LIA Gems

Pouring drinks, serving lunch and tackling hopscotch made independence a practical part of the day at LIA Gems in May 2023. This was learning through ordinary tasks: children practised using cutlery, counted as they played and persisted when movements were difficult. Small achievements mattered.

LIA Gems occupies the Leicester Islamic Academy site on London Road in Leicester and has 39 places in total. At its 23 May 2023 inspection, Ofsted rated the nursery Good and judged safeguarding effective, with a carefully planned curriculum helping children make progress.

The strongest detail is the connection between learning and everyday life. The dated account includes enthusiastic storytelling, songs for younger children and opportunities to practise physical skills outdoors. Its main improvement point concerned how staff held children's attention during communication activities.

In May 2023, children attending were aged one to four. Older children joined familiar fairy-tale discussions and treated books with care; younger children shared play resources and copied animal sounds during songs. These examples show different starting points being addressed through activities children could participate in, rather than a single task for everyone.

The early years foundation stage provides the framework for learning, development and care: children's day brings together play, communication, physical activity and growing independence. In May 2023, staff used children's interests and existing skills to choose activities. Hopscotch combined listening to instructions with counting and recognising written numbers, giving mathematical learning a physical purpose.

Outdoor play offered space to practise running, climbing and jumping in May 2023. This mattered alongside the quieter book and singing activities: children could exercise larger movements as well as listen and talk. Staff checked outdoor equipment before it was used, linking access to play with practical safety routines.

The same dated account describes children applauding another child's achievement and taking turns during play. Social learning was part of shared activity. Mealtimes also gave children opportunities to talk about favourite foods and things they liked doing, so conversation extended beyond organised group sessions.

At the May 2023 inspection, Ofsted found that staff understood individual needs, involved parents in learning and used additional funding effectively, but sometimes their vocal tone or volume prevented every child from participating fully in conversations. That qualification matters: the improvement required was about making interactions work for each child, rather than simply offering more stories or songs.

In May 2023, parents received ideas and resources to use at home. This gave families practical ways to reinforce skills between nursery days. Staff also selected small-world play resources to support hand movements and language, connecting additional support with the activities children actually used.

Children's home backgrounds were reflected in utensils used for pretend play and eating in May 2023. Familiar objects gave children a connection between home and nursery life. Staff encouraged children as they attempted unfamiliar tasks, while self-serving food and pouring drinks created opportunities to practise doing things for themselves.

Health routines were equally concrete in May 2023: children washed hands, cleaned their faces after food and brushed their teeth daily. Staff received safeguarding training covering warning signs and how to raise concerns, and checked risks indoors as well as outdoors. These are dated examples of practice, rather than a description of today's staffing arrangements.

The address is Leicester Islamic Academy, 320 London Road, Leicester, LE2 2PJ. The academy identifies LIA Gems as its pre-school unit, establishing the connection between the nursery and the school site.

In May 2023, the nursery operated on weekdays during term time, with session times of 8am to 6pm. Funded early education then covered children aged two, three and four. Those arrangements belong to that inspection date and should be read as a historical attendance picture.

Being based at Leicester Islamic Academy does not guarantee a Reception place. Families seeking to continue into the independent school use the school's own admissions process; nursery attendance and school admission are separate decisions.

• Communication in groups. The May 2023 improvement point concerned adapting staff voices to keep every child involved. During a visit, ask how practitioners now adjust group conversations for quieter children or those who need more support to participate.
• Term-time attendance. The May 2023 arrangement followed term time and offered sessions between 8am and 6pm. Ask which current booking pattern fits your child's age and your family's holiday care needs.
• Continuing at the academy. Sharing the Leicester Islamic Academy site does not secure a Reception place. Families considering that route should treat the school's application as a separate step.

LIA Gems suits families who value everyday independence and learning woven into play, provided they weigh the May 2023 account as a dated picture. Serving food, sharing resources and using numbers during movement give substance to that picture. The Good judgement carries a clear qualification around engaging every child in communication. Families considering both nursery and the academy should keep the two admission decisions separate.