Learn to Leap Day Nursery

An outdoor play kitchen, camera activities and conversations about how fish breathe characterised Learn to Leap Day Nursery's July 2023 inspection. At its July 2023 inspection, Ofsted rated it Good overall, while identifying a need for better challenge for older children and fuller participation by younger children.

The nursery has capacity for 60 children aged 0 to 60 months. Its address is 1034 High Road, Romford, RM6 4BA. The practical attraction is an all-year opening pattern; the educational question is how activities accommodate children at different stages.

The early years foundation stage sets expectations for children's learning, development and care: play sits alongside support for communication, physical skills and relationships.

In July 2023, language featured throughout activities. Children discussed story characters and learnt vocabulary about fish and breathing. Staff encouraged longer sentences, while photographs prompted explanations about using a camera and its lens. These examples connected conversation with something children could explore.

Toddlers acted out ordering ice cream in the play kitchen. Younger children mixed flour and water into dough, exploring texture and new descriptive words. A wooden indoor ramp offered practice in balancing and jumping. Outside, bikes and a sand pit added opportunities for movement and digging.

Community learning extended beyond the garden in July 2023. Regular local visits introduced children to the work of firefighters, postal workers and health professionals. Activities linked to religious festivals also gave children opportunities to explore differences between people.

The limitation was uneven engagement. Some older children moved rapidly between activities because the tasks offered too little challenge; quieter children sometimes missed opportunities to join in. These are useful tests of the day-to-day experience, rather than reasons to judge provision solely by its equipment.

At the July 2023 inspection, Ofsted found safeguarding effective, close key-person relationships and good progress, including for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities and those receiving additional funding.

In July 2023, staff gathered words from children's home languages and used pictures to support communication. Emotional support continued through room changes and the move to school. Exchanges with parents covered children's development and ways to extend learning at home, giving families a connection between nursery activities and home life.

Fresh meals and adjustments for individual dietary needs formed part of care in July 2023. Oral hygiene and hygiene routines were also addressed. Staff received safeguarding training, recruitment involved suitability checks, and risks were assessed within the nursery and on outings.

Management supported professional development in July 2023 and sought advice from the local authority and other professionals. Reflection included contributions from staff, parents and children.

Sessions and Attendance

Opening hours are 7.30am to 6pm, Monday to Friday. The nursery operates throughout the year and closes on bank holidays. This opening window is useful for families whose working day extends beyond school hours.

In July 2023, funded early education was offered for children aged two, three and four.

• Challenge for older children. In July 2023, some activities did not stretch older or more able children sufficiently. Look for tasks that sustain their interest during a visit.
• Participation for quieter children. July 2023 observations identified missed opportunities to involve quieter children, alongside an improvement requirement about younger children's participation. Look at how practitioners draw children into activities.
• Your attendance pattern. The all-year opening window runs from 7.30am to 6pm. Which booking pattern and current funding terms would fit your family's needs?

Learn to Leap suits families seeking an all-year nursery with opening hours extending across the working day. Its July 2023 experience combined practical play, language development and community learning. The central decision is whether today's activities provide enough challenge for older children and enough invitation for quieter ones.