Leeds Menorah School Nursery

A wooded area, den building and stories gave Leeds Menorah School’s early years provision its clearest character in Ofsted’s July 2024 inspection: children learned through movement, investigation and language. The nursery belongs to the independent school at 399 Street Lane, Leeds, whose admission age starts at two. Its wider Jewish ethos serves families seeking an observant education, making the religious setting an important part of the choice.

Ofsted judged early years provision Good during its inspection of 9 to 11 July 2024. That was an early years judgement within the school inspection, rather than a separate nursery rating.

Outdoor learning had substance in July 2024. Children could tackle a slope, search for insects and build shelters in the wooded space. Watching moving water and changes in nature gave them things to investigate, while climbing brought physical challenge into their learning. This was space for exploration, with activities that let children try out skills through practical experience.

Language received attention from the Nursery Year onwards. Stories sat alongside poems and rhymes, giving children repeated encounters with words, sounds and ideas. Early reading developed well. For parents, this connects the nursery’s story experiences with the beginnings of reading, rather than treating books simply as entertainment.

The early years foundation stage, or EYFS, took shape through opportunities to learn, practise and use skills. The July 2024 curriculum supported a positive beginning to school life. These examples give the day a clear emphasis on physical exploration and communication.

Wider experiences. In July 2024, school-wide opportunities beyond the local Jewish community were restricted by safety concerns, limiting social learning outside that community. Mathematical explanation was also a school-wide improvement point: pupils needed more practice expressing how they solved problems. These findings concern the school overall and should not be read as separate nursery judgements.

Child welfare is the school’s stated first responsibility. Its safeguarding approach includes medical needs, first aid, security and bullying, so care extends beyond classroom learning. The school also describes staffing arrangements intended to meet requirements for ratios and class sizes.

Parents have a role in that approach. The school describes working with families and giving children age-appropriate ways to understand safety. Procedures for raising concerns about adults are accessible to parents and displayed on a notice board. That provides a concrete route for bringing a concern to the school’s attention.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate Reception application through the relevant admissions process and meet its deadline. Treat choosing the nursery and securing the next school place as two decisions, even when the intention is to remain at Leeds Menorah School.

Enquiries can go to the school office at office@leedsmenorahschool.org or by telephone on 0113 269 7709. The school’s contact arrangements cover holidays as well as term time, which gives families a route to make contact outside the teaching calendar. Current school policies can also be obtained through the office.