Children 1st @ Birstall

1 Park Road, Birstall, Leicester LE4 3AX
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9.3 90 Reviews
  • Children 1st @ Birstall, Leicester
Children 1st @ Birstall provides loving care for children aged 6 weeks to 5 years old and is judged to be 'Good' by Ofsted (February 2021).

The nursery is located just off Loughborough Road, making it easily accessible for local parents and those who commute to work. The nursery became part of Children 1st Day Nurseries in 2017 and since then has undergone a wide-ranging indoor and outdoor refurbishment programme to bring it up to the same high standards of the other nurseries run by Children 1st. Please click on the images above to see the new learning environments.

The children love the setting's secure, enclosed outdoor play area which provides the opportunity for them to explore nature and develop physically. The nursery's well-trained staff know the children very well and share their high expectations to help them develop independence and self-care skills in a safe and secure environment.

The nursery also has a separate, well equipped baby suite, where the youngest children can explore and develop with children of a similar age.

Birstall welcomes close liaison with families so that everyone can work together to support the child’s well-being. The staff aim to create a warm and welcoming ethos which ensures children are happy, safe and secure.

The nursery is part of Children 1st Day Nurseries, the UK's largest family-run day nursery group. The company is in the Top 3 in the UK for Ofsted Outstanding results according to the 2021 Nursery World Nursery Chains report.

Care Provided by Children 1st @ Birstall

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

Good to Know

  • Person in charge
  • Bhavisha Gill (Managers)
  • Number of Childcare Staff
  • 26
  • Total Places for Children
  • 120
  • 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 & 1 week at Christmas

Children 1st @ Birstall Reviews (90)

Total of 90, showing 1-20
9.3

Children 1st @ Birstall has a Review Score of 9.3 (9.309) out of 10, based on 17 reviews in the last 2 years. Over all time Children 1st @ Birstall has 90 reviews.

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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

My little boy started here in October and he is very settled! So happy to go in every morning. The staff always keep us updated on anything that we need to be aware of. They are always smiley. My little boy really enjoys going to nursery, the staff always provide good activities, the food menu has a
range of options and my son always eats really well when at nursery. He also has made good bonds with the staff members.

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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Fantastic nursery is all I can say. My daughter has been here since May and she has really developed and progressed during her time here. She loves being here and constantly talks about her teachers and friends at home. We feel she is well looked after and the communication from the staff here is fab,
we know what has gone on each day and if there is something more urgent we get a call. The staff are wonderful and we are very happy with our choice of nursery.

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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 4.0 out of 5

I feel confident in leaving my child at the nursery knowing he will be well looked after. All the staff are polite and friendly and have gained a great relationship with him. I would recommend this nursery, it will give your child a good foundation to progress successfully onto school.

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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Our child settled in quickly (October 23) and has progressed through the rooms in the nursery well. She has her favourite carers which does make it easier for us as parents as it feels like the staff take a vested interest in her well being. She frequently comes home with her hair braided and a smile
on her face.
On one occasion we raised a concern with the staff regarding the behaviour of another child towards our daughter. This was dealt with professionally by the manager and to our satisfaction and in this regard we are very happy that the new management team is there to work with us for the benefit of our daughter.
The staff always accommodate late arrivals to ensure they sit and eat breakfast even if the other children have finished. I would like to see the food menu developed further which would be my only area of improvement suggested for the wider ownership team as this is part of a group and I am sure the food menus are centrally set.

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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

My daughter has been attending this nursery since she was 1 years old back in 2022 and we have had nothing but a positive experience here. The food menu is varied and she always eats really well, the activities are fun and challenging throughout all of the different classes she's been in. It's a really
inclusive nursery and I've noticed in the 'pre-school' class, she is learning so much so quickly, she is already excited about going to school. The staff are so encouraging and caring and they have never made me feel like my daughter isn't being looked after. My 1 year old son has now started there despite us moving out of the area because I shopped around and genuinely couldn't find a nursery that matches up where we now live. The new manager is fabulous, she takes a common sense approach and really understands the needs of the children as well as us as parents. I see a great relationships between all the staff and they really are behind what makes this nursery so great.

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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

I like the slightly more corporate nature of the nursery with the manager available at the reception desk attending to queries; this creates a professional environment. The nursery rooms are always very clean and stimulating for the children and the staff put a lot of effort into planning and delivering
a variety of activities. I like the way in which the activities reflect the yearly calendar e.g. Diwali, Bonfire Night, Christmas etc.
My son progressed through every room of the nursery and is now at school in year 1. He was always happy there (and misses it!). My daughter is in the baby room and enjoys being there too. Her key worker is always friendly, kind and professional. I always feel that my daughter's physical and emotional needs are met.
The food offers plenty of variety and I like the way in which the children sit together to eat around the table.
Overall, I am very happy with the quality of care at Children 1st in Birstall.

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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

My daughter settled quite quickly into the nursery life and really enjoys coming to nursery. It is lovely to know she is making friends and engages with other children and staff in her room. I love to hear what she's been up to in her day she even comes home and replays what she's done each day. I've
noticed a special relationship between my child and her keyworker and I love to look at the observations each week. We are always greeted by the receptionist it is a positive start to our days and the management team are always keen to help and support with any issues or concerns we have.

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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

We couldnt be happier with our experience at Children 1st. The team are responsive, reliable and professional. Any query I've had has been answered by them taking accountability and direct action setting my mind at ease to feel confident in the care I've left my child in. Our two-year-old has been thriving
here, many key skills have been taught by the staff which I couldn't have done without their support. We highly recommend Children 1st to any parents looking for a warm and trustworthy place for their little ones.

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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

My daughter started this nursery in June 2024 and she has come on so far since starting! She absolutely loves it, can't wait to leave the house in the morning and once she gets to nursery she runs in making an entrance with excitement!
The staff are wonderful, always polite and I feel comfortable
talking to every single one I've met.
The management team are also amazing

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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Since the recent change over of new nursery manager, I have noticed a dramatic positive change in all aspects to the nursery. The atmosphere is much more welcoming, radiating to the staff being happier. Since this change my son's attitude towards going to nursery has changed and we have noticed positive
developmental changes in him in this time.
The nursery staff have all been very friendly and approachable. Happy to listen feedback and accommodating towards the care provided. Hand overs at the end of the day are always informative and through without feeling rushed.
Thank you to all Children's 1st Birstall staff

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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 1.0 out of 5

I found some of the staff to be unhelpful and insensitive in their remarks about my child's development. But my issue has mainly been with the manager, she did not give me the sense of being “child friendly” and an incident that occurred involving my child confirmed that.
Very disappointing.

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

We are sorry to read your review and that you felt the staff had been insensitive. Your comments have been fed back to the team at Birstall. We are also disappointed that we were unable to discuss your thoughts about the nursery with you prior to you withdrawing your child. We pride ourselves on our strong parent relationships and would have wanted to address your concerns. We wish your little one all the best in their new nursery


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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

My daughter has been attending this nursery for almost two years now. She enjoys going there and she loves playing with her friends. Sending her here has improved her confidence, writing, social skills and love of learning. My other child will attend Children 1st Nursery soon and I know that he will
be in good hands. Highly recommend!

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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Great staff for our firstborn since he was 1 year old. We now have another child who will be going there once she turns 1. Staff are observant and listen to requests. My son loves the teachers and has a blast when he is there, whilst also learning new things.

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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

The entire staff, from the highest to the lowest positions, are incredibly kind and helpful. Their genuine passion for their work is evident in how much our child enjoys attending nursery and interacting with them. They establish strong bonds with the children, which has helped our child gain confidence
and develop in his own skills. They provide a diverse menu that caters to various dietary needs.
I highly recommend this nursery; it is an excellent choice for your child's care and education.

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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

This nursery is amazing. My child has settled really well, and the staff are really helpful. We know our child is happy there because he is happy when we pick him up. The nursery is clean and spacious. We like how the rooms are connecting the baby room to the toddler room, so settling is much better.

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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Our child has been attending Children 1st Birstall since she was 1 year old. She has gained a lot of confidence over the years. The staff are fantastic at their job. Our child loves attending nursery due to the fun, learning and caring environment everyone at Children 1st Birstall provide. We couldn't
ask for a better nursery.

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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

My daughter has been at Birstall Children 1st since she was 10 months old - she graduates to school this month. She has had a wonderful time, always felt safe and secure. The staff are fantastic and work really well together. We have found the management team have always been responsive and on the ball,
very happy to address any issues straightaway. I would have no qualms recommending this nursery to other parents - it’s been everything a parent could want for their child.

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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 4.0 out of 5

Children's 1st in my opinion is the best nursery in the area. I am aware of it is the most expensive but I believe you are paying for the facilities. I have used the nursery in Birstall for over 5 years and have seen significant changes. The facilities are amazing and the structure of play on a daily
basis is rewarding to my child. Food is great and many of the team seem well engaged in my child's development. The staffing is constantly changing and this could have a negative impact on the younger ones needing to make a connection but I am sure this will be an issue with many nurseries. The use of apps to show how the child is getting on is great and should be utilized more (daily photos and insight would be appreciated). It is not clear what the plan is for my child and what they are learning.

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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

We are really happy with Children 1st at Birstall. My daughter started in the baby room at 11 months and is now just about to 'graduate' to go to school in September. Staff are friendly and welcoming and the children have lots of interesting activities to do and high quality toys. The facilities
are really good with a nice outdoor space. The management team are also visible, friendly and helpful. Genuinely recommended.

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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

My daughter loves the staff!
Before when I came to drop off my daughter she cried a lot but now she's used to the staff and now I give my daughter to a particular staff member and she just stops crying and happily goes with her.
All of your staff were very friendly, warm and welcoming!

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Current Review Score: 9.3 (9.309)

Overview of Review Score

The Review Score of 9.3 (9.309) out of 10 for Children 1st @ Birstall is based on a) the Average Rating and b) the number of positive Reviews.

  • a) The Average Rating is 4.6 out of 5 from 17 Reviews in the last 24 months.

  • b) The score for the number of positive Reviews is 4.7 out of 5 from 16 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 4.642 for Children 1st @ Birstall is calculated as follows: ( (169 Excellents x 5) + (19 Goods x 4) + (4 Satisfactorys x 3) + (2 Poors x 2) + (10 Very Poors x 1) ) ÷ 204 Ratings = 4.642

  • 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 4.667 Points relating to the number of positive Reviews for Children 1st @ Birstall is based on 16 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 120 number of registered child places is 24. 16 Positive Reviews ÷ 24 = 0.667

  • 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)

Bhavisha

Bhavisha Gill

Job Title: Nursery Manager

Joined: 2014

Hi, My name is Bhavisha and I am the nursery manager at Children 1st @ Birstall. I will update this section with further information about me shortly.


Frequently Asked Questions about Children 1st @ Birstall

What is the Age Range of Children that Children 1st @ Birstall accepts?

Children 1st @ Birstall accepts Children aged from 0 years 2 months to 5 years 0 months.

What Days & Hours is Children 1st @ Birstall Open?

Children 1st @ Birstall is open: 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.

How many Children does Children 1st @ Birstall have capacity for?

Children 1st @ Birstall has capacity for a total of 120 Children.

How far is Children 1st @ Birstall to the centre of Leicester?

2.7 mile(s) as the crow flies, distance by road may be significantly further.