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Leap Ahead Day Nursery

Ofsted: Good
(Jul 2025)
·Village Hall, Darton Lane, Barnsley, S75 6AL · Barnsley
Number of places
56 places
Age range
1–4 yrs
Last inspected
Jul 2025
Local authority
Barnsley

About this day nursery

Leap Ahead Day Nursery Ltd in Barnsley provides a stimulating pre-school experience, focusing on building children’s confidence and self-esteem through a caring environment. The nursery aims to develop children holistically across physical, intellectual, emotional, social, and creative areas.

Admissions are handled on a first-come, first-served basis, with priority given to siblings, children of working parents needing full-time care, and those requiring multiple sessions. The nursery operates year-round, closing only on Bank Holidays.

m. , including breakfast, a mid-morning snack, and a two-course lunch.

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and include all meals, with a discount for full-time enrolment (five full days a week). The building access is securely controlled with a monitoring system, and outdoor play areas are fenced.

The nursery can accommodate up to 51 children, with a self-contained baby room for nine children aged birth to two years, and a pre-school area for up to 42 children aged two to five years. A Key Person system is in place to foster secure attachments and cater to individual needs.

The baby room offers a high adult-to-child ratio, trained staff, and a sensory room with an interactive floor for soothing and stimulating experiences. Parents are advised to dress children in play-appropriate clothing and provide sun cream in summer, as well as a change of clothes.

The nursery cannot care for sick children to prevent the spread of infectious diseases. They promote healthy eating by requesting no sweets or chocolates and discourage personal toys unless they are comfort items.

Meals are prepared daily by the Village Hall Cafe and Sandwich Bar, with menus displayed in advance to accommodate dietary needs.

What it's like

Children achieve well in this friendly and purposeful nursery. They make good progress overall from their individual starting points and are well-prepared for the next stage in their learning. They learn to play safely and become increasingly aware of the world around them.

Holistic child developmentSecure environmentKey Person systemSensory room for babies and toddlersNutritious meals

Pricing & funding

Funding accepted

15 hours — universal (3–4 yrs)30 hours — working parents (3–4 yrs)15 hours — eligible 2-year-olds
Pricing on request

This nursery doesn't publish its fees online. Contact them directly for an up-to-date price list and availability.

Key facts

Opening hours

Open all year round except on Bank Holidays. Morning sessions: 8:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. Afternoon sessions: 1:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. Full days: 8:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.

Food

Meals prepared daily by the Village Hall Cafe and Sandwich Bar; includes breakfast, mid-morning snack, two-course lunch, afternoon snack, and light tea.

Age range

Babies and toddlers (Birth - 2 yrs); 2-5 years (pre-school)

Session types

Morning sessions, Afternoon sessions, Full days

Waitlist

Waiting list maintained on a first come first served basis

Term time / All Year

All Year

Established

2023

Ofsted Inspection

Ofsted rating for Leap Ahead Day Nursery

Last inspected 15 July 2025 · Andrew Clark

Safeguarding effective
Overall effectiveness
Good
Quality of education
Good
Behaviour and attitudes
Good
Personal development
Good
Leadership and management
Good

What it's like to attend

Children achieve well in this friendly and purposeful nursery. They make good progress overall from their individual starting points and are well-prepared for the next stage in their learning. They learn to play safely and become increasingly aware of the world around them.

Inspector highlights

  • Children achieve well and are well-prepared for the next stage in their learning.
  • Children learn to play safely and become increasingly aware of the world around them.
  • Staff build children's communication skills well through songs, action rhymes, and conversations.
  • Staff promote children's enjoyment and appreciation of books by regularly sharing stories.
  • Leaders are reflective and ambitious, making good use of professional advice and training to build staff practice.

Areas to develop

  • 1Focus professional development on guiding and training staff to ensure children are consistently challenged and supported to achieve their full potential throughout all their learning.
Inspection #10410571 · Source: OfstedView full Ofsted report

Inclusion & environment

How they support every child

SEND provision

Staff support children with special educational needs and/or disabilities and other vulnerable learners effectively. They identify gaps in learning at an early stage and work closely with parents and other professionals, such as speech and language therapists, to decide the best ways forward and to implement their plans. They use additional funding in targeted ways, such as specific staff training, to meet children's needs.

Outdoor space

Children are proud to use simple charts to help check there are no broken toys or other hazards in the outdoor area. Children work together to fill and carry large buckets of water across the playground to use to 'paint' the shed in their role play.

Inspection history

Most recent inspection

15 July 2025

Good

Only one graded inspection on record — a trend chart will appear here once a second graded report is published.

View full Ofsted report

Frequently asked about Leap Ahead Day Nursery

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