The Learning Experience Leatherhead

Character-led learning gives this purpose-designed Leatherhead nursery its identity: stories, movement, creative work and early problem-solving sit alongside outdoor play. The Learning Experience Leatherhead cares for children from 3 months to 5 years and has 170 places in total. That is whole-setting capacity, rather than the size of a child's room.

At its 30 April 2025 inspection, Ofsted rated the nursery Good and found safeguarding effective, with children comfortable in their relationships with staff and well supported as they settled. The important qualifications concern consistency: familiar relationships need dependable information sharing, and daily routines need to respond to individual children.

Babies, toddlers and preschool children have age-based programmes. Opening hours run from 7.30am to 6.30pm on weekdays, giving families a substantial window around work.

Rooms and Ages

Babies covers 3 to 18 months, with sensory exploration, early movement and emotional development supported through gentle routines and age-appropriate play. Individual routines are agreed with families, making continuity between home and nursery an important part of the youngest children's care.

The toddler programme spans 18 months to 3 years, emphasising language, movement and growing independence through creative play and supported routines. The preschool programme, for children aged 3 to 5 years, combines social learning, communication and problem-solving with preparation for primary school.

Bright classrooms and secure outdoor spaces give indoor learning and physical play their own place in the day. The purpose-designed accommodation matters most through how children use it: there are opportunities to explore, join guided activities and spend time outside, alongside meals and rest.

Learning and Activities

The EYFS provides the required framework for children's learning, development and care, bringing communication, physical development, social skills and early learning into their day. Alongside it, the group-wide L.E.A.P.® (Learning Experience Academic Programme) uses play and learning characters to introduce ideas and positive behaviour. At Leatherhead, those characters help children explore kindness, cooperation and curiosity through activities and everyday themes.

Stories and songs develop listening and language; music, art and movement give children ways to experiment and express themselves. Early number work and problem-solving introduce thinking skills through play. These are concrete ingredients of the programme, rather than a promise to hurry children towards formal lessons.

In April 2025, a weather activity gave children an opportunity to design umbrellas and discuss their different uses. The conversation moved between protection from rain and shade in hot weather, connecting a creative task to practical thinking. Children could contribute their own ideas rather than simply follow instructions.

Books also played a substantial part in the April 2025 day. Staff read expressively, while children chose books independently and explored how print communicates meaning. Physical experiences included climbing and balancing for older children; play dough and broad crayons offered practice with the hand movements used in early writing.

Relationships and Communication

For babies, working with parents on individual routines is a useful starting point for continuity of care. Toilet training is also approached with families, following the child's readiness and keeping home and nursery practice connected. These arrangements make everyday exchanges with practitioners important, especially when a child's routine changes.

A secure parent app carries photographs, updates and daily information, supplemented by face-to-face conversations. It gives families a way to follow the day and provides another route for communication alongside direct discussion with staff. The app supports the relationship; the consistency of staff handovers remains a separate consideration.

Inclusion and Wellbeing

The April 2025 inspection found SEND support generally effective, with targeted plans and good progress, but identified inconsistent key-person cover and information sharing, together with routines that did not reliably meet individual needs, including those of children with SEND. These are practical concerns for parents to explore, rather than reasons to overlook the positive relationships described at that visit.

In April 2025, support needs were identified promptly and children had detailed plans. A SENCO role and deputy SENCO role are part of the current team structure, providing identified responsibilities for additional support. For a family needing adjustments, the important connection is between those responsibilities, the child's plan and what happens throughout the daily routine.

During April 2025, allergy and intolerance procedures included revised risk assessments and staff training following incidents. Families managing allergies should discuss current arrangements, including how information reaches everyone involved in their child's care.

Sessions and Attendance

The address is Horizon West, Randalls Way, Leatherhead, KT22 7TW. The nursery opens Monday to Friday from 7.30am until 6.30pm and operates throughout the year, closing for bank holidays. These are opening hours: families should distinguish the nursery's operating window from the attendance arrangement they choose.

Enquiries can be made by telephone on 01372 234741 or through the Leatherhead enquiry form, which also offers tour booking. The joining process includes a non-refundable joining fee to reserve a child's place.

Funding and Paid Extras

Funded childcare is offered to eligible families, alongside privately paid care. Standard fees include food, drinks, non-food consumables and activities; enrichment through music, movement and creative work is included in everyday learning. Current prices come in the nursery's written quotation, so the financial decision should be based on the arrangement proposed for your child.

Payment is collected by Direct Debit at the start of the month, with fees payable in advance. Sickness and holidays do not attract refunds. That matters when budgeting for attendance across the year: an absence does not reduce the charge under these terms.

• Continuity of care. In April 2025, key-person cover and staff information sharing needed greater consistency. During a tour, ask how the main key person and their cover now exchange information about your child.
• Individual routines. The April 2025 findings identified routines that did not consistently meet children's needs, including SEND. Families needing adjustments should discuss how a child's plan changes the day's activities and care.
• Attendance and funding. The nursery operates year-round and offers funded childcare to eligible families. Ask which booking pattern, funded-hours arrangement and associated charges would apply to your child.
• Absence costs. Fees are payable in advance and sickness or holidays receive no refund. Allow for this when comparing the proposed attendance arrangement with your family's working year.

The Learning Experience Leatherhead suits families seeking character-led play, age-based provision and care within an early-to-evening weekday opening window. Its strongest practical ingredients are individual baby routines, regular parent communication and a programme that brings stories, creative activities and movement together.

The Good judgement from April 2025 provides a positive inspection position, qualified by specific concerns about key-person consistency and individual routines. Those details deserve close attention for any child who needs predictable care or additional support. The decision turns on how the current team translates its programme and communication arrangements into dependable everyday practice.