Ashby Nursery School & Preschool Academy

An allotment, a mud kitchen and a separate Preschool Academy give Ashby a clear identity: early childhood here has space for outdoor exploration as well as preparation for school. Downstairs spaces serve babies, while preschool children have dedicated opportunities to explore nature. The North Street setting combines these different stages within one nursery.

At its 10 January 2023 inspection, Ofsted rated the nursery Good overall, with Outstanding behaviour and attitudes. That judgement gives families a positive inspection baseline, although its observations belong to that date. The clearest improvement point concerned making counting and number recognition a more consistent part of older children's spontaneous play.

Ashby accepts children aged two months to five years and has 50 places in total. Full-day, morning and afternoon bookings give families several ways to organise attendance.

Rooms and Ages

Babies use downstairs rooms, while the Academy provides a separate space for the preschool stage. This division matters for families comparing the needs of a very young child with those of a child approaching school: the environments serve different stages rather than treating the whole age range as one group.

The preschool outdoor offer includes an allotment and mud kitchen. These give nature exploration a practical setting, with opportunities to handle materials and investigate outdoors rather than keeping it as an indoor topic.

Learning and Activities

The early years foundation stage sets the framework for children's learning, development and care. In parent language, that brings play, communication, physical development and growing independence into the nursery day; the framework itself is the common foundation, rather than an extra programme.

In January 2023, children explored a problem involving toy dinosaurs trapped in ice, trying tools and warm water to release them. The activity joined experimentation with conversation: adults introduced vocabulary connected with freezing and melting. Children had a problem to solve, and language helped them explain what was happening.

During the same month, babies shared animal books with adults and copied animal sounds, while younger children practised climbing on small equipment with support. Older children collaborated on a bridge made from blocks, testing materials and deciding how their cars could cross it. These examples show the different demands of the day, from early listening to negotiation and practical problem-solving.

Counting was the weaker thread in January 2023. Adults introduced some mathematical ideas during planned activities, but did not consistently extend older children's counting during play. For parents, the useful distinction is between offering a number activity and recognising a number-learning opportunity as children create their own game.

Outdoor and Community Life

Forest School adds learning through exploration of the natural world. In January 2023, children used a forest school area for tree climbing and den building, extending outdoor experiences beyond ordinary garden play.

Sands, which supports families affected by baby loss, is Ashby's chosen charity partner. Fundraising across the year includes dress-up days, sponsored challenges and bake sales. This gives families a concrete way to take part in nursery community life, while dress-up events also bring a practical expectation to plan for.

In January 2023, adults used information about children's interests and earlier experiences to shape activities. Outdoor play was deliberately included for children who lacked a garden at home. The detail matters: planning responded to what children experienced beyond nursery, rather than assuming that each child had the same opportunities.

At the January 2023 inspection, Ofsted found safeguarding effective and identified strong relationships between staff and parents, with information shared to connect learning at home and nursery. Those are dated findings, rather than a claim about today's individual staff team.

Self-care also featured in January 2023. Younger children practised handwashing before lunch, while older children poured drinks and discussed fruit at snack time. Everyday routines became opportunities to do more for themselves. For babies, shared books and close adult contact were part of the observed care.

Current family participation includes an active parent forum and an open-door policy. These provide routes for parents to contribute to nursery life as well as discuss their own child. Ashby also works with local schools on preparation for the move into primary education; this is transition work, rather than an admissions advantage.

An on-site chef prepares meals, using local ingredients where possible, and menus accommodate dietary requirements. Cookery sessions also let children handle ingredients and explore where food comes from, connecting eating with practical learning.

Sessions and Attendance

The nursery address is 28 North Street, Ashby-de-la-zouch, LE65 1HS; its premises also extend into 30 North Street. Bookings are full days from 7.30am to 6pm, mornings from 7.30am to 1pm, or afternoons from 1pm to 6pm, Monday to Friday.

Attendance runs across the year, with 51 weeks used for stretched funding. Closures include Christmas week, bank holidays and two annual team training days. Families can begin the joining process through Ashby's enquiry form or by contacting the nursery directly.

Funding and Paid Extras

Eligible children aged nine months and above can access the 15 Hours or 30 Hours funding offer. Ashby stretches those entitlements across 51 weeks, providing up to 11.18 or 22.35 funded hours weekly respectively; the first-term arrangement differs for children first accessing funding during the Summer term. The stretched 15 Hours offer can cover a mixture of full and shorter sessions. Using the full stretched 30 Hours entitlement involves applying the first 20 funded hours to two full days, with the remaining 2.35 hours used in another full or shorter session. Up to 10 funded hours can be applied per day; the remaining part of a full day is charged privately.

For private bookings, fees include meals, snacks, milk and infant formula, alongside nappies, wipes, nappy cream and sun cream. During funded sessions, food and health-and-hygiene consumables carry separate charges, as do additional activities for children over two; the additional-activity charge does not apply to under-twos. Those charges are proportionate for shorter or partly funded sessions.

A non-refundable registration charge applies, and the deposit is credited against the first invoice. Current prices come in the nursery's written quotation. The Ashby fees and funding information explains how attendance and funding fit together, helping families compare the whole booking rather than funded hours alone.

• Counting during play. The January 2023 improvement point concerned spontaneous opportunities for counting and recognising numbers. During a visit, ask how practitioners now build these into children's own activities.
• Funded sessions and extras. Stretched funding sits alongside separate food, consumables and activity charges. Compare the written quotation for your chosen morning, afternoon or full-day pattern, including any private hours.
• The baby-to-Academy journey. Babies and preschool children use different spaces. On a visit, ask how settling works and how children are supported when they move between stages.
• Dietary needs. Menus accommodate different requirements. Families managing an allergy should confirm current meal preparation and handling arrangements before their child starts.

Ashby suits families seeking either full-day attendance or shorter morning and afternoon sessions, with separate baby and preschool spaces and a practical outdoor offer. The allotment, mud kitchen and Sands partnership give the setting character beyond its timetable. Its January 2023 Good judgement, with Outstanding behaviour and attitudes, is a positive reference point; counting during child-led play remains the specific question to bring to a visit. Funding comparisons should include the separate charges as well as the hours covered.