De Verdun Nursery

Baby diaries, a dedicated baby garden and a storytime kangaroo give De Verdun Nursery a recognisable character. In Newbold Verdon, the emphasis is on keeping home routines familiar while gradually widening children's independence, friendships and choices. The progression from Baby Bears to Mini Monkey's and Little Lions gives that approach a practical shape: room changes are prepared for through visits rather than treated as a single big step.

At its 10 July 2025 inspection, Ofsted rated the nursery Good overall and judged safeguarding effective. The clearest improvement point concerned helping children understand the reasons behind safety rules. This is a useful distinction for parents: reminding a child to avoid a risky action is different from explaining the danger.

De Verdun accepts children from two months to five years and has 46 places in total. Full-day, morning and afternoon bookings serve different family routines, with an early-start option alongside them.

Rooms and Ages

Baby Bears, for children under two, combines activity and rest zones within a large room, with a dedicated baby garden for outdoor exploration; play follows babies' interests and sits alongside their home routines. That combination matters for parents seeking continuity around naps and feeds as well as opportunities to explore.

For children aged two to three, Mini Monkey's brings creative and messy play together with more structured adult-led activities, conversation, singing and stories, while outdoor activities extend the day beyond the toddler area. Independence has a practical meaning here: staff support hygiene routines and toilet training, and children begin building relationships with older children through shared meals and free play.

Little Lions, for ages three to five, has a Messy Room, Role Play Room and quiet space, with independent choices, discussion and planned learning supporting preparation for primary school. Children can move between indoor and outdoor activities. The arrangement gives different kinds of play their own space, including somewhere to step back from busier activity.

Learning and Activities

The EYFS provides the framework for learning through play, communication and growing independence. Activities take account of children's interests, with the key person observing development and planning next steps. For parents, that means the day includes both children's own choices and activities adults have prepared for their learning.

Rooh, the storytime Kangaroo, gives Little Lions circle time a concrete point of participation: a child is chosen to hold it while the group shares news, talks and hears stories. This is a small detail with a clear purpose, giving children a familiar way to contribute in front of others.

In July 2025, health-centre pretend play linked conversation with early writing as staff took patient roles and children led the activity. Books also prompted exploration: a story about bees led children towards a bug tray and further discussion. These examples show how an ordinary play situation can carry language and learning together, rather than requiring a separate lesson.

Outdoor and Community Life

The dedicated baby garden separates younger children's outdoor play from the activities of older groups. In July 2025, babies practised balance on a see-saw, while other outdoor experiences included watering flowers, chalk drawing and climbing frames. Outdoor kitchen play with pots and pasta also gave staff opportunities to introduce mathematical comparisons through conversation.

Relationships and Communication

Every child has a key person who becomes the main contact for the family, learns their preferences and routines, and keeps track of their development. An online learning journal lets parents follow that learning. For babies, Daily Communication Diaries add the practical detail: food eaten, sleep, nappy changes and activities are recorded through the day. These serve different purposes, combining a picture of development with the information parents need for the evening at home.

Before a baby starts, staff discuss individual needs and arrange settling sessions. Sleep arrangements follow parental guidance about timing and where the baby rests. Toddlers' naps are also planned with parents, while toilet training is supported jointly, with spare clothing brought from home.

Room changes are introduced gradually. Babies nearing two visit the toddler area, and toddlers approaching three spend a morning or afternoon with Little Lions. Shared meals and activities between the toddler and preschool groups also make older children and preschool staff familiar before the move.

Inclusion and Wellbeing

At its July 2025 inspection, Ofsted found that staff recognised additional needs early and worked effectively with families and external agencies to arrange support. The toddler and preschool room leaders also hold SENCO roles, giving families identifiable points of contact within those stages.

In July 2025, staff reminded children about unsafe behaviour, including leaning back while eating and climbing on chairs, but did not consistently explain the reasons for those warnings. Developing children's understanding of danger was the improvement required. The practical question is how those explanations now become part of play and everyday routines.

Fresh food was cooked at the nursery in July 2025, and children were encouraged to sample unfamiliar foods. Current private session fees include the meals and snacks associated with the booking, while funded attendance has separate food charges and permits a packed lunch.

Sessions and Attendance

The address is 14 Arnolds Crescent, Newbold Verdon, Leicester, LE9 9LD. Opening hours are Monday to Friday, 7:30am to 5:30pm. The nursery operates across the year, closing on bank holidays and for a week at Christmas.

A Full Day runs from 8am to 5:30pm; Morning runs from 8am to 1pm; Afternoon runs from 1pm to 5:30pm. An early start at 7:30am is also offered. These are separate booking choices within the opening day, so a family seeking a morning pattern has a different option from one needing care through to late afternoon. Enquiries can be made by telephone or email, and viewings can be booked.

Getting There

Off-road parking is provided for collection and drop-off. This gives families travelling by car a practical option at the nursery itself.

Funding and Paid Extras

The Government 15 and 30 Hours funding offer is provided for eligible children aged nine months and over. Funding for the nine-month, two-year and three-year stages starts in the term following the relevant age milestone; eligibility remains a condition of the offer. Eligible families using the 30-hour entitlement can choose to stretch it across the year, with 22 hours each week, rather than use it only in term time.

Full Day fees include meals and snacks, plus formula milk in the baby room; Morning includes lunch and snacks, and Afternoon includes tea and snacks. During funded attendance, meals and consumables are charged separately, with packed lunches permitted. This distinction matters when comparing a privately paid booking with funded hours: the entitlement and the cost of food or supplies are separate parts of the arrangement.

Fees are reviewed each February, with changes taking effect on 1 April. Obtain current prices in the nursery's written quotation, using the fees and funding page for the charge structure.

• Learning about risk. In July 2025, children needed fuller explanations of why some actions were dangerous. During a visit, ask how staff now help children reason about safety rather than simply follow instructions.
• The baby's daily routine. Baby Bears has rest and activity zones within one room, and settling sessions are arranged before the first day. Discuss how your baby's sleep and feeding pattern will work within that layout.
• Funded attendance costs. Food and consumables attract separate charges during funded hours, while private session fees include specified meals and snacks. Request a written quotation for the attendance pattern you intend to use, including any early start.

De Verdun suits families seeking continuity from baby care through preschool, with detailed baby communication and prepared moves between rooms. Morning, afternoon and full-day patterns give it a broader practical appeal than a single attendance model. Little Lions' separate activity spaces and Baby Bears' own garden give the offer substance. The July 2025 safety-learning improvement remains a worthwhile visit question, alongside how funded extras affect the chosen booking.