The Priory Day Nursery

In June 2024, a sensory room for quiet, individual work gave The Priory Day Nursery a concrete point of interest beyond its everyday play activities. At its June 2024 inspection, Ofsted rated the nursery Good overall, with personal, social and emotional learning a strength and further work required on consistent teaching and speech and language training.

Based in Grangetown, Middlesbrough, the nursery accepts children from three months to five years and has 69 places in total. Its inspection-time experiences included garden play for babies, songs for toddlers and early writing for older children.

In June 2024, children explored learning through practical activities: counting coloured balls in a water tray, looking for insects with magnifying glasses and making broad painted marks with their arms. These gave counting, language and physical movement a place in play rather than treating them as separate exercises.

The nursery follows the early years foundation stage, the framework for children's learning, development and care. In June 2024, staff planned around children's interests and developmental stages, with room-level goals intended to prepare them for their next stage of learning.

Babies used creative materials and explored imaginative play in the garden, while toddlers joined familiar songs and rhymes at circle time. Older children chose to practise writing their names. Outdoor activities held children's attention, making the garden an important teaching space as well as somewhere to play.

At the June 2024 inspection, Ofsted found safeguarding effective and SEND support especially strong, including individual learning targets, work with other professionals and a sensory room used for quiet time, individual support and small-group activities.

In June 2024, staff collected information about children when they started and kept parents informed about development to connect care at home and nursery. Adults modelled kindness and manners; older children helped one another with their school bags. Staff also discussed sun protection and hygiene, encouraging children to take part in their own care.

The sensory room had a practical purpose: a calmer space where staff could work closely with children. For families considering additional support, that is a more useful detail than a general promise of inclusion.

The address is 18 Grange Close, Middlesbrough, TS6 7LD. Opening hours are 7.30am to 6pm, Monday to Friday, across the year, with closure on bank holidays.

In June 2024, the nursery provided funded early education for children aged two, three and four. Staff also worked on skills children would need when starting school, giving school preparation a place within everyday learning.

• Teaching through play. In June 2024, staff did not consistently carry children's individual learning goals into their self-directed activities. This matters because much of a nursery day involves children choosing their own play.
• Speech and language. In June 2024, some staff supporting children with speech delay had not received training to develop that work. Further training was an improvement priority.
• Planning attendance. Which booking patterns and funded-hours arrangements would fit your child's week? Make this a central question when arranging a visit.

The Priory Day Nursery suits families seeking year-round care, with an inspection-time picture of practical play, close relationships and individual SEND support. In June 2024, its sensory room provided a concrete care resource. The June 2024 improvement priorities also deserve weight: teaching needed to follow individual goals more consistently, and speech and language training needed further attention.