Daisy Chain Childcare Lofthouse

Sheltered outdoor space for each room gives Daisy Chain Childcare Lofthouse a clear practical identity: children can take their play outside throughout the year, with spaces designed around their stage of development. Indoors, resources sit within children's reach, so choosing an activity is part of the day rather than something that always depends on an adult.

This purpose-built nursery sits within Rodillian Academy, alongside Lofthouse Children’s Centre, on Longthorpe Lane in Wakefield. It has 52 places in total and accepts children aged 3 to 59 months. That whole-nursery capacity should not be read as the size of an individual room.

At its November 2024 inspection, Ofsted rated the nursery Good and judged safeguarding effective. The assessment also identified two teaching priorities: more deliberate work on vocabulary and activities that stay closer to each child's next learning step. A manager change followed in July 2025, so the dated findings describe practice before that change.

Rooms and Ages

The Baby Room, Toddler Room and Pre-School Room organise provision by developmental stage. Each has a sheltered outdoor space of its own, giving outdoor play a place within the room's routine rather than making it dependent on using one shared area.

A Sensory Room and Outdoor Play Garden add further spaces to the offer. Resources at child height support independent choices: children can select what interests them rather than wait for everything to be handed out. For families, that is a useful distinction between a room that merely contains toys and one arranged so children can use them for themselves.

Learning and Activities

The early years foundation stage is the statutory framework for children's learning, development and care. In parent terms, education and everyday care belong together: conversation, physical play and growing independence all contribute to children's development.

Activities follow children's interests. Language Lessons and Music Lessons also form part of the nursery's offer, adding named learning opportunities alongside its play resources.

In November 2024, mathematical ideas appeared within active play: older children recognised shapes while jumping in the garden and compared the height of constructions. Babies joined in counting before bubbles were blown. These examples show how early number work can sit within something a child wants to do, rather than become a separate exercise.

Physical development was similarly practical in November 2024. Younger children rolled and pursued hoops, babies exchanged balls with adult help, and older children practised balancing. The activities involved different kinds of movement, from coordinating hands and eyes to controlling the whole body.

The teaching limitations matter alongside those examples. In November 2024, frequent conversations did not consistently introduce new vocabulary, and some activities lost sight of the skill children were meant to learn. An activity involving one-handed tools, for example, needed clearer demonstration. The issue was the precision of adult teaching within play, rather than whether children had activities to undertake.

Relationships were a clear part of daily life in November 2024. Staff spent time getting to know children; babies sought comfort from familiar adults, while older children were confident enough to sing before a group. When sharing became difficult, adults helped children wait, take turns or talk through the disagreement. That gave children practical ways to handle frustration.

At the November 2024 inspection, Ofsted found that children with SEND participated across the curriculum and progressed effectively, supported by detailed records and regular discussion with families and outside professionals. This is a dated assessment of how support worked in practice, rather than a general promise about every child's experience.

Independence extended to care routines in November 2024. Babies practised feeding themselves with spoons, with help when needed; older children used cutlery and cleaned their faces after meals. Adults also introduced dental-health habits. These are small daily tasks, but they make self-care something children practise rather than simply have done for them.

Food is prepared by an on-site cook using local produce, with menus rotating over four weeks. That gives families a recurring menu structure as well as cooking within the nursery itself.

Sessions and Attendance

The address is Rodillian School, Longthorpe Lane, Lofthouse, Wakefield, WF3 3PS. The nursery opens Monday to Friday, from 8am to 6pm, and operates for 51 weeks of the year, excluding public bank holidays.

Full-day attendance runs from 8am to 6pm. The fee structure covers attendance across the full year, with monthly payments made in advance by the first of the month through Famly, the nursery app used for payment. Families can contact the Lofthouse nursery and book a visit.

Funding and Paid Extras

Funded childcare and privately paid attendance are both offered. The Lofthouse fee structure includes a 30-hour funding option. Current prices come in the nursery's written quotation, which families should use when assessing their own attendance pattern.

Fees include snacks and meals across the day, including breakfast, lunch and afternoon tea. For babies, nappies and wipes are included, while families supply formula milk; pureed food and cow’s milk are also included.

The deposit is refundable after the final payment has cleared, but is forfeited if the place is not taken after the cooling-off period. The one-off registration charge is non-refundable, except that it is refunded during the first month for fully funded places.

Written notice of eight weeks is required to change the start date or booked sessions before attendance begins, and to cancel a place once attendance has started. Fees are not reduced or refunded for sickness, holidays, training days, a delayed start or cancellation. These terms make the booking a continuing financial commitment even when a child misses a day.

Although the nursery occupies a school site, attending does not guarantee a Reception place. Nursery attendance and the later school application should be treated as separate decisions.

• Teaching within play. The November 2024 priorities concerned vocabulary and clearer next-step teaching. Ask how practitioners now introduce new words and demonstrate the particular skill an activity is intended to develop.
• The lesson offer. Language Lessons and Music Lessons sit alongside the room resources and outdoor provision. During a visit, ask what these lessons involve and how they fit the youngest children's routines.
• Commitment before starting. Changes to a start date or sessions require eight weeks' written notice, and cancellation after starting carries the same notice period. Build that lead time into work and childcare plans.

Daisy Chain Childcare Lofthouse suits families seeking full-day attendance across the year, with outdoor access built into each room's provision. Its sheltered play spaces, accessible resources and on-site cooking give the offer concrete substance. The November 2024 assessment provides a positive overall judgement, while the teaching priorities give parents a useful, specific subject to explore with the current team.