Opening hours
Mon - Fri : 7:30AM - 5PM 46 weeks a year
Kirkgate Childcare
Ofsted: Outstanding
(Jul 2025)
Number of places
22 places
Age range
2–4 yrs
Last inspected
Jul 2025
Local authority
North Yorkshire
About this day nursery
Kirkgate Childcare, located in Sherburn in Elmet, North Yorkshire, offers a nurturing environment where children are encouraged to thrive through a strong focus on personal, social, and emotional development. The nursery prioritises creating a sense of belonging for each child, believing this fosters continuous progress.
They embrace a key person system, with dedicated staff building relationships with families through home visits and supporting children through settling periods. This individualised approach ensures that the unique needs of every child are met, with key persons conducting daily observations and assessments to identify strengths and areas for development.
Kirkgate Childcare emphasises strong parent partnerships, recognising that collaboration with families is crucial for a child's success. They provide a stimulating environment with a wide selection of resources, supported by experienced practitioners.
The nursery promotes developmental movement play, encouraging freedom of movement and innate patterns. They also offer extensive outdoor play opportunities, including a nursery garden, an allotment, and visits to local amenities like the library and a nursing home.
Creative expression is valued through a "Creation Station," where children explore and learn through process art and open-ended activities, fostering creativity rather than focusing solely on the final product. The nursery also has a dedicated SENCO to support children with special educational needs, working closely with parents and other professionals.
Our ethos
We believe this is important for us and your child, by working in partnership in a variety of ways with yourselves will enable your child to thrive and make continuous progress.
What it's like
Children are cared for by passionate and dedicated staff in this inclusive nursery. Staff know children extremely well and skilfully adapt their interactions and routines to ensure those children who need extra support receive one-to-one attention. This contributes significantly to help children form strong attachments with staff, learn to regulate their emotions, and concentrate for long periods.
Key Person SystemParent PartnershipOutdoor PlayProcess ArtSEN Support
Pricing & funding
The nursery offers full day, half day, and ad hoc hourly bookings. Fees exclude consumables such as snacks, activities, and outings, which are charged additionally. Funding is available for eligible two, three, and four-year-olds, with monthly snack fees applying for funded hours.
Funding accepted
15 hours — universal (3–4 yrs)15 hours — eligible 2-year-olds
Good to know
- Consumables such as snacks, activities, and outings are charged separately.
- From September 2025, monthly snack fees apply for funded hours unless parents provide their own snacks.
- Snack fees must be paid via direct debit on the 1st of the month, excluding August.
- Contributions for extra activities and trips will be requested as and when needed from September 2025.
Key facts
Term time / All Year
Mixed
Ofsted Inspection
Ofsted rating for Kirkgate Childcare
Last inspected 31 July 2025 · Kerry Holder
Overall effectiveness
Outstanding
Quality of education
Outstanding
Behaviour and attitudes
Outstanding
Personal development
Outstanding
Leadership and management
Outstanding
What it's like to attend
Children are cared for by passionate and dedicated staff in this inclusive nursery. Staff know children extremely well and skilfully adapt their interactions and routines to ensure those children who need extra support receive one-to-one attention. This contributes significantly to help children form strong attachments with staff, learn to regulate their emotions, and concentrate for long periods.
Inspector highlights
- Support for children's communication and language is exemplary.
- Staff know children and their families extremely well and use highly effective methods to gather and share information about children's development.
- Staff create an inclusive environment where all children are confident, independent learners.
- Partnerships with parents are outstanding.
- Leaders demonstrate a tenacious passion for delivering exceptional care and education to children.
Inspection #10399319 · Source: OfstedView full Ofsted report
What parents say
Verbatim quotes recorded in the Ofsted inspection
Parents appreciate how strong the communication is and how genuinely invested staff are in each and every child.
They feel that staff have a genuine passion and that their children make exceptional progress.
Inclusion & environment
How they support every child
SEND provision
Staff know children extremely well. They skilfully adapt their interactions and routines to ensure those children who need extra support receive one-to-one attention. Staff work very closely with a range of professionals and share relevant information, attending and holding meetings and implementing strategies that support children's progress.
Outdoor space
Staff ensure that children have daily access to a very well-planned outdoor environment, regardless of the weather. Children eagerly engage in a wonderful array of focused and meaningful activities, which develops their understanding of the world outdoors. Daily access to play apparatus allows children time to engage in activities that strengthen their climbing and balancing abilities.
Parent Reviews of Kirkgate Childcare
5.0
(22)
Sarah Banks
a year ago
Absolutely amazing nursery and staff. Everybody goes above and beyond with looking after the children. From the home visits before they start and then the starting nursery. Helps us parents feel more at ease leaving our babies. My daughter loves her time at nursery. She has been on many visits to the nursing home, library and sweet shop in Sherburn. She is always happy, smiling and talkative about her day. The care is outstanding and I would highly recommend kirkgate.
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Georgie Darbyshire (The K9 Hub)
4 years ago
My daughter has just finished at Kirkgate Childcare to start big school in September and we honestly cannot recommend this little special nursery enough. The care, enrichment and education is outstanding. The staff are so friendly and loved by all the children. She went into nursery with a big smile on her face and came out with an even bigger one! Without a doubt choosing this nursery was one of the best decisions we have made for our daughter. We cannot thank you enough, especially Milly, her Key Person you have given my little girl some very happy memories which I know she will treasure forever!!
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Victoria M
2 years ago
Our daughter recently transferred from another nursery where she was fairly settled. We were a little anxious about moving her but the team have been faultless. They are like one big family and everyone of them cares for each child. They are so passionate and this really shows from their settling in process right through to when the children go to school. The things they manage to do with the children is incredible. I would highly recommend this nursery.
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Fiona Hillyer
6 years ago
Kirkgate childcare is an amazing nursery. My daughter loves going there. The setting is completely child centred and staff are highly skilled. They genuinely care about each child’s individuality and follow and celebrate their interests. All staff have worked to develop a lovely relationship with my daughter, particularly, her key worker, who she loves! My daughter feels happy and secure at nursery and has lots of fun. As the setting is fairly small, it feels very nurturing, the children get to know each other really well and my daughter has developed some firm friendships. As a parent I am made to feel very welcome and am kept well informed through daily feedback and regularly parent consultations. The early years curriculum is implemented wonderfully through play. My daughter is developing well, her strengths have been identified and encouraged. I am so happy with my choice of childcare.
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Deborah Simm
6 years ago
What a fantastic nursery. My daughter absolutely loves going here. They have been brilliant with her allergies, flexible when i have needed extra days, and just generally make me feel that my daughter is important to them. There is a great family feeling and this is what sets kirkgate apart from other childcare locally. All the staff are lovely and the atmosphere is always calm and nuturing. Highly recommended.
Read on GoogleReviews from Google for Kirkgate Childcare. See all on Google Maps
Inspection history
Improved from Good → Outstanding in 2025
Date: November 2019
- July 2025Outstanding
- November 2019Good
Frequently asked about Kirkgate Childcare
About the setting
Kirkgate Childcare registered in 2017. The nursery employs seven members of childcare staff, five of whom hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 3 or above. The nursery opens from 7.30am to 5pm, Monday to Friday, for 46 weeks of the year. They close for two weeks at Christmas, the last week in May and for the last three weeks of the school summer holidays. The nursery provides government-funded childcare.
- URN
- EY551533
- Registered person
- Stevenson, Dawn Louise
- Day care type
- Full day care
- Register
- Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register
- Establishment type
- Childcare on non-domestic premises
- Previous rating
- Good
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