Partou Nursery Lane Day Nursery & Pre-School

Fruit tasting, home-language recordings and children serving their own meals give Nursery Lane's September 2022 nursery day a recognisable character. This Alwoodley setting cares for children aged 3 to 60 months at 48 Nursery Lane, Leeds.

At its 6 September 2022 inspection, Ofsted rated the nursery Good overall. Practical independence and sensory exploration were prominent, alongside clear improvement priorities for storytelling, children completing activity tasks themselves and developmental communication with parents.

In September 2022, learning differed by stage: the baby room emphasised relationships and sensory exploration, the toddler room addressed emotions, and the pre-school room worked on preparation for school. These were different priorities for different stages of childhood.

The early years foundation stage sets the framework for children's learning, development and care: everyday play and routines provide opportunities to develop skills. In September 2022, a fruit activity brought this together through tasting, examining textures and discussing where food grows. Children explored pomegranates, mango and other fruits, connecting sensory discovery with conversation about food.

Outdoor activity that month included running, climbing, catching games and measuring plants grown from seeds. A low water tray added another opportunity for physical play. Independence also extended to shoes, coats and mealtimes, although adults sometimes completed parts of activities, such as adding dough ingredients, that children could have attempted themselves.

At the September 2022 inspection, Ofsted found safeguarding effective and children, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities, making good progress. These are dated judgements.

During September 2022, familiar routines helped children settle, and parents could stay to support children who found separation difficult. Staff also used parents' recordings of words in children's home languages to help understand their speech. That gave family knowledge a practical role in communication.

Daily conversations and an electronic app carried information between staff and parents that month. Developmental updates and ideas for learning at home were less consistent, however. Storytelling also needed improvement so that books introduced children to more vocabulary and ideas.

The address is 48 Nursery Lane, Alwoodley, Leeds, LS17 7HW. Opening hours are 8am to 6pm, Monday to Friday, with year-round opening and closures for bank holidays and Christmas.

In September 2022, the nursery provided funded early education for children aged two, three and four. That dated participation should be kept separate from the arrangements a family agrees for a new booking.

• Children doing the work. In September 2022, adults sometimes handled activity tasks children could attempt. On a visit, ask how children now take responsibility for preparing and completing activities.
• Stories and progress updates. September 2022 improvement priorities included storytelling and regular developmental information for parents. Ask how story sessions and home-learning suggestions now work in your child's age group.
• Your booking and care costs. For this year-round Alwoodley setting, request a written quotation covering your attendance pattern, funded hours, meals and non-food consumables before agreeing a booking.

Nursery Lane merits consideration by Alwoodley families seeking weekday, year-round care from infancy onwards. Its September 2022 day combined sensory exploration, outdoor play and practical independence. The useful test for families is how today's practice addresses the specific priorities around stories, children completing tasks and communication about development.