Children 1st @ Leicester

Riverview, Tarragon Road, Leicester LE2 7ET
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9.9 129 Reviews
  • Children 1st @ Leicester, Leicester
Children 1st @ Leicester is rated 'Outstanding in All Areas' by Ofsted (July 2018) and is located close to the city centre with easy access from the university, royal infirmary and local bus routes. The nursery has been refurbished throughout to offer bright, open areas for babies, toddlers, pre-school aged children, as well as those in after-school club.

The friendly, enthusiastic staff are fully trained and experienced to provide a stimulating learning environment for each child.

The nursery features a spacious garden designed to maximise the potential for outdoor play, with carefully chosen, age-specific equipment. All children are encouraged to choose their own activities both indoors and out to promote independent learning.

Children 1st Day Nurseries has been an award-winning, family-run childcare provider since 1988, and are an accredited training centre. The company is in the Top 3 in the UK for Ofsted Outstanding results according to the 2021 Nursery World Nursery Chains Report.

The nursery also offers funded places for eligible 2, 3 and 4-year-olds.

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Care Provided by Children 1st @ Leicester

  • Type of Service
  • Day Nursery – Privately Owned
  • Open all year
  • Full Day Care
  • Sessional Day Care

Good to Know

  • Person in charge
  • Danielle Lee (Manager)
  • Number of Childcare Staff
  • 32
  • Total Places for Children
  • 96
  • Age Range
    • from 0 years 2 months
    • to 5 years 0 months
  • Opening Times
  • Monday 07:30-18:30
    Tuesday 07:30-18:30
    Wednesday 07:30-18:30
    Thursday 07:30-18:30
    Friday 07:30-18:30
  • When Closed
  • Bank Holidays & Christmas

Children 1st @ Leicester Reviews (129)

Total of 129, showing 61-80
9.9

Children 1st @ Leicester has a Review Score of 9.9 (9.881) out of 10, based on 31 reviews in the last 2 years. Over all time Children 1st @ Leicester has 129 reviews.

Overall Experience

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Date Published

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Review from Sagarika M (Mother of Child) published on 18 August 2021
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Excellent daycare for kids.
My daughter has been going here for the last two years and I have no regrets!
They are very caring and responsible with the kids.
My daughter loves her group and thoroughly enjoys it!

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Review from Usman H (Father of Child) published on 18 August 2021
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

My daughter attended the nursery for three years and she enjoyed a wonderful time. All staff were cooperative and accommodating at their best. Excellent building, staff, food, chef, teachings, games, administration, everything. Thank you to the manager and all.

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Review from Gemma U (Mother of Child) published on 12 August 2021
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

My eldest daughter is weeks away from having to leave Children 1st Leicester. The girls here have made her time the most amazing. They’ve cared for her and nurtured her into a confident child who is now very ready to take the next step into primary school. The Manager runs a warm loving nursery setting.
I'm fortunate that I still have my youngest currently in the Baby Room so we’ve very many years left at Leicester. But I would like to say from my daughter. Thank you for having her and helping her grow into a kind confident little girl. I would highly recommend Children 1st Leicester.

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Review from Christine W (Mother of Child) published on 12 August 2021
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

What an amazing nursery.
Children 1st @ Leicester is a fabulous nursery! For parents who are a bit nervous about leaving their little ones don’t be as the staff and management are brilliant and give all the support you need! My daughter has been coming to Children 1st @ Leicester since she was 6 months
old, she is now 3..she absolutely loves it! She has grown in confidence over the years and that is all down to the fantastic members of staff who put in a lot of time to make sure she is meeting her correct development. It also helps that my daughter has made some great, little people friends who she talks about daily. This nursery really is great and I wouldn’t choose anywhere else if I ever have any more children in the future! Thank you again, you are all amazing!
Not all superheroes wear capes.

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Review from Sonia W (Mother of Child) published on 12 August 2021
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

All of our children have gone to Children’s 1st @ Leicester due to the excellent service and care they provide for our children. Even when we moved out of the area we still send our younger children here as the other nurseries in our area were not to the same high standard. The staff here are fantastic
and my older children have all left fully prepared for primary school.

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Review from Morgan S (Mother of Child) published on 12 August 2021
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

We spent ages choosing a nursery for our son and I’m very glad we chose Children 1st! Our son always comes home happy and smiley and always has a wonderful time. I was worried about it with him being so young but the weekly observations and daily nursery diary entries are the things I look forward to
now because I just love to see what he’s been up to.

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Review from Aditya V (Father of Child) published on 12 August 2021
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Fantastic nursery, I’m really glad we decided to go with Children’s 1st @ Leicester, I feel very comfortable leaving my child at the nursery knowing full well that he will be treated exactly how I want her to be. My little one has made a lot of friends since joining the nursery and comes home every
week putting more and more sentences together with what he has learned from other kids/staff. The wide range of food available for kids is great and they take great care with making sure your child gets what preferences you have chosen for them and even log all the food they have eaten throughout the day.
They have a huge range of activities for the kids every week and even have an app where you can view pictures of your child participating in the activities daily. Would highly recommend it to anyone! The staff are very professional and friendly. Thank you Children’s 1st for everything you all did in that chaotic time of Covid my child is leaving and heading to school from September.

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Review from Ropa M (Mother of Child) published on 19 January 2021
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

We loved the first impression we got of the nursery. It’s so beautiful, very appealing, extremely clean. Our son's room is full of exciting toys and different areas that he gets to explore during his days at nursery. All the staff are super friendly! Our son got along with his teacher right from the
settling in season. Although it was hard for our son to settle in the first few weeks, the teachers were patient and now our little son walks confidently to nursery without crying! We have seen a tremendous change in his behaviour and development ever since starting nursery. He’s so independent and his speech has improved. He is looked after very well when at nursery and his teachers give a daily update on how his day went which is helpful. I couldn’t thank his teachers enough for all they do for our son! This nursery is beyond amazing!

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Review from Amber (Mother of Child) published on 3 December 2020
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

I am extremely thankful we found Children’s 1st, after endless looking for somewhere for my daughter to attend we can across Children’s 1st, it just felt right and I knew that’s where I wanted her to go and she absolutely loves it.

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Review from Bernadette B B (Mother of Child) published on 3 December 2020
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

My son has recently transitioned from the baby room to the newly refurbished Bobtails room. He absolutely loves going to nursery and he loves his teachers who are all lovely.
The observations of him shared with us (usually once a week) on the EYLog system are reassuring as we get to have a glimpse
of what he enjoys doing whilst at nursery and the progress he’s making.
I can honestly say my son has grown in confidence since joining the nursery and he’s generally very happy.

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Review from Shabnam P (Mother of Child) published on 3 December 2020
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

My son is now 2.5 years old and has been at Children's 1st Leicester since he was 10 months old. I initially chose the nursery as it was very close to work however even when work moved office I continued with Children's 1st as there wasn't any other nursery nearby which I had seen that felt met the
same standards. I have found through each room my son has been in the staff have been absolutely amazing, caring, dedicated and so friendly. He has adapted to the changes in rooms well and that is down to how the keyworkers have supported him through each transition. He loves going to nursery to see his friends and workers and to share things with them.
The learning is also excellent. Since my son has moved to Peter Rabbits room, I can noticeably see his development coming along with counting, sentences, jolly phonics, months, songs etc. I feel Children's 1st Leicester has been the best choice for my son and meets all his and our needs. Thank you to all the staff.

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Review from Polly C (Mother of Child) published on 2 December 2020
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 4.0 out of 5

Our son has been attending since February 2020. We are having such a positive experience. The staff are polite and welcoming. This year has been a difficult year with Covid and they have communicated effectively with all parents, put safety measures in place and provided reassurance. They have been
flexible and supportive with parents who have worked throughout this year especially working shifts which for our family has been so helpful knowing that our son is able to attend nursery and be in a safe environment. Our son is happy at nursery, settled and I would highly recommend this nursery.

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Review from Melissa T (Mother of Child) published on 2 December 2020
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Such a lovely nursery, super friendly and they build such a bond with the children, my son asks to go every day! He loves it! When he first started we were having issues with him not wanting to toilet train. With the help and encouragement of the nursery, he has come on leaps and bounds and is now completely
toilet trained! I couldn't thank the staff enough, they have built my son's confidence right up and he truly enjoys going!

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Review from Gina M (Mother of Child) published on 2 December 2020
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

My son has been going here since he was 8 months old (he’s now almost 3) and absolutely loves it! The team are calm, clear and considerate, always making me and my son feel at ease. He’s learnt so much and made some great friends.

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Review from Ruth R (Mother of Child) published on 16 October 2020
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Our daughter has been attending since she was 9 months old. She absolutely loves nursery and never stops talking about how wonderful her teachers are. She is blossoming into a very independent little girl and I am constantly surprised by how much she is progressing. This last month or so has been difficult
for her due to most of her friends departing for school and nursery has helped her adapt and continue to thrive despite the changes.
Covid has been a huge challenge for all children and staff alike. Despite the difficulties, this has caused we have been fortunate as key workers to be able to still have her attend nursery. Staff have coped admirably with the challenges set and we could not praise them highly enough for the wonderful care and support to both us and our child.

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Review from Laura T (Mother of Child) published on 15 September 2020
Submitted via Postal Card • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Children's 1st have been and continue to be amazing. My daughter absolutely loves her nursery workers. They have been so supportive of me and my child. To see my daughter's progress in the way she has makes me feel so proud as a mother. I would recommend this nursery to anybody. Just to say thank you
to the workers who have helped my daughter so much well done to you.

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Review from Ana B (Mother of Child) published on 14 September 2020
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Both my children attended Children 1st Leicester and I couldn't be happier. They always received very good care. The nursery provides a safe environment for children to grow, they are able to explore their skills, their emotions and to socialize with other children and adults.
Nursery maintains excellent
communication with parents, through the online app as well as through email or in person every time we have requested it. Outdoors play is a must in this nursery and one of the aspects we love about it, as children make the most of outside play.
Our kids always enjoyed their meals, menus are complete and they get to know other cultures' typical food.

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Review from Natasha (Mother of Child) published on 3 September 2020
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

My son has been out of nursery since March and the team helped him settle in effortlessly. I was anxious about him returning to school and moreover starting a new school altogether. He has been so happy and I can see that he is engaging positively with all the activities. Really happy mum.

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Review from Aimee B (Mother of Child) published on 7 April 2020
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

My son has been attending this nursery since April 2018 when he was 15 months old, he started off in the bobtails room and the staff were amazing with him. I always got a thorough handover when I collected him and I was kept up to date with his progress. He's now 3 and recently moved into the early
year's room and his progress and development has been brilliant.
All of the staff at the nursery are all cheerful and always happy to help, when we started potty training our son they made sure that he wore pants at nursery and given the opportunity to use the toilet and follow whatever routine we had at home.
I've recently had my second baby and when I return to work I will definitely be enrolling him with Children 1st @ Leicester!

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Review from Jit P (Father of Child) published on 19 December 2019
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

We visited many local nurseries before deciding to go with Children 1st @ Leicester. The staff are amazing and the service and care that we have received has been truly outstanding. Our child loves going to nursery and has developed so much since attending.
The cost is very high in my opinion but this
reflects in the service that is delivered by all staff.
My recommendations would be to increase the size of the outside pram storage building as it is currently not big enough for the amount of prams being stored in there. This results in your child's pram/buggy getting bruised and battered by others who are trying to get their pram/buggy out of the storage building.
I would also recommend that they bring back the healthy snacks that they use to leave out every day for the children for the journey home. This used to be fresh fruit or dried fruit but in the last six months we have noticed that on many days there is nothing left out? We are not sure why this is.

Reply from Cathy Griffin, Director at Children 1st @ Leicester

Thank you for taking the time to review our Children 1st @ Leicester Nursery, and for the lovely comments regarding the amazing staff and outstanding service. We welcome all feedback and following your recent catch up with the Manager we are pleased that further clarification on the points raised have been discussed and you are happy with the outcomes. Thank you again for your feedback and continued custom, we are delighted that you chose our setting out of the many you visited.


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Current Review Score: 9.9 (9.881)

Overview of Review Score

The Review Score of 9.9 (9.881) out of 10 for Children 1st @ Leicester is based on a) the Average Rating and b) the number of positive Reviews.

  • a) The Average Rating is 4.9 out of 5 from 31 Reviews in the last 24 months.

  • b) The score for the number of positive Reviews is 5.0 out of 5 from 31 positive Reviews in the last 24 months.

Detailed Breakdown of Review Score

The maximum Review Score for a Day Nursery is 10, which is made up from the Average Rating of Reviews (maximum of 5 points) and the Number of Reviews (maximum of 5 points) in the last 24 months:

  • a) 5 Points are available for the Average Rating from all Reviews in the last 24 months.

    The Average Rating of 4.881 for Children 1st @ Leicester is calculated as follows: ( (332 Excellents x 5) + (34 Goods x 4) + (5 Satisfactorys x 3) ) ÷ 371 Ratings = 4.881

  • b) 5 Points are available for the number of Positive Reviews in the last 24 months. A Positive Review is defined as any Review with an 'Overall Experience' of '4' or '5' (out of a max rating '5').

    The 5 Points relating to the number of positive Reviews for Children 1st @ Leicester is based on 31 positive Reviews in the last 24 months and is calculated as per below:

    The 5 points available are broken down as follows:

    • i) 4 points are available for the first 10 Positive Reviews in the last 24 months; 3 points for the first Positive Review, and then 0.125 Points for each of the next four Positive Reviews and then 0.1 Points for the next five Positive Reviews. (1st = 3.000, 2nd = 0.125, 3rd = 0.125, 4th = 0.125, 5th = 0.125, 6th = 0.100, 7th = 0.100, 8th = 0.100, 9th = 0.100, 10th = 0.100) 3 + 0.125 + 0.125 + 0.125 + 0.125 + 0.1 + 0.1 + 0.1 + 0.1 + 0.1 = 4

    • ii) 1 point is available for the number of Positive Reviews reaching 20% of the number of registered child places in the last 24 months. If this number is partially reached, then that proportion of 1 point is given. eg a Day Nursery registered for a maximum of 50 child places has to reach 10 Positive Reviews to receive 1 point, if it has 7 reviews it will receive 0.7 points. 20% of the 96 number of registered child places is 19.2, which has been reached with 31 Positive reviews. Points = 1

  • When a Review is submitted by someone who has previously submitted a Review, only the latest Review will count towards the Review Score.

  • If a Day Nursery does not have a review in the last 24 months, then it will not have a Review Score.

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Meet the Team (1)

Danielle

Danielle Lee

Job Title: Nursery Manager

Joined: 2013

Hello, my name is Danielle and I am the Nursery Manager here at Children 1st @ Leicester.
I began my journey in childcare in 2013 as an apprentice and have worked my way through each position with Children 1st. Having had the experience of each role within the nursery has given me the confidence and the breadth of experience to guide and support the staff where needed.
I love being the Nursery Manager as I am able to share my expertise and expectations with the staff alongside supporting parents when their little one first starts nursery and then progresses through each stage. We have currently undergone a beautiful refurbishment and look forward to sharing this with yourselves too!


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