Partou Play Away Day Nursery & Pre-school

Trips to the Stray give Play Away a recognisable Harrogate character, bringing exploration beyond its playrooms into the nursery day. There is a practical appeal here, too: food is prepared on site, outdoor spaces support active play, and parents can follow their child's experiences through an online learning journal. The inspection position requires equal attention.

At its November 2025 inspection, Ofsted judged behaviour and routines, and welfare and wellbeing, at the expected standard, with safeguarding standards met; achievement, curriculum and teaching, inclusion, and leadership and governance needed attention. That combination matters: everyday care and children's relationships with staff were strengths, but identifying learning needs and keeping parents properly informed required action.

The nursery has capacity for 72 children and accepts ages from 3 to 60 months. Full days, morning sessions and afternoon sessions give families different attendance patterns, with an early drop-off session also offered.

Rooms and Ages

In November 2025, babies practised reaching for balls and handling play dough, toddlers explored tower building and familiar action songs, and preschool children used stencils and painted outdoors. These were concrete, age-related experiences: reaching and grasping for the youngest children, persistence through construction for toddlers, and early mark-making for older children.

The playrooms are bright and spacious, with resources for indoor play, while outdoor environments provide opportunities to move and play alongside other children. The outdoor environments are designed to support children's physical and social development.

Learning and Activities

The EYFS provides the framework for children's learning, development and care, covering the skills they build through play and everyday experiences. Alongside it, Partou's group-wide child-led approach emphasises children's choices, confidence and curiosity. That gives families an understanding of the intended approach; how well learning meets an individual child's needs remains the more important test.

During November 2025, language featured throughout the nursery day. Staff talked alongside babies' play, encouraged early sounds and words, and used songs, rhymes and stories. Preschool children were encouraged to give longer answers to questions. Construction play also brought opportunities to explore mathematical ideas, connecting learning with something children were already interested in doing.

Outdoor and Community Life

Exploration trips to the Stray extend the setting's outdoor experiences beyond its own grounds. On site, the outdoor environments are designed around physical and social development, giving children opportunities for movement and shared play.

In November 2025, preschool children investigated what happened when flowers were placed in water, alongside their outdoor painting. These examples give the nursery day some texture: making marks and exploring change could happen through practical play, rather than only through adult explanation.

Relationships and Communication

In November 2025, children sought comfort from attentive staff, who responded with reassurance and cuddles, and the key-person arrangement helped children form close relationships. Familiar adults matter when children are learning to spend time away from their families. The same month's observations included children settling quickly and becoming absorbed in play.

An online learning journal gives parents a way to follow their child's progress from home. It is a useful communication channel, but families need meaningful information about learning as well as access to updates.

At the November 2025 inspection, Ofsted found that SEND support and external referrals were too slow, assessment did not consistently identify barriers to learning, information from parents about family and home life was not consistently used to shape learning support, children learning English as an additional language received insufficient curriculum adaptation, and parents lacked timely, detailed information about progress and ways to help at home; individual SEND plans were beneficial where used, and additional funding supported children appropriately. These findings make the content and timing of communication a central consideration, especially where a child needs additional help.

Inclusion and Wellbeing

During November 2025, staff helped children understand emotions through stories and supported turn-taking and sharing. Toddlers received explanations suited to their stage of development, while older children practised negotiating with friends. The emphasis was on helping children understand their behaviour and relationships.

Sleep supervision, accident monitoring and risk assessment formed part of daily care in November 2025. At mealtimes that month, babies practised using spoons, while older children poured drinks and served food. Everyday routines therefore offered opportunities to develop independence alongside care.

Meals are freshly prepared at the nursery using a seasonal menu. Food and drinks have their own charge, separate from care, so meal provision and its cost are both part of the attendance decision.

Sessions and Attendance

Full-day attendance runs from 8am to 6pm; morning sessions run from 8am to 1pm, and afternoon sessions from 1pm to 6pm. The early drop-off session runs from 7am to 8am. This separates the core full day from the earlier start, which is useful when matching childcare to working hours.

Opening hours are 7am to 6pm, Monday to Friday, excluding bank holidays. Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve have a 4pm closing time. Charges apply across 52 weeks, including bank holidays, so families should account for the billing arrangement as well as the days they attend.

Getting There

The address is 34 Devonshire Place, Harrogate, HG1 4AD, just off Skipton Road by the A59. The nursery can be contacted on 01423 566696 or through its enquiry form.

Funding and Paid Extras

Funded childcare is offered in conjunction with North Yorkshire Local Authority. For eligible families, funding typically covers 15 or 30 hours per week across 38 term weeks; for year-round attendance, funding is stretched across 52 weeks, providing 10.96 or 21.92 funded hours per week respectively. Term-time attendance and year-round attendance therefore distribute the funded hours differently.

Funding covers the care element. Meals and snacks, and consumables such as sun cream, nappies and wet wipes, are charged separately, including during funded sessions. Private care hours also have a separate care charge. Families should use the nursery's current written quotation to understand the complete cost of their attendance pattern.

Joining involves either a non-refundable registration fee or a registration deposit to reserve a place, subject to the applicable eligibility terms. Those terms matter when comparing the initial payment with the continuing charges.

• Additional learning needs. The November 2025 findings concerned delays in recognising needs and arranging support, including external referrals. At a visit, ask how concerns now lead to a support plan and how progress is reviewed with parents.
• Meaningful progress updates. Communication was a weakness in November 2025, despite the online learning journal. Ask to see how an update explains a child's learning and gives families something useful to continue at home.
• The full attendance cost. Meals, snacks and consumables are separately charged during funded and private sessions, and billing includes bank holidays. Compare a written quotation for the exact morning, afternoon or full-day pattern you need.

Play Away suits families seeking morning sessions, afternoon sessions or full-day attendance in Harrogate, with trips to the Stray and food prepared on site adding practical appeal. Its play spaces and everyday activities give children opportunities to explore, communicate and become more independent.

The November 2025 concerns carry substantial weight, especially for children with SEND or other barriers to learning. A decision should turn on clear examples of timely support and useful communication with parents, alongside the convenience of the attendance pattern and its total cost.