Rising Stars Pre School & Nursery

Weekly French with Kidslingo and activity sessions at Goldstar Active give Rising Stars Pre School & Nursery a recognisable character. Its setting inside the Willerby leisure venue puts gymnastics, ballet and soft play alongside a nursery day built around children's interests. These activities have different arrangements: French is part of preschool life, while parents can enrol children in the leisure sessions for an additional charge.

At its May 2026 inspection, Ofsted judged all six evaluated areas to meet the Expected standard and safeguarding standards to be met, with improvements needed in babies' outdoor access and the consistency of teaching during free play. That inspection followed a risk assessment prompted by information received about the provider.

On York Way in Willerby, Hull, the nursery has 60 places in total and accepts children from three months to five years. Its room arrangements distinguish younger children upstairs from preschool children downstairs. Attendance choices include full days, shorter days, morning and afternoon sessions, and term-time places.

Rooms and Ages

Babies and toddlers, described for children from three months to two and a half years, have an upstairs play area with an enclosed space for babies who are not yet mobile; their activities emphasise movement, communication and emotional development through textures, mark-making and exploratory play.

Preschool, for children from two and a half to four years, encourages children to choose resources, build friendships and help with tidying, making everyday participation part of preparing for school.

Learning and Activities

The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) provides the framework for learning through play across areas such as language, movement, social development and early mathematics. Rising Stars uses in the moment planning alongside it: practitioners respond to what interests a child during play and introduce learning there and then. Children can select their own resources, so their questions and discoveries help shape the day.

Phonics and arithmetic are incorporated into play, while gardening, seasonal changes and explorations of the wider world introduce new experiences.

In May 2026, babies practised standing and early walking, including children needing extra help with movement. Older toddlers used songs about the weather and days of the week, took turns greeting friends, and returned to stories during pretend play. These examples show how repetition and familiar material connected group activities with children's own play.

Teaching during that free play was less consistent. In May 2026, leaders recognised these weaknesses, but their checks and demonstrations of teaching were not yet helping staff improve their interactions as effectively as they could. In May 2026, mathematical vocabulary was sometimes introduced during construction and sand activities, but staff did not use these opportunities evenly. Praise also needed to explain more precisely what a child had done well. The practical distinction is between encouragement that feels good and feedback that helps a child understand and repeat a skill.

Preschool enrichment includes weekly French lessons from Kidslingo, weekly baking and opportunities to make music with a teacher and musician. Baking lets children help make the food they try; French introduces another language through a recurring session. Goldstar Active adds separately charged gymnastics, trampolining, baby ballet and soft play, giving parents another way to build physical activities into their child's attendance.

Outdoor and Community Life

The all-weather outdoor area includes decked reading corners shaded by giant sails, planting in reused tyres and a mud kitchen for imaginative play. Visits to shops, parks and local libraries give children experiences of their wider community to bring back into play.

The upstairs arrangement needs careful consideration for babies. In May 2026, younger children went outdoors less regularly than older children, although they enjoyed wheeled toys, water and sand when outside. Improving those opportunities and making babies' daily routines flow more smoothly were explicit next steps. The existence of an outdoor area does not, by itself, explain how often a baby uses it.

Relationships and Communication

Settling starts with a baby's home routine, which staff aim to follow closely. Each baby has a key person to discuss care and development with parents, giving families a regular contact.

The daily online diary includes feeding, sleep and nappy-change information. A secure learning journal also lets families contribute photographs from home and see pictures and notes about nursery experiences. Parents can identify things they would like staff to work on, while annual parents' evenings and stay-and-play days provide further opportunities to participate.

At the May 2026 inspection, Ofsted found that staff used observations and parent conversations to identify additional needs, were prepared to support children with SEND, and maintained communication that helped children settle. Individual focus weeks brought together information about each child's development, and parents valued updates through the online application.

Inclusion and Wellbeing

A Special Educational Needs Officer role sits within the management team, giving responsibility for additional support an identifiable place in the nursery's structure.

Sleep provision includes a quiet space with gentle lighting and lullabies, as well as areas with cots where younger children can rest. In May 2026, staff removed hair accessories before naps, monitored sleeping children and supervised eating closely. Outdoor footwear was kept out of baby spaces, protecting the surfaces used by children who were not yet mobile.

Fresh meals are made each day on site in The Grind at Goldstar Active. The food arrangements include respect for individual dietary requirements and allergen-free options, making a discussion of a child's particular needs part of arranging their meals.

School transition includes reciprocal visits and an assessment shared with the new school, with parents contributing their views. Children can meet their teacher before moving, and the school receives information about their needs.

Sessions and Attendance

Opening hours are 7.30am to 6pm, Monday to Friday, with year-round operation apart from bank holidays. The address is York Way, Willerby, Hull, HU10 6HD, within Goldstar Active. Families can enquire by telephone or email and request a brochure.

A full day runs from 7.30am to 6pm; the shorter day is 8am to 4pm. Morning sessions run from 7.30am to 12.30pm, and afternoons from 1pm to 6pm. A full-week option runs Monday to Friday, while flexible packages and term-time attendance are offered across the age range.

For preschool children aged two to four, shorter sessions run from 9am to noon or from 1pm to 4pm, offering earlier collection than the longer morning and afternoon sessions.

Funding and Paid Extras

Funded places are offered for two-, three- and four-year-olds. Funding can be used between 8am and 5.30pm, with separately charged half-hour additions before and after that window. Families considering the earliest start or latest collection should distinguish those additions from the funded part of their child's day.

Day-care prices include meals, snacks, nappies and wipes. Parents can enrol children in separately charged Goldstar Active classes, with a discount for children attending Rising Stars.

Current prices come in the nursery's written quotation. The fees page sets out the attendance choices and charging structure, while the curriculum page explains the child-led approach and parent journal.

• Babies upstairs. In May 2026, younger children had less frequent outdoor access than older children, and smoother routines were a next step. On a visit, ask how outdoor play now fits around naps, feeding and the upstairs room.
• Teaching during play. The May 2026 next steps included more consistent mathematical language and more specific praise. Ask for an example of how staff extend a child's chosen activity and explain what they have achieved.
• Funded hours and collection times. Funding is usable from 8am to 5.30pm, while the full day starts earlier and ends later. The additional half-hours carry a charge, so compare the quotation with the hours your family will actually use.
• Individual dietary needs. Meals are prepared on site and dietary requirements are accommodated within the food arrangements. Families managing allergies should confirm current preparation and serving practice for their child's particular requirements.

Rising Stars suits families choosing between morning or afternoon attendance, shorter preschool sessions and full days, including those seeking term-time care. Its appeal is specific: child-led planning, weekly Kidslingo French, practical parent journals and access to Goldstar Active activities that parents can add separately.

For babies, familiar routines and the enclosed upstairs play space have practical value, but the May 2026 outdoor-access weakness needs attention. Older children have baking, music and community outings alongside French. Families should weigh these opportunities against the identified teaching improvements.