Westfield Day Nursery

Stories became building projects at Westfield: in April 2024, children stacked cardboard boxes into a house, then extended the story through pretend telephone conversations and keyboard play. That gives a concrete picture of learning through play, with language woven into practical activity.

Ofsted rated Westfield Day Nursery Good at its 22 April 2024 inspection. The nursery serves babies and children up to 48 months at Westfield Centre in Pontefract.

The early years foundation stage sets the requirements for children's learning, development and care, bringing play and learning together with attention to children's individual needs.

In April 2024, staff connected storytelling with movement, imaginative play and vocabulary. Bubbles gave children opportunities to practise coordination, while comparisons between objects introduced words about size. Staff had also completed Cracking Communication, a local authority course supporting their work on children's language.

Outdoor activity had a tangible setting. In April 2024, children heard stories beneath a pergola, explored textured books and searched beneath logs for small creatures. Waterproof clothing supported outdoor play in different weather. These experiences combined conversation, sensory exploration and opportunities to investigate.

At the April 2024 inspection, Ofsted found safeguarding effective and judged that the special educational needs coordinator supported children's participation and helped address gaps in learning. In one activity, children used gestures to prompt an adult to continue a familiar sequence with a spinning toy, giving them an active role in communication.

In April 2024, staff helped children recognise their feelings and respond to differences in other children's behaviour. They gathered parents' knowledge of what children could already do for initial assessments. Fresh fruit and home-cooked meals featured in the day, alongside handwashing routines that encouraged children to manage their own care.

Westfield Day Nursery is at Westfield Centre, Westfield Lane, Pontefract, WF9 2PU. Opening hours are 8am to 6pm on weekdays, across the year, with closures for bank holidays and two weeks over Christmas.

In April 2024, the nursery provided funded early education for children aged two, three and four. That is a dated participation statement, rather than a promise of a funded place for an individual child.

• Time to think. In April 2024, adults sometimes moved on before children had enough time to answer questions. Giving children longer to respond was an improvement priority, relevant to families weighing support for early language.
• Teaching and wider experiences. In April 2024, staff supervision needed to become more established, and learning about the wider world needed broadening beyond children's own experiences. These priorities matter alongside the practical strengths in storytelling and outdoor play.
• Attendance arrangements. With weekday opening from 8am to 6pm, which booking pattern and funded-hours arrangements would fit your family's routine?

Westfield suits families seeking play-based early learning with a practical emphasis on communication and outdoor exploration. The April 2024 picture combines imaginative storytelling, emotional development and individual support with clear priorities for teaching consistency and broader experiences. Its weekday opening window is useful for families planning childcare around work.