Leapfrog Nursery School, St Mary's

Pumpkin seeds and tweezers capture the practical learning seen at this Crowborough nursery: small tasks that bring new ideas and hand control together. Leapfrog Nursery School, St Mary's serves children aged 8 to 60 months and has 20 places in total. Its address is Queen's Road, Crowborough, TN6 2LB.

Ofsted rated the nursery Good on 19 October 2023, with improvements required in outdoor learning and the support given to younger children’s independence and social development. Those priorities matter alongside the positive indoor experiences.

In October 2023, indoor activities followed children’s interests. Moving seeds with tweezers combined learning about vegetables with practising precise movements. Small-group conversations introduced unfamiliar vocabulary, giving children opportunities to extend their language through an activity rather than a separate lesson.

The early years foundation stage sets the requirements for children’s learning, care and development. In everyday terms, play and interaction support learning alongside physical, personal and social development.

Outdoor exercise was part of the October 2023 day, but the outdoor space did not support the full curriculum as effectively as the indoor provision. For a child who prefers being outside, the issue was the breadth of learning there, rather than simply access to fresh air.

At its October 2023 inspection, Ofsted found safeguarding effective and described staff identifying developmental gaps and seeking specialist help promptly, including for children with special educational needs or disabilities. This connected observation with practical support.

In October 2023, settling arrangements could be adjusted to individual children. Future Reception teachers were invited to meet children at nursery, helping the adults involved in the next stage understand their needs before the move.

A dental nurse had visited to demonstrate toothbrushing, and children received vegetable and fruit snacks. Health learning therefore included a practical demonstration as well as everyday food choices.

Support for the youngest children was less consistent. In October 2023, they sometimes needed more help to participate or direct their own play, making adult interaction an important consideration for families choosing care for a younger child.

Opening hours are 8am to 5pm, Monday to Friday, during term time; the nursery closes for school holidays. That calendar is a significant practical consideration for families needing childcare throughout the year.

In October 2023, the setting operated independently from a mobile classroom within the grounds of St Mary's Catholic Primary School. Attending a nursery on a school site does not guarantee a Reception place: families still apply through the local authority’s admissions process.

The nursery received funding for two-, three- and four-year-olds in October 2023, alongside early years pupil premium funding. This is a dated description of its funding participation.

• Outdoor learning. The October 2023 improvement priority concerned curriculum coverage outside. At a visit, ask how outdoor activities now support children who prefer learning there.
• Younger children’s participation. In October 2023, support for joining activities and initiating play was inconsistent. Ask how practitioners help the youngest children build independence today.
• Term-time calendar. School-holiday closures mean families needing year-round care must account for those breaks.

This nursery suits families seeking term-time care in Crowborough. Practical play and flexible settling were strengths of its October 2023 inspection picture. The October 2023 picture combines engaging indoor activities with specific questions about outdoor learning and younger children’s participation. Those are useful priorities for assessing whether the setting fits your child.