The Counting House Nursery

A detached Baby Room sets this part of The Counting House Nursery apart from the larger Smithies Moor Lane setting. Its own building stands within the nursery grounds, while this provision has capacity for 10 children. That is the useful scale for parents to keep in mind, rather than the size of the neighbouring main nursery.

Ofsted judged The Counting House Nursery Good at its 16 June 2023 inspection. The account of daily life centred on babies and young children: comfort from familiar adults, language woven into play and small opportunities to do things for themselves. These are dated observations, but they give a concrete picture of the care assessed.

The address is Ruths Hairdressers, 118 Smithies Moor Lane, Batley, WF17 9AN. The Birstall setting opens from 7am to 6pm for 51 weeks of the year, excluding public holidays.

Rooms and Ages

The Baby Room occupies a detached building in the nursery grounds, with a space arranged for the youngest children. Its physical separation from the main building is an important part of this provision's identity: parents choosing baby care are considering this room, rather than the older children's rooms elsewhere on the site.

Learning and Activities

The early years foundation stage sets the requirements for children's learning, development and care; in everyday terms, this means supporting language, movement and social development through play and responsive adult attention.

In June 2023, activities gave children different ways to explore materials and movement. They used pegs and spoons to collect pom-poms, made marks in sand and tested cars on ramps. Painting ice introduced change they could watch as it melted. These were simple experiences with clear purposes: handling tools, experimenting and noticing what happened next.

Stories, songs and rhymes also featured in June 2023. Adults put words to babies' actions and described sensations during play, connecting language with something a child was doing or feeling. That gives a young child a reason to listen, rather than making vocabulary a separate lesson.

Planning in June 2023 drew on observations of children and information from parents. Activities followed children's interests, with emphasis on the early foundations of communication, physical development and relationships. For families, the practical value is the connection between a child's interests and the experiences adults arrange around them.

Outdoor and Community Life

In June 2023, learning extended beyond the nursery through visits to a garden centre for flowers and a farm to see animals. Walks also followed children's interest in vehicles. Buying something to plant or watching transport gave children real examples to connect with their play; the outings were part of the learning described at that time.

Relationships and Communication

In June 2023, babies sought reassurance by cuddling familiar staff, and care took account of individual routines. Those details matter for families whose child needs continuity between home and nursery: comfort and everyday care were part of the same relationship.

Parents received detailed accounts of the day in June 2023, but the arrangements for helping them extend learning at home needed further development. The improvement action concerned communication between parents and the child's key person, rather than simply how much information parents received. A useful daily account and practical guidance for home learning serve different purposes.

Inclusion and Wellbeing

At the June 2023 inspection, Ofsted found safeguarding effective, including supervision during sleep and meals, awareness of welfare concerns and risk assessment for outings. This is a dated judgement about the arrangements assessed then.

During June 2023, independence was encouraged through manageable tasks. Babies and toddlers practised feeding themselves, and younger children attempted to put on aprons. Adults also modelled considerate behaviour, with a song about manners before meals. The emphasis was on small actions children could try themselves, alongside adult help and reassurance.

Sessions and Attendance

The Birstall setting's opening window is 7am to 6pm, with operation across 51 weeks and closure on public holidays. For families organising work and care, those hours describe the span of the nursery day.

This provision is the detached Baby Room at the Smithies Moor Lane site. Keeping that distinction clear matters when discussing a child's start: the surrounding nursery also contains rooms for older children, but they are separate from the baby provision reviewed here.

Getting There

The address for this nursery is Ruths Hairdressers, 118 Smithies Moor Lane, Batley, WF17 9AN. Visits can be arranged by contacting the Birstall nursery.

Funding and Paid Extras

Funded nursery education is offered at the Birstall setting. Families should obtain a current written quotation for their proposed attendance, so the financial decision relates to the care they intend to book.

• The detached Baby Room. Baby care takes place in its own building within the grounds. On a visit, explore how daily routines work in that space and how your child would be supported when ready for their next stage.
• Learning beyond nursery. The June 2023 improvement action concerned helping parents continue learning at home. Ask for an example of how a key person now turns observations into practical ideas for families.
• Funded attendance. Funded nursery education is offered at Birstall. Which funded attendance arrangements and associated charges would apply to your proposed booking?

The Counting House Nursery suits families seeking baby care in a detached room within an established nursery site. This provision has 10 places in total. The June 2023 account adds useful detail about comfort, exploratory play and emerging independence, while the improvement action makes home-learning communication a worthwhile discussion point. Families whose schedules fit the Birstall opening window have a practical starting point for considering it.