Nightingales Private Day Nursery

Stories, shared books and everyday conversation give Nightingales Private Day Nursery its clearest character. In October 2022, story-led activities and a book-lending service connected learning at nursery with reading at home, giving parents a practical way to join in.

At its October 2022 inspection, Ofsted rated the nursery Good and found safeguarding effective. The setting has 75 places in total for children aged 2 to 60 months, at 144 New Hey Road, Huddersfield, HD3 4BZ.

The early years foundation stage sets the framework for children's learning, development and care: play and everyday routines support language, movement and growing independence.

In October 2022, language teaching happened through stories, rhymes and conversations about food. Staff modelled pronunciation as children began speaking. Maths also grew out of ordinary experiences: comparing play dough, discussing filled bowls and exploring water volume made abstract ideas tangible.

Children helped develop Golden rules, shared expectations for routines and behaviour. They chose puzzles and voted on activities, giving them opportunities to influence their day. Choice was less consistent during group singing for children who could not yet speak.

Daily outdoor play, movement to music and regular yoga sessions were part of life in October 2022. A local dentist also visited to explain oral health, with dental products and information sent home. These experiences linked physical activity with practical lessons about caring for oneself.

In October 2022, babies received cuddles and reassurance from their key person after waking, before returning to play. Parents shared what their children could already do, helping staff shape activities around individual starting points.

At the October 2022 inspection, Ofsted found that personalised plans and collaboration with parents and other professionals supported children with special educational needs and/or disabilities, and that children made good progress.

Parents received conversations about the day at collection, progress updates and ideas for activities at home. Staff spent less time on written learning records so they could spend more time with children, adapting teaching as needs changed. Meetings about professional development and observation of colleagues gave practitioners opportunities to review their work.

The address is 144 New Hey Road, Huddersfield, HD3 4BZ. The nursery operates throughout the year, closing on bank holidays.

In October 2022, it opened Monday to Friday, with session times from 7.30am to 6pm. It also provided funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-olds at that time.

• Children's voice. In October 2022, children who were not yet talking had fewer opportunities to choose during whole-group singing. Extending participation in adult-led activities was the improvement priority, a relevant consideration for families with younger children.
• Planning attendance. The October 2022 session window ran from 7.30am to 6pm. Which current booking patterns and funded-hours arrangements would fit your family's week?

Nightingales merits consideration by families who value shared reading, everyday conversation and close key-person relationships. Its October 2022 account gives concrete examples of these priorities, from books borrowed for home to reassurance after sleep. The balance to weigh is children's participation: individual choices were encouraged, but group activities needed to include children who could not yet express a preference verbally.