The Tots Team Nursery

A quieter Focus Room alongside two outdoor play areas gives The Tots Team Nursery a useful balance: space for energetic play and somewhere for children to slow down. This family-run setting occupies Headingley Station Building in Kirkstall, Leeds, and has capacity for 55 children aged six months to five years. Its character rests on individual routines, familiar key people and a gradual progression towards independence.

At the 29 January 2026 inspection, Ofsted assessed inclusion at Strong standard, the other five areas at Expected standard, and safeguarding standards as met. Those are separate judgements, rather than a single overall grade. The practical offer combines full days with morning and afternoon sessions, while the educational emphasis moves from sensory exploration for babies to communication, self-care and early literacy for older children.

Rooms and Ages

Baby Tots Room is designed for babies from three to around 24 months, with subdued lighting and restful corners supporting individual routines, sensory discovery and early movement; moves onwards depend on development and discussion with parents.

For children aged two to three, Big Tots Room brings together a book corner, construction materials and imaginative-play space, with storytelling, creative activities and daily garden time supporting language, friendships and increasing independence.

Bigger Tots room serves children aged three to five, combining indoor and outdoor activities with stories, phonics, number exploration and practical self-care to prepare them for the routines and relationships of school.

Before changing rooms, children visit their next space with familiar practitioners. Readiness guides the move, helping preserve continuity in care.

Learning and Activities

The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) provides the framework: children develop language, movement, social skills and early understanding through play and everyday experiences. It is the foundation of the day, rather than an extra programme. Here, songs and stories sit alongside creative exploration, mathematical play and opportunities to practise doing things independently.

The Focus Room adds a practical alternative to busier group activity. Children can use it for quieter, guided play, either individually or in small groups, including language activities, simple number work and sensory learning. It is used within the daily routine when appropriate, rather than being a separate age-group room. For a child who needs a calmer moment, that creates another way to take part.

In January 2026, adults added vocabulary to babies' sand play and mathematical questions to dough-making; older children also used counting games and number songs. Everyday play carried learning. Leaders still needed to spread the strongest teaching practices across ordinary interactions, making conversations and routines more consistently educational.

Outdoor and Community Life

Two outdoor areas contain climbing and balancing equipment, ride-on toys and sensory stations, giving children opportunities for physical challenge and exploration. Every age group has daily outdoor access, weather permitting.

In January 2026, children tackled an obstacle course and a climbing wall, alongside dance and yoga. Adults helped them judge manageable physical risks rather than avoiding challenge altogether. The nursery also has an official partnership with Leeds Rhinos, adding a named local connection to its identity.

Relationships and Communication

Every child has a key person, providing a familiar adult who works with the family on care and development. Settling is phased and free, with time to build relationships and routines adjusted to the child. The initial settling session includes an all about me discussion with the key person, bringing the family's knowledge into nursery care from the start.

For babies, sleep and feeding follow individually agreed routines rather than one fixed timetable. Families receive updates through the nursery app and daily handovers, so information about activities and care does not depend on a single conversation at the end of a busy day. The emphasis is on continuity between home and nursery.

Milestone discussions and ideas for learning at home extend that contact. An open-door policy and private conversations give parents space to raise concerns.

Inclusion and Wellbeing

At its January 2026 inspection, Ofsted found that information from families, home visits and professional advice informed individual support, adapted resources helped children with communication or behavioural needs, the key-person arrangements worked very well, and children progressed across the areas of learning. Support was reviewed and adjusted, allowing children with additional needs to learn with their peers rather than following a disconnected nursery experience.

The Focus Room's quieter individual and small-group activities complement this approach within ordinary nursery life.

In January 2026, staff monitored sleeping children and worked with families to maintain familiar sleep patterns. Children also practised pouring drinks, serving themselves and managing personal hygiene as they grew older. Recently revised wellbeing procedures still needed to become consistent daily practice, especially in helping children make healthy choices, and adults needed a more uniform approach to encouraging manners.

Fresh food is prepared at the nursery by an in-house chef, and dietary requirements are addressed. Private-session fees include meals, drinks and snacks; funded attendance has a separate consumables charge that includes food.

Sessions and Attendance

Opening hours and full-day sessions are 7.30am to 6pm, Monday to Friday. Morning sessions run from 7.30am to 1pm and afternoons from 1pm to 6pm, subject to availability, allowing attendance for part of the day.

Most contracts cover 51 weeks, with 38-week term-time contracts offered in some circumstances. Bank holidays and a week over Christmas are closures. Two days each week are recommended to support a child's routine, rather than imposed as a minimum booking requirement.

There is scope to adjust hours where the nursery can accommodate it, and additional sessions can be booked at short notice subject to availability. These are conditional arrangements, so the fixed session patterns remain the clearest basis for planning regular attendance. Booking a nursery place requires a completed registration form and reservation fee.

Getting There

The address is Headingley Station Building, Kirkstall Lane, Leeds, LS5 3LD. The station setting, on-site parking and nearby bus routes on Kirkstall Hill, Kirkstall Road and Kirkstall Lane give families several transport options without needing to organise their day around a single method of travel.

Enquiries can be made through the contact form, by email to info@thetotsteam.com or by telephone on 0113 5138 569.

Funding and Paid Extras

Funded childcare is offered for eligible families: working-parent funding of 30 hours a week for children aged nine months to under three, 15 hours for eligible disadvantaged children aged two and over, and universal funding of 15 hours for children aged three and over. The entitlement is described over 38 weeks, while nursery contracts can cover a longer year. Eligibility and the contract calendar are separate considerations.

For funded sessions, food is included within a separately charged consumables package. For private sessions, homemade food, snacks, drinks, nappies and wipes are included in the fee; parents supply creams, a sun hat and spare clothing. This distinction matters when comparing a funded-hours arrangement with privately paid attendance: included items and separately charged items need to be considered together.

Learning resources are free, and baking or craft materials carry no additional charge. Current prices come in the nursery's written quotation; the fees and funding page explains the contract structure and included items.

Bigger Tots also practises listening and group participation, preparing children for school's everyday social demands.

• Starting with a young baby. The whole-setting age range begins at six months, while Baby Tots Room is designed from three months. For a younger baby, establish the accepted starting age before making plans.
• Choosing a shorter session. Morning and afternoon patterns are conditional options, and term-time contracts are offered in some circumstances. At a show-round, discuss how the pattern you need would work alongside the recommended two-day routine.
• Consistency in everyday care and teaching. January 2026 priorities included stronger teaching across ordinary interactions, shared expectations for manners and embedding wellbeing procedures. Ask for practical examples of how staff now handle these during play and routines.
• The complete funded-hours arrangement. Funded sessions carry a consumables charge including food, while private-session fees include nappies and wipes. Discuss the full package and, where relevant, how your child's dietary requirements would be managed.

The Tots Team suits families seeking full days or morning and afternoon sessions, with individual baby routines and practical preparation for school. The Focus Room and two outdoor areas accommodate quieter learning and active play.

Inclusion received the strongest January 2026 judgement; other areas met the expected standard. Familiar key people and phased transitions give care a clear structure, balanced against the inspection's priorities for more consistent teaching and everyday practice.