The Lanes Day Nursery

Paint, dinosaur footprints and conversation give The Lanes Day Nursery a recognisable character: in February 2024, young children explored mark-making while staff encouraged their first words. Everyday play supplied the starting point for learning.

The West Hallam nursery has capacity for 42 children, from birth to four years. At its February 2024 inspection, Ofsted rated it Good overall. The strongest practical examples concerned language, physical coordination and growing independence, alongside two clear teaching priorities: sharper intentions for activities and better education about using technology safely.

The early years foundation stage is the framework for children's learning, development and care, bringing communication, movement and learning through play into the day.

In February 2024, staff echoed younger children's sounds and added gestures to help them communicate. Aeroplane play gave older children vocabulary about luggage and passengers, then a reason to use it in imaginary holidays. Language learning grew out of what children were doing.

Physical experiences were equally concrete. In February 2024, the soft play area supported climbing, balance and target practice; scissors, glue and tape brought smaller hand movements into picture-making. Pipettes and homemade play dough offered further opportunities to practise coordination.

Numbered owl resources helped children explore ordering and adding numbers that February. The limitation was consistency: children became distracted when an activity's purpose was unclear or staff attempted too much together. Clearer teaching intentions mattered more than adding another resource.

In February 2024, children separated comfortably from parents after building trusting relationships with staff. Adults explained how behaviour affected other people and helped children manage feelings, giving everyday disagreements a place in learning about kindness.

At the February 2024 inspection, Ofsted found safeguarding effective and additional-needs support good, with adapted activities and collaboration involving physiotherapists and speech and language teams. These were concrete support mechanisms, connecting nursery activities with specialist input.

Parents knew their child's key person in February 2024 and knew how to access information to support learning at home. Managers also planned support for children's next stage of education. Independence featured in everyday care: children practised cutting fruit safely, serving food and washing their hands before eating.

The address is 155 High Lane Central, West Hallam, Ilkeston, DE7 6HU.

In February 2024, opening hours were 7.45am to 6pm, Monday to Friday, across the year, with bank holidays and the week between Christmas and New Year excluded. Funded early education was offered to two-, three- and four-year-olds at that time.

• Teaching precision. In February 2024, unclear activity aims sometimes disrupted children's concentration. Look for how staff explain what an activity helps an individual child learn.
• Technology education. Safe technology use needed a more established place in teaching in February 2024. Ask how this is now approached with preschool children.
• Attendance fit. The February 2024 opening window extended from early morning into the evening. Which booking patterns and funded-hours arrangements would fit your family's week?

The Lanes suits families who value conversation-rich play, practical independence and support that connects with outside specialists. In February 2024, aeroplane role play and preparing snacks gave children practical opportunities to build language and independence. The decision also deserves attention to teaching consistency and safe technology education, the two priorities identified at that visit.