Teddy Towers Childrens Nursery

Logs, a winding bark path and duck-pond walks give Teddy Towers Childrens Nursery a recognisable outdoor character. Its detached house in a residential area off Lancaster Lane has a private rear garden, with shrubs for den making and shade during the day. This is a setting where the surroundings offer children more to investigate than an open patch of lawn.

At its 13 July 2023 inspection, Ofsted rated the nursery Good overall. The important reservation concerned early language experiences for the youngest children, rather than the older children's enjoyment of stories and conversation.

The nursery welcomes children aged 3 to 60 months and has 33 places in total. Its address is 1 Lancaster Avenue, Leyland, PR25 5TD. Two free settling sessions give families an introduction to nursery life before regular attendance begins.

Rooms and Ages

Three bear names mark the stages: Twinkle is associated with the baby room for ages 0 to 2 years, Albie with the toddler room for ages 2 to 3, and Bramhall bear with preschool children older than 3. These room bands describe the organisation of the day; the nursery's accepted age range starts at 3 months.

In July 2023, babies used climbing and sliding equipment in their room, while children across the setting had daily opportunities for physical activity outdoors. Running between trees and digging for worms made movement and exploration part of the same experience. The garden gave children things to investigate as well as space to move.

Learning and Activities

The early years foundation stage provides the framework for children's learning, development and care. In everyday terms, this brings learning and care together through experiences that develop communication, movement and understanding of the world.

In July 2023, activities connected with children's interests and the topics they were exploring. Visiting farm animals brought those ideas into real life: children walked llamas and watched hens and ducks lay eggs. Eggs also became a starting point for talking about shape and size, alongside early number ideas such as adding or taking away one.

Older children joined familiar songs and engaged with stories in July 2023. Babies sometimes had fewer opportunities for these experiences with some staff. Strengthening communication and language work for the youngest children was the specific improvement requested, making the baby-room day an important consideration for families.

Outdoor and Community Life

The private garden combines picnic benches and substantial logs with a bark path leading towards the sheds. Plants and shrubbery create opportunities for den making and exploring tucked-away routes. Shade is part of the outdoor arrangement throughout the day.

Short local walks take children to nearby duck ponds to feed the ducks. In July 2023, visits to a nearby care home also gave children opportunities to talk with older residents and encounter differences between generations. These are concrete ways of connecting nursery learning with people and places beyond the rooms.

Two free taster sessions support settling. An open-door policy also allows parents to call in, making contact with the setting part of its everyday arrangements rather than something reserved for formal appointments.

At the July 2023 inspection, Ofsted found safeguarding effective and support for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities effective, with staff understanding individual needs and working with other agencies. Current staff arrangements include paediatric first-aid training and face-to-face safeguarding training.

In July 2023, staff noticed children's frustrations and helped them understand their feelings and the effect of their actions on others. Communication with parents included updates about learning and the sharing of progress information. A lending library extended book sharing into home life, giving families a practical way to continue those experiences together.

Independence also featured in July 2023: children selected toppings while making pizzas for lunch. Activities of this kind connected everyday choices with preparation for moving on to school. Fresh hot meals are prepared by the nursery's own in-house cook.

Sessions and Attendance

Opening hours are 7.30am to 5.30pm, Monday to Friday. The nursery operates across the year, closing for bank holidays and Christmas. This gives families a clear opening window to compare with their working day.

Enquiries can be made by telephone or email. The open-door policy includes prospective parents; questions for an introductory visit are set out below.

Getting There

The nursery is at 1 Lancaster Avenue, Leyland, PR25 5TD, in the residential area off Lancaster Lane. It is close to junction 28 of the M6 and has eight private off-road parking bays described as disabled-sized.

Funding and Paid Extras

Funded childcare is offered for children aged 2, 3 and 4. Families should obtain current prices in a written quotation from the nursery.

• The youngest children's language experiences. In July 2023, babies sometimes received fewer songs and stories from some staff than older children. During a visit, ask how these experiences now fit into the baby-room day.
• Settling before regular attendance. Two free taster sessions provide an introduction. Use them to discuss how your child's routines will fit with nursery life.
• Attendance and the written quotation. The nursery opens across the year and offers funded childcare for ages 2, 3 and 4. Which booking pattern would suit your family, and how would meals and consumables be treated within the quotation?

Teddy Towers suits families drawn to a house-based nursery with a natural garden, local duck-pond walks and an in-house cook. The two settling sessions offer a practical introduction, while weekday opening across the year may fit families needing continuity beyond school terms.

The July 2023 Good judgement provides a positive inspection position, with a clear reservation for parents of babies: the consistency of early language experiences deserves attention. The garden and community experiences give this nursery its character; the youngest children's daily interactions should carry equal weight in the decision.