Little Rascals Private Day Nurseries, Station Road

Play dough made from scratch, paint mixed into new colours and monkey bars for outdoor movement give Station Road's nursery a practical, hands-on character. These were features of daily life in May 2023, with children exploring materials, practising physical skills and talking about what they were doing. The detail matters more than a curriculum slogan: learning took place through things children could make, handle and try.

Ofsted rated Little Rascals Private Day Nurseries, Station Road Good at its 18 May 2023 inspection. The nursery serves Crossgates in Leeds, accepts children from 3 to 60 months and has 50 places in total. Morning, afternoon and full-day sessions give families different attendance patterns.

In May 2023, activities brought together movement, conversation and experimentation. Toddlers clapped with foam on their hands and watched it float away; older children steered wheeled toys outdoors and used monkey bars and balance beams. Those examples show different kinds of physical play, from exploring a material to controlling movement and balance.

Making play dough gave older children a sequence to follow. They added ingredients and discussed how the mixture changed, returning to something they had learnt before. Mixing paints offered another way to investigate change. These were concrete opportunities to connect an action with its result, rather than simply complete an adult's demonstration.

The nursery must follow the early years foundation stage, the framework for children's learning, development and care. In parent language, this brings communication, physical development and relationships into everyday play and routines. It is the foundation of the provision, rather than an extra programme unique to this nursery.

Fine motor practice also had a place in May 2023. Toddlers rolled toy cars through paint to create patterns and used plastic tweezers while serving food. Older children experimented with writing tools to make marks with meaning. The activities moved from handling and controlling objects towards using marks to communicate, giving early writing a practical starting point.

Reading also connected nursery and home. In May 2023, children could choose books to share at home, and comfortable reading spaces gave them somewhere to pause. Taking a chosen book home connected nursery learning with family time and gave parents something specific to share with their child.

At the May 2023 inspection, Ofsted found safeguarding effective and children with special educational needs and/or disabilities well supported, with additional funding used to meet their needs. These are dated judgements, rather than promises about an individual child's experience today.

In May 2023, staff responded to babies' need for physical reassurance and emotional comfort. They also answered babies' babbling, listened to older children and introduced vocabulary through conversation. Clear instructions and recognition of children's efforts helped establish expectations during the day. For a parent, the useful detail is the combination of comfort, conversation and predictable responses.

There were important weaknesses alongside that picture. In May 2023, staff knew their own key children, but colleagues did not consistently receive precise information about each child's next learning steps. When the key person was away, opportunities to extend learning could therefore be missed. A close relationship with one adult needed stronger communication across the team.

Two further improvements concerned everyday care. In May 2023, toddlers sometimes used dummies for too much of the day, potentially restricting speech practice, and nappy-changing mats were occasionally left uncleaned between children. Both points deserve attention because they concern ordinary routines, rather than occasional special activities.

Parents received online learning journals in May 2023 and felt informed about their children's learning. That offered a way to see development over time, alongside conversations with staff, rather than relying only on a brief account of the day's activities.

Sessions and Attendance

The address is Wellgarth, Station Road, Crossgates, Leeds LS15 7JY. Opening hours run from 7.30am to 6pm, Monday to Friday, across 52 weeks, excluding bank holidays.

The AM Session runs from 8am to 1pm; the PM Session runs from 1pm to 6pm. Full Day attendance covers 8am to 6pm, while Early Riser runs from 7.30am to 8am. The distinction between the opening window and the booked day matters: an 8am full-day start differs from the earlier opening time.

The parent enquiry form allows families to select their nursery, including Station Road. The branch telephone number is 0113 2326757.

• Learning when the key person is away. In May 2023, children's next steps were not consistently shared across staff. On a visit, ask how another practitioner picks up your child's learning plan when their usual key person is absent.
• Speech and care routines. The May 2023 improvements included reducing daytime dummy use and cleaning changing mats between children. Ask how those routines now work, including how staff agree dummy use with families.
• The earlier start. Full Day begins at 8am, while Early Riser covers 7.30am to 8am. Families needing care before 8am should discuss how that additional session fits their booking.

Station Road suits families comparing morning attendance, afternoon sessions and full-day care, with an earlier start also offered. Its May 2023 daily life had useful substance: experimenting with materials, building hand control and sharing books with home. The Good judgement sits alongside specific improvements to staff communication, dummy use and changing routines. For families, those everyday details are the right subjects to explore when deciding whether this nursery fits their child.