule as much as the daily collection time.

Morning sessions run from 8.45am to 11.45am; afternoon sessions are from 12.15pm to 3.15pm. The full day runs from 9am to 3pm, while Full day extended runs from 8.45am to 3.15pm. The separate patterns give families a choice between a shorter nursery session and attendance spanning the middle of the day.

Applications give priority to two-year-olds qualifying for two-year-old funding, local children, siblings and children with special educational needs or disabilities. These are nursery admission priorities. Enquiries can be made through the contact form, by telephone on 01274 669901 or by email at info@thornburynursery.co.uk.

Funding and Paid Extras

Funded childcare and privately paid attendance are both offered. The term-time offer includes 15/30 hours free funded places for eligible children from age two, and the 15-hour entitlement from the term after a child's third birthday. Private hours can cover attendance beyond funded hours or care for a child who does not qualify for funding. Families should obtain current prices in the nursery's written quotation.

• Term-time calendar. The nursery closes for school holidays, and fees are not payable during those periods. Families needing care throughout the year will need a holiday arrangement alongside their nursery attendance.
• Emotions and staff practice. The October 2023 improvement points concerned children's understanding of feelings and behaviour, and the embedding of staff performance management. On a visit, ask how those areas now work in everyday practice.
• Settling and shared stories. Individual settling plans, Book of the Term and Stay & Play give parents specific ways to participate. Discuss how the settling plan would fit your child and how you would join the book activities.
• The complete quotation. Funded and paid attendance can sit alongside one another. Ask for a written breakdown covering your chosen pattern, meals and snacks, and non-food consumables, so the practical arrangements and total cost are clear.

Thornbury suits families seeking term-time morning or afternoon sessions, as well as those choosing a full or extended day. Its strongest practical character lies in the links between home and nursery: individual settling, regular assessment discussions, a shared termly book and materials to borrow. Those are tangible ways for parents to take part.

The October 2023 Good judgement provides a dated quality reference, with concrete improvement points to explore. For families whose calendar matches the term-time model and who value shared reading and a close key-person relationship, this is a nursery with a clear, useful offer.