Children 1st Syston Nursery School

1324 Melton Road, Syston, Leicester LE7 2EQ
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9.8 94 Reviews
  • Children 1st Syston Nursery School, Leicester
Children 1st Syston Nursery School provides a welcoming, home-from-home environment where children aged 6 weeks to 5 years are supported and inspired to learn. The nursery focuses on the development of the whole child, encouraging curiosity, confidence, and independence through a curriculum crafted by experts. The dedicated, experienced team create a warm and inclusive community, ensuring each child feels valued and secure.

The nursery offers thoughtfully designed spaces, from cosy indoor areas to stimulating outdoor gardens, enabling children to explore, discover, and engage with their environment. Daily activities include creative play, early literacy and numeracy experiences, STEM exploration, music, and movement, alongside opportunities for outdoor learning and forest school. Fresh, nutritious meals are prepared onsite, promoting healthy eating and hands-on experiences with food.

Children 1st Syston supports families through flexible sessions and access to government-funded childcare for eligible children. The nursery prioritises strong partnerships with parents, providing regular updates and opportunities to be involved in their child’s learning journey. With a focus on community values, wellbeing, and lifelong learning, Children 1st Syston offers a safe, inspiring, and nurturing setting where children can thrive, develop key skills, and make lasting friendships.
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Type of Service

  • Day Nursery
  • Open all year
  • Full Day Care
  • Sessional Day Care

Group/Owner

Person in Charge

  • Kirsty Sadler (Manager)

Number of Childcare Staff

  • 33

Total Places for Children

  • 131

Age Range

  • from 0 years 3 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 Syston Nursery School Reviews (94)

9.8

Children 1st Syston Nursery School has a Review Score of 9.8 (9.775) out of 10, based on 25 reviews in the last 2 years.
Over all time Children 1st Syston Nursery School has 94 reviews.

Overall Experience
  • 78
  • 12
  • 3
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Date Published
  • 94
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  • 25
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Reviewer Connection to Children 1st Syston Nursery School
  • 79
  • 15
Total of 94, showing 81-94
Review from Rich B (Father of Child) published on 7 February 2018 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 3.0 out of 5
Currently, we are disappointed with the service we are receiving.


Since October the outdoor has appeared shabby and has broken toys strewn around. We chose this nursery for the outdoor provision and have seen nothing engaging set up within the garden. I feel that the provision for outdoor play should

be high quality whatever the season, regardless of future plans.


Safety aside currently this is not an 'outstanding' environment for our daughter to play nor is it value for money.


We are equally concerned at the turnover of staff. We do not feel this has been managed well. Staff members have changed daily and some left with no explanation to ourselves or more importantly the children. This has a big impact on our daughter who struggles with loss. All this aside, we are very happy with the care and attention from the staff in her room. They are attentive, provide clear information and are dedicated and committed to making her time happy. We have no concerns over her day to day care.

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Review from Laura (Mother of Child) published on 2 February 2018 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 4.0 out of 5
Overall we are happy with the nursery although feel there is room for improvement in a number of areas. The 1 on 1 care from the staff to our son has been great and they appear to be fond of him, as he is of them.
The garden space could be greatly improved and updated as could some resources in the
room. the nursery generally looks as if it needs some modernising. Cleanliness has improved and so more work on wear and tear is what's needed. Introduction of fruit snacks is welcomed.
Safeguarding and access to the building is still a concern where parents let each other in and out, this is exacerbated by a lack of management presence in the reception area. Often no one in the office to speak to. Current concern is about moving our son to the next room too soon and we are hoping this can be done in consultation and delayed if needed.
Eylog not used as effectively as it could and updates are often a week after the event.
Acknowledge improvements have been made still a way to go.
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Review from Katie (Mother of Child) published on 2 February 2018 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 3.0 out of 5
We have been using Gables nursery since 2015, and in my opinion the overall standard has dropped since then.
The staff are friendly and easy to talk to, however they seem less happy in their work in recent months.
The number of children in the classrooms have increased dramatically. How any of the
children can get one on one attention is beyond me. Quite often we've seen children fighting outside and the staff haven't noticed because there are just so many for them to watch.
I am pleased that fruit snacks have now been introduced. It is a shame there is no fruit or yoghurt options for breakfast though.
Overall, my boys are happy at Gables and so I would not move them for that reason.
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Review from Emma W (Mother of Child) published on 26 January 2018 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
Staff are excellent and very friendly. The standard of food is very high and my son loves to choose a snack from the snack box every day on his way home! The children are encouraged to develop their skills and interests and I have been very impressed by the things my son has picked up whilst at nursery,
such as learning the alphabet, counting and various songs. My son also has special needs and I have found the staff to be very supportive of the extra care required. The only thing I would love to see improved is the car park as it can get extremely busy at certain times of the day, meaning that you get stuck or can’t find a space, which can be quite stressful. Perhaps the pick up/collection times could be staggered to relieve this issue? Also, the car park lines are unclear so perhaps these could be repainted as often cars park over the lines, wasting space meaning that not as many cars can fit in as would be possible.
Reply from Catherine Griffin, Director at Children 1st Syston Nursery School
Thank you very much for your lovely review. We welcome all feedback, and take on board your constructive comments. The nursery is due for refurbishment and these areas are under review. Kind Regards.
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Review from V P (Mother of Child) published on 26 January 2018 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 2.0 out of 5
Since the handover, standards within the nursery seems to have dropped.
The number of children in the room seems to have increased massively, probably legal, but it never seemed that crowded before. Staff seemed too busy with general housekeeping, changing nappies, tidying up and so on, rather than
spending time with kids/teaching.
The management team did not seem very forthcoming when my child was unsettled.
Don't feel very informed about changes in the nursery and what is going on.
Meal choices could be healthier, usually one good meal a day, however, breakfast is always the same (cereal and toast, nothing warm or cooked, where is the fruit?) and I don't rate lemon curd sandwiches as very nutritious. I always get told my child ate several helpings, yet he always comes home eating a big dinner.
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Review from Julie G (Mother of Child) published on 19 January 2018 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
My Son has attended the nursery from the age of 9 months. He is happy to go there every day. Watching him develop different skills every month has been amazing. He is developing and being challenged by the staff at the nursery. He enjoys the outside garden in his play.
The staff all know his needs
and talk to you about his day every time we collect.
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Review from Anisha (Mother of Child) published on 19 January 2018 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 4.0 out of 5
Some positive changes seen since the takeover. However, information re changes proposed/ undertaken not been communicated well. Would be nice to know future plans for room changes, equipment changes, menu changes etc.
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Review from A R (Mother of Child) published on 19 January 2018 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
Brilliant nursery with lots of activities to help children develop and progress with their developmental milestones.
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Review from Shayna H (Mother of Child) published on 19 January 2018 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
My daughter had been attending Gables since July 2017 and she has come along so much with her speech and development. The staff are great with her and she has formed some lovely bonds with both staff and other children. The nursery overall is clean, well looked after and generally lovely and pleasent.
In the summer they have picnics in the garden, party's and even bouncy castles, makes me a little envious to have to go work and miss out on the fun. I looked at other nurseries in the area before choosing Gables and none of them made me think my daughter would enjoy growing up there until she starts school. I highly recommend This nursery to anybody looking for childcare in the area.
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Review from Rachel (Mother of Child) published on 19 January 2018 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
My daughter has been at this nursery for 18 months and is extremely happy. The staff are wonderful and genuinely care for all the children at the nursery. It is a happy, fun and welcoming environment. They do some some wonderful activities and my daughter is thriving here. I would highly recommend
it.
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Review from Louise B (Mother of Child) published on 18 January 2018 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
My daughter has thrived since being at Children 1st @ Syston, The Gables. She has always been very sociable and her social skills have only improved. Her interests are encouraged and we are always informed at the end of each day how well (or not!) she has eaten, the activities she has taken part in
and what she has learned. She always leaves exhausted and talking about what she has been doing so we know she has been busy and happy!
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Review from Jade D (Mother of Child) published on 18 January 2018 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
My daughter attended Children 1st @ Syston, The Gables from age 1 in until she went to school and my son is now attending who is 3 years old. The girls are all lovely and most of the staff have been there for a number of years. They have given me support when my son struggled with speech and pointed
me in the right direction to gain further advice. All the girls are fun and loving with my son in a professional manner, and we will miss them all when he goes off to school in September.
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Review from Shane G (Father of Child) published on 18 January 2018 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
Very friendly, helpful and caring staff. I always feel that I have left my son in good hands and when I go to pick him up he doesn't want to come home.
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Review from SB (Mother of Child) published on 17 January 2018 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
Really caring staff who work with the child's individual developmental age. My daughter has shown attachment to all the carers that have looked after her. Staff are always very friendly and polite.
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Current Review Score: 9.8 (9.775)

Overview of Review Score

The Review Score of 9.8 (9.775) out of 10 for Children 1st Syston Nursery School is based on a) the Average Rating and b) the number of positive Reviews.

  1. The Average Rating is 4.9 out of 5 from 25 Reviews in the last 24 months.
  2. The score for the number of positive Reviews is 4.9 out of 5 from 24 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:

  1. 5 Points are available for the Average Rating from all Reviews in the last 24 months. The Average Rating of 4.859 for Children 1st Syston Nursery School is calculated as follows: ( (262 Excellents x 5) + (30 Goods x 4) + (6 Satisfactorys x 3) ) ÷ 298 Ratings = 4.859
  2. 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 4.916 Points relating to the number of positive Reviews for Children 1st Syston Nursery School is based on 24 positive Reviews in the last 24 months and is calculated as per below:

    The 5 points available are broken down as follows:

    1. 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
    2. 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 131 number of registered child places is 26.2. 24 Positive Reviews ÷ 26.2 = 0.916
  3. When a Review is submitted by someone who has previously submitted a Review, only the latest Review will count towards the Review Score.
  4. If a Day Nursery does not have a review in the last 24 months, then it will not have a Review Score.

Child Vacancies

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Awards / Recognitions (4)

Meet the Team (1)

Kirsty

Kirsty Sadler

Job Title: Nursery Manager Joined: 2019

Hello, my name is Kirsty Sadler and I joined Children 1st in 2019. I began my career as a Nursery Nurse, passionate about supporting young children’s development and giving them the best possible start. Over time, I wanted a new challenge — a space where I could showcase my skills and continue to grow.


That determination led to my promotion to Senior Nursery Nurse, where I took on additional responsibilities and began mentoring others. I then progressed to Deputy Manager, gaining valuable experience in leadership and operational support. In 2024, I took the biggest step in my journey and became Nursery Manager.


Every stage of my career has taught me something new, and I’m incredibly grateful for the opportunities and support I’ve had along the way. I’m excited for what’s to come and remain committed to creating environments where children, families, and teams can thrive.


I hold a Level 3 qualification in Early Years and am proud of the experiences that have shaped my practice.


One of the things I love most about my role is working closely with individual families and their children. Every child is unique, and every family brings something special — no two days are ever the same. It’s incredibly rewarding to be part of those early moments, whether it’s a child’s first steps into nursery or helping a parent feel confident and reassured.


I’m especially passionate about providing high-quality childcare for all, creating inclusive environments, and supporting families. For me, this work isn’t just about routines and milestones — it’s about relationships, trust, and watching children grow into confident, curious individuals.

Information on this page is displayed without responsibility for its accuracy on the part of daynurseries.co.uk. Please contact Children 1st Syston Nursery School to verify any information. View our terms and conditions. Children 1st Syston Nursery School has an Enhanced Service - more info.