Toddlers Nursery School

Herbs, water and imaginative mixing gave learning a hands-on character at Toddlers Nursery School in July 2022. Preschool children experimented with pouring while babies investigated a water mat: small, concrete experiences that gave children something to explore and talk about.

At its July 2022 inspection, Ofsted rated the nursery Good overall, with the same judgement across education, behaviour, personal development and leadership. Today, this Groby setting has capacity for 68 children aged 6 to 60 months.

In July 2022, the early years foundation stage took shape through sensory exploration, conversation and physical play. Preschool children mixed herbs with water, discussing what happened when a bowl became too full; toddlers experimented with glue and collage materials. These examples connect learning with things children can handle, change and describe.

Outdoor play had a physical emphasis that July. Preschool children climbed a playhouse and steered scooters around obstacles, while babies and toddlers practised crawling, moving across the floor and pulling themselves upright with furniture and equipment. Sand timers helped children understand whose turn came next, making sharing more concrete.

Teaching needed greater precision. In July 2022, some activities were pitched above or below individual children's needs, and rapid questioning sometimes left too little thinking time. The practical issue for families is how staff adapt an activity and allow a child to formulate an answer.

At the July 2022 inspection, Ofsted found that children developed secure relationships through the key-person arrangements and that safeguarding was effective. For babies, responsive relationships were a central part of that assessment.

Communication with families in July 2022 combined conversations with an online app. Parents received information about care and learning, ideas for extending learning at home and help with approaches to behaviour. That offered a way to connect nursery experiences with family routines.

The toddler lunch routine was less settled that July. Uncertainty about seating and children's water bottles delayed meals, making organisation before lunch a material point to explore.

The address is 67 Leicester Road, Groby, Leicester, LE6 0DQ. Opening hours are 7.45am to 5.45pm, Monday to Friday, across the year, with closures for bank holidays, a week at Christmas and a week at the start of the Leicestershire summer holiday. Those breaks matter when arranging cover around work.

In July 2022, funded early education was provided for children aged two, three and four. That is a dated description of participation.

• Toddler mealtimes. July 2022 routines caused lunch delays. During a visit, ask how seating, drinks and preparation before lunch now work.
• Teaching precision. In July 2022, activities did not consistently match children's needs and questioning could move too quickly. Ask for an example of how staff adjust play and give children thinking time.
• Holiday cover. Christmas and summer closures sit alongside bank holidays. Factor these breaks into your family's childcare arrangements.

Toddlers Nursery School merits consideration for Groby families whose weekday routines fit its opening hours and planned holiday breaks. The July 2022 picture combined sensory exploration, active outdoor play and established relationships with clear weaknesses in toddler mealtime organisation and teaching precision. Those specific routines deserve attention when choosing it.