Partou Leaps and Bounds Day Nursery & Pre-school

Books to borrow, stories to act out and small jobs children could do themselves give Leaps and Bounds its clearest character in February 2022. The Brislington nursery has capacity for 70 children, accepting ages from three months to five years. Its address is 73-75 Birchwood Road, Bristol, BS4 4QN.

At its 9 February 2022 inspection, Ofsted rated the nursery Good and found safeguarding effective. That judgement is dated: the most useful detail beneath it concerns everyday independence, shared reading and the support children received from familiar adults.

In February 2022, children used story props to act out Going on a Bear Hunt, turning a book into something they could participate in. A lending library extended reading into family life: children chose a book to borrow using their own library card. This gave parents a concrete way to join in with nursery learning at home.

The early years foundation stage sets the framework for children's learning, development and care. Here, the February 2022 examples included exploring books, movement and manageable responsibilities: children served their food and helped put chairs away after meals. Independence was practised through ordinary tasks.

Physical activity also took different forms across ages in February 2022. Babies had room to move and pulled themselves upright against low tables; older children moved to music. A police visit during that month's inspection introduced children to a van and its siren, making people who help us a tangible subject rather than just a conversation.

In February 2022, The Colour Monster, a pop-up story connecting colours with emotions, helped staff open conversations about feelings. Parents received updates from their child's key person and could follow learning through online learning books. These were practical connections between home and nursery, alongside the books children borrowed.

At the February 2022 inspection, Ofsted identified weekly discussions about children's learning plans but asked leaders to give the special educational needs coordinator more support and establish clearer oversight of how additional funding supported learning. Families considering support for special educational needs and/or disabilities should weigh those improvement points alongside the daily communication arrangements described above.

The nursery opens Monday to Friday, from 7.30am to 6pm, across the year, closing for bank holidays and a week at Christmas. The weekday opening window offers scope for care around working hours; Christmas closure needs its own place in a family's plans.

In February 2022, the nursery received funding for early education for children aged two, three and four. This is a dated participation statement, rather than a promise of a particular funded attendance arrangement.

• Additional support. February 2022 improvement points concerned the coordinator's workload and oversight of support funding. At a visit, ask how learning plans, coordinator support and funding decisions now work together for a child needing extra help.
• Reading together. The February 2022 lending library connected nursery books with family reading. That approach will suit parents who enjoy sharing stories and building on their child's interests at home.

Leaps and Bounds merits consideration by Brislington families seeking weekday childcare across the year, especially those who value shared reading and opportunities for children to take on small responsibilities. Its February 2022 account offers concrete examples of both. For a child needing additional support, the coordinator and funding improvement points deserve particular attention in the family's decision.