The Counting House Nursery, Birstall

A converted Zion Chapel, a two-storey Wendy House and purpose-built tracks for bikes and trikes give this Smithies Moor Lane nursery a recognisable character. The main building separates older children across two floors, with the youngest provision in a detached building on the same grounds. That distinction matters when choosing which part of the nursery to visit.

The Counting House Nursery, Birstall is at 120 Smithies Moor Lane, Batley, WF17 9AN, and has capacity for 53 children, with a current age range of three months to five years. At its June 2023 inspection, Ofsted rated it Good and found safeguarding effective. The strongest practical appeal is its combination of generous outdoor resources and opportunities for children to do things for themselves.

Morning, afternoon, Full Day and ¾ Day bookings provide different attendance patterns rather than a single daily commitment.

Rooms and Ages

The Over 3’s Rooms occupy the ground floor and connect directly to the garden and outdoor play space, while the Toddler Room upstairs accommodates children aged two years and upwards in a bright, airy setting. For older children, that direct outdoor connection puts the garden alongside their indoor play rather than making it a separate destination.

The detached Baby Room has its own provision on the grounds. It sits under a separate childcare registration from the main building, so the June 2023 judgement should be read as applying to the main nursery reviewed here. Families considering baby care need to distinguish the two settings.

Learning and Activities

The early years foundation stage provides the framework for children's learning, development and care: the nursery day combines play with opportunities to practise language, movement, social skills and independence. In June 2023, activities followed children's interests, with sustained involvement in their play. The improvement priority was sharper individual planning, using knowledge of each child to extend learning more precisely.

Reading took imaginative forms in June 2023. An outdoor role-play shed became a library, and children explored magazines, catalogues and encyclopaedias, including looking up animals. This gave books a purpose beyond a story session: children could use them to answer questions and explore an interest.

Physical activity also reached beyond running about. In June 2023, children danced, tried animal yoga and controlled wheeled toys outdoors; inside, dough play and cutting paper exercised smaller hand movements. These activities brought movement and careful manipulation into different parts of the day.

Outdoor and Community Life

The garden has a two-storey Wendy House for pretend play, purpose-built bike and trike tracks for riding, and an Outdoor Mud Kitchen for hands-on play. Digging and planting space adds another kind of activity. Together, these resources give children reasons to spend time outside, whether they want to move, make something or investigate growing things.

In June 2023, children also took part in fundraising and explored differences between people and families. Everyday responsibilities included helping make sandwiches, pouring their own drinks and tending the nursery's pet snail. These were concrete opportunities to contribute, rather than leaving independence as an abstract aim.

At the June 2023 inspection, Ofsted found that children needing additional help were supported through work with other professionals and targeted plans, including children with special educational needs and/or disabilities, who made good progress. That is useful evidence of how support worked at that point: staff translated outside advice into action for individual children.

Relationships were visible in small exchanges in June 2023. Children invited one another into play, while adults helped them think about fairness when sharing materials. The emphasis was on learning how to include others and manage everyday social situations.

Communication extended beyond a conversation at collection time. In June 2023, parents received updates online and attended parents' evenings; home-learning bags and stay-and-play sessions provided further ways to take part. These arrangements connected nursery activities with home and gave parents opportunities to discuss development.

Health routines were practical too. In June 2023, children learnt about cleaning their teeth, washed their hands independently and were encouraged to drink enough water; staff applied sun cream during outdoor play. Preparation for school included managing coats and shoes, so readiness involved everyday self-care as well as learning activities.

Sessions and Attendance

Opening hours are 7am to 6pm, with the nursery operating for 51 weeks of the year and closing on public holidays. The Birstall booking patterns are Full Day, 7am to 6pm; ¾ Day, 7am to 3.30pm; Morning, 7am to 1pm; and Afternoon, 1pm to 6pm. The shorter patterns allow families to choose care around part of the day, while the Full Day spans the opening window.

The address is 120 Smithies Moor Lane, Birstall, Batley, WF17 9AN. Branch enquiries can be made by telephone on 01924 422805 or by email to info@countinghousenursery.co.uk. A visit can also be arranged directly with the nursery.

Funding and Paid Extras

Funded nursery education is offered at Birstall, alongside paid childcare sessions. Current prices come in the nursery's written quotation; the Birstall session pricing sets out the different booking patterns. Choosing between them is a practical decision about the hours needed, rather than assuming that every child attends for the whole opening day.

• Baby care is a separate setting. The detached Baby Room has a separate childcare registration. On a visit, establish which provision your child would attend and discuss its own inspection position rather than applying the main building's June 2023 grade to it.
• Individual next steps. In June 2023, planning needed to use knowledge of each child more precisely. Ask staff to show how an individual interest now leads to a specific next learning step.
• Funding and the total bill. Birstall offers funded nursery education and several paid session patterns. Request a written quotation covering the entitlement applicable to your child, meals, nappies and other consumables, so the cost of the chosen pattern is clear.

This nursery suits families choosing between morning or afternoon care and a Full Day or ¾ Day pattern. Its chapel setting, direct garden access for older children and outdoor play resources give it a clear physical identity.

The June 2023 picture combines practical independence, varied play and individual support, with more precise planning as the improvement priority. For families considering the youngest provision, the separate Baby Room needs its own assessment; the main nursery's grade should remain attached to the setting it covers.