Lonsdale Nursery

Nine rooms across two floors and two enclosed outdoor areas give Lonsdale Nursery a substantial physical footprint. At 22 Grange Road in Hartlepool, it combines nursery care with after-school and school-holiday provision for children from birth to 11 years. It has 58 places in total. That is whole-setting capacity, rather than the size of an individual room or group.

At its 14 July 2023 inspection, Ofsted recorded that the provision met requirements, but made no judgement on early-years quality because no children of that age were present. This distinction matters: the outcome establishes compliance at that visit, rather than an assessment of teaching and its impact on young children.

Full-day, half-day and term-time attendance patterns sit alongside the older children's services.

The early years foundation stage sets the requirements for children's learning, development and care; here, the July 2023 account described learning through play, with activities planned around children's interests and what they needed to learn next. This connects an activity to a child's next step, rather than treating play and assessment as separate parts of the day.

In July 2023, the manager explained how learning would be assessed and how a progress check would be completed for children aged between two and three. These were plans discussed at the visit, rather than observations of early-years children taking part. They give families a useful picture of the intended teaching approach, with that important limit on what was assessed.

The current surroundings offer indoor rooms over two storeys and enclosed outdoor space. Trips to parks and other nearby amenities extend learning beyond the building, giving children opportunities to explore their surroundings. The practical appeal is the combination of space within the nursery and experiences outside it, rather than a named specialist programme.

In July 2023, the manager outlined detailed conversations with parents at both ends of the day, alongside sharing children's next learning steps and ideas for activities at home. That approach would give handovers an educational purpose as well as passing on daily care information.

The same July 2023 discussion covered working with speech and language therapists to support children with special educational needs or disabilities. Behaviour support was also planned with parents: staff would help children consider the effects of their actions and work towards solutions, while families and practitioners developed a shared approach. These are descriptions of intended support, rather than an assessment of its impact on children.

In July 2023, nine staff were employed. The manager discussed staff training, recognising signs of abuse, responding to concerns and handling allegations involving staff. Those discussions explain the safeguarding arrangements considered at that time; they should be read alongside the limited inspection outcome above.

Home-cooked food is included in the charges, together with drinks and snacks. Families supply nappies, wipes, nappy cream and any required baby formula, so everyday care involves a clear division between nursery provision and items brought from home.

Sessions and Attendance

Opening hours are 7.30am to 6pm, Monday to Friday, across 51 weeks of the year. Bank holidays and approximately a week over Christmas are closures, which families need to account for when arranging care across the year.

The booking choices include full days, half days and extra hours, plus term-time places. Before-school care, a lunchtime run and after-school care also feature in the older children's provision. These are different attendance patterns, rather than a single full-day model.

Lonsdale's address is 22 Grange Road, Hartlepool, TS26 8JB. Enquiries can be made by telephone or email through its contact details.

Funding and Paid Extras

Government Funded Childcare is accepted, including 30 hours for eligible working parents, the 15-hour entitlement for three- and four-year-olds, and 15 hours for eligible two-year-olds receiving additional support. Working parents using the 30-hour entitlement must apply by the relevant term deadline and renew their code every three months. Tax-Free Childcare payments are accepted too.

Meals, snacks, drinks, planned daily activities and the resources used for them are included in the charges for all children. Parents provide the care consumables listed above, including on funded attendance. Some trips can carry an extra charge, with families choosing whether to take part. Current prices come in the nursery's written quotation; the fees policy sets out the charge structure.

A registration charge and a deposit accompany the signed contract. The registration charge is refundable within a reasonable period after attendance begins, while the deposit is refundable when the contract ends. Charges do not fall for sickness, holidays or other absence.

Payments are normally made in advance at the start of the month, with annual attendance costs spread across twelve months; weekly payments are also accepted. Ending the contract requires one month's written notice, submitted on the first day of the month, and charges continue during that notice even if the child does not attend.

• An outcome with a clear limit. The July 2023 visit assessed requirements with no early-years children present. It offers less information about the experience of babies and preschool children than an observation of their day would provide.
• A building over two floors. Nine rooms and two enclosed outdoor areas make the layout an important part of the choice. On a visit, ask how your child's room uses outdoor space and how movement between floors is managed.
• Attendance carries contractual costs. Absence does not reduce charges, and notice must begin on the first day of a month. Families with changing working patterns should weigh those terms alongside the half-day and extra-hours options.

Lonsdale suits families seeking full-day or half-day nursery attendance, with term-time choices and services for older children adding practical breadth. Its rooms, enclosed outdoor areas and trips beyond the building give it a recognisable physical offer. Included food and parent-supplied care consumables also make the division of everyday responsibilities clear.

The key qualification is the July 2023 outcome: requirements were met, but early-years quality was not assessed. Choose it for the care arrangements and surroundings that fit your family, while keeping that limit in view.