Cliffe House Day Nursery Horsforth

In September 2024, children choosing their own key person was the strongest image of Cliffe House Day Nursery Horsforth: relationships shaped around the child, with information gathered before starting and before moving between rooms. That gave the care a personal starting point.

At its September 2024 inspection, Ofsted judged the nursery Good and found safeguarding effective. It has capacity for 65 children, with a current age range of 3 months to 5 years. The practical question is how its individual attention carries through busier group activities.

The early years foundation stage sets the requirements for children's learning, development and care; here, the September 2024 examples included learning through play, conversation and exploration. Babies used blocks for pretend telephone calls while staff supplied conversational language. Furniture was arranged to encourage pulling up and early walking, connecting the room's layout with physical development.

For toddlers, a water tray brought together pouring experiments and questions about what would float. Scented teabags added another sensory element. In September 2024, however, some planned activities drew groups large enough to reduce participation. An engaging resource did not always mean every child stayed involved.

Older children helped friends draw shapes and offered comfort to one another. Mathematical language also entered ordinary conversations, including counting birthday candles. In September 2024, planning concentrated on each child's next learning step, giving staff a purpose for extending play rather than simply supplying activities.

In September 2024, staff gathered information about children before joining and room changes, while children formed relationships with a key person they selected. Communication with families and liaison with teachers helped connect care and learning across those relationships.

At the September 2024 inspection, Ofsted found very good support for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities, with an inclusion lead, effective use of additional funding for individual support and timely professional referrals; communication training also benefited children's progress. Those are concrete support mechanisms, rather than a broad promise of inclusion.

Meals, snacks and drinking water supported children's health in September 2024, alongside encouragement with toileting and oral care. Privacy needed attention: at busy times, toilet arrangements did not sufficiently support children's privacy or learning about body safety. This matters as older children become more independent.

The address is C/O Trinity & All Saints College, Brownberrie Lane, Horsforth, Leeds, LS18 5HD. Opening hours are 7.30am to 6pm, Monday to Friday, across the year, with bank holiday closures.

In September 2024, the nursery provided funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-olds. That dated participation should be kept separate from the current attendance arrangement a family chooses.

• Activity group size. In September 2024, some planned groups became too large for sustained participation. On a visit, ask how these activities are organised now.
• Toilet privacy. The September 2024 improvement action concerned older children's independent toilet use and privacy. Ask to see how the arrangements support both.
• Attendance and funding. The weekday opening window runs from 7.30am to 6pm. Ask for a written outline of the booking patterns and funded-hours terms that would apply to your child.

Based on its September 2024 inspection picture, Cliffe House suits families who value child-led relationships and practical support with communication and additional needs. That dated picture combines purposeful play with attention to individual children. Group participation and toilet privacy are the two concrete points to explore before choosing it.