Play, Churwell Day Nursery

A mud kitchen, park-based learning and a children's Nursery Council give Play, Churwell Day Nursery a character built around exploration and participation. The outdoor facilities belong to today's offer; the council was part of nursery life in September 2021. That distinction matters when weighing an established inspection judgement against the care a child would receive now.

At its September 2021 inspection, Ofsted rated the nursery Outstanding, praising its teaching, children's development and support for those needing extra help. Practical examples included children making leaf bracelets, investigating natural objects and helping shape nursery rules. These are useful illustrations of the judgement, rather than a collection of grade labels.

At Quarry Court in Morley, Leeds, the nursery caters for children from birth to five and has 68 places in total. Three named rooms organise care by age, with a published maximum of 12 in the youngest room. Families can choose full-time or sessional attendance, across the year or during term time.

Rooms and Ages

Caterpillars Room accommodates under-twos, with a maximum of 12 places; Ladybirds Room has 24 places for children aged two to three; Fireflies Room provides 32 places for three- to four-year-olds. These are room capacities, rather than a promise about how many children attend on a particular day. The youngest room's cap is a useful starting point for parents comparing baby care.

Caterpillars and Ladybirds have direct access to the outdoor area. That physical connection puts outside space alongside the rooms used by babies and younger children, rather than making it solely a preschool resource. The age bands also give families a clear outline of how care is organised as children grow.

Learning and Activities

The Early Years Foundation Stage Framework sets out expectations for children's learning, development and care: daily experiences build knowledge and skills for later learning. It is the common foundation for early years provision. At this nursery, outdoor exploration and opportunities to cook give that foundation concrete expression.

In September 2021, learning involved ordinary materials used imaginatively. Babies practised placing wooden rings on a holder, while toddlers scooped cereal and made marks in it. Two-year-olds painted patterns with water; older children worked with scissors and practised balancing and jumping. The activities connected physical coordination with the movements children later need for writing.

Storytelling also linked different parts of the day in September 2021. Children returned to familiar stories through craft, pretend play and miniature play settings, while songs, poems and factual books broadened the language they heard. Photographs helped children revisit experiences, including watching a nearby supermarket take shape. Learning had something tangible to refer back to.

Outdoor and Community Life

A den and mud kitchen anchor the nursery's outdoor learning area. Regular forest school sessions take learning into the local park, using the natural environment for outdoor exploration, and community walks extend children's experiences beyond the nursery grounds. The frequency is regular, rather than a fixed weekly timetable.

In September 2021, an autumn treasure hunt involved older children carrying clipboards and looking for natural items. The Nursery Council gave children a role in shaping nursery rules, with lanyards identifying participants. Together, these examples show children taking an active part in their experiences: noticing their surroundings, explaining ideas and contributing to shared decisions.

At the September 2021 inspection, Ofsted found safeguarding effective and identified successful early intervention, careful assessment and collaboration with other professionals to help children with delayed development catch up. For families needing additional support, the important detail is the mechanism: staff tracked development and worked beyond the nursery when children needed help.

In September 2021, babies explored sensory objects with their key person, connecting unfamiliar experiences with a familiar adult. Staff supported new starters with visits in family gardens. Preparations for children's return following lockdown included photographs of staff and rooms and video calls. These are dated examples of how relationships were built, rather than a current settling timetable.

During lockdown, staff supported families whose children were not attending through electronic journals, videos and activity ideas. These gave parents something to discuss or try with their child at home. In September 2021, children's experiences also included learning about dental care through books and pretend play, and discussing road safety during outings.

A nursery chef prepares the meat-free menu and helps children develop cooking skills. Food therefore has a place in learning as well as in the daily care routine.

Sessions and Attendance

Full-time and sessional places can be taken during term time or throughout the year. Flexible session arrangements allow families to agree an attendance pattern, and additional paid sessions can be booked. The distinction is useful: parents can consider a term-time routine as well as care extending into school holidays.

Opening hours are 7.30am to 6pm, Monday to Friday, across 51 weeks of the year. Closures include bank holidays and a week at Christmas. These are the nursery's opening hours, rather than separate morning or afternoon booking windows.

Getting There

The address is Quarry Court, High Street, Morley, Leeds, LS27 0BY. Childcare enquiries can be made by telephone on 0113 335 0637 or by email at play@churwell.org.uk.

Funding and Paid Extras

Funded provision includes the Working Families Entitlement for eligible children from nine months, offering 30 hours during term time, alongside 15-hour provision for eligible two-year-olds and the universal entitlement for three- and four-year-olds. The latter begins in the term after a child's third birthday; the eligible two-year-old offer begins in the term after their second birthday.

Funded hours can also be stretched across school holidays. Additional paid sessions provide another way to build an attendance pattern around the entitlement. Families should obtain current prices in the nursery's written quotation.

• Baby-room scale. Caterpillars Room has a maximum of 12 places for under-twos. During a visit, ask how settling and key-person contact work within that room's daily routine.
• The funded attendance pattern. Term-time funding can be stretched across holidays, and extra paid sessions can be added. Ask for one written breakdown covering the chosen pattern, meals and non-food consumables.
• Outdoor participation. The den, mud kitchen and regular park sessions make outdoor learning a practical part of the offer. Consider whether that emphasis matches the experiences you want for your child.

Play, Churwell Day Nursery suits families considering either full-time care or flexible sessional attendance, including term-time routines and arrangements covering school holidays. Its clearest current attractions are the age-specific rooms, direct outdoor access for younger children, regular park learning and chef-led cooking experiences.

The September 2021 Outstanding judgement adds substantial historical weight. The decision now rests on how the nursery's room arrangements, outdoor emphasis and attendance options fit the individual child and family.