About Amazing Grace

A loving, caring place to

Amazing Grace Nursery is a loving, friendly and nurturing setting for children from birth to 5 years. A deep understanding of early education sits at the heart of the care we give, and our passion and commitment mean each child's interests blossom throughout their time with us.

Every member of staff has a genuine passion for childcare, which makes our setting all the more inviting. We work hard to build strong bonds with parents, because working together is the surest way to the best outcomes for our children, all within bright, inviting and purposeful rooms designed to support every step of the journey.

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A bright Amazing Grace nursery room with soft cushions, wooden furniture and plenty of play resources
Our Story

From humble beginnings to a thriving nursery

Amazing Grace Nursery has been caring for, nurturing and inspiring children and families in Leeds since 2010. Our story began with our founder, the late Mrs Omotoyosi “Toyo” Ilori, whose courage, determination and Christian faith laid the foundations for the nursery we know today.

After emigrating from Nigeria to the United Kingdom, Omotoyosi worked in finance for the local council for 18 years. Following a number of professional setbacks, she made the courageous decision to pursue a completely new direction, and began childminding from her family home.

What started on a small scale soon became a much bigger vision: to create a place where children could feel safe, loved and valued while receiving high-quality early years education and care. With determination, faith and the savings she had been able to put aside, Omotoyosi took the bold step of renting a modest premises in Leeds in 2010 and opening her own nursery.

Why “Amazing Grace”?

Omotoyosi named the nursery after one of her favourite Christian hymns, Amazing Grace. The name reflected both her personal journey and the Christian faith that inspired her approach to life, family and service to others.

Faith was at the heart of the nursery from its earliest days, and the values of grace, compassion, kindness, love and service continue to influence who we are today. We are proud of our Christian ethos while warmly welcoming children and families of all faiths, cultures and backgrounds.

Every child who walks through our doors is valued as an individual, and encouraged to develop confidence, curiosity, independence and a love of learning.

Our journey

Growing with our

  1. 2010

    Where it all began

    Amazing Grace Nursery first opened in the LS9 area of Leeds, where we had the privilege of serving local children and families for several years.

  2. 2019

    A new home in LS10

    As the nursery grew and developed, we began the next chapter of our journey, moving to our current home in LS10, where we welcome families today.

  3. Today

    Thousands of stories

    Since those humble beginnings, thousands of children have been welcomed through our doors: first steps, first words, friendships formed, confidence developed, challenges overcome, and first exciting steps towards school and the wider world.

Throughout the nursery's development, Omotoyosi remained at its forefront. She guided Amazing Grace through several Ofsted inspections and periods of significant change within the early years sector, while remaining committed to high standards of care and education.

Even after stepping back from the day-to-day running of the nursery in later years, her values remained firmly embedded in everything we do.

Continuing her legacy

Carried forward by

In loving memory

Mrs Omotoyosi “Toyo” Ilori

Founder of Amazing Grace Nursery, 2010. Passed away November 2025.

Sadly, in November 2025, Omotoyosi passed away following a courageous battle with cancer. She is survived by her four children, Isaiah, Moses, Moyo and Monisola, who remain immensely proud of what their mother built and the difference she made to generations of children and families.

Today, the nursery continues as a family-led organisation. While leadership has passed to the next generation, our purpose remains firmly rooted in the principles on which Amazing Grace Nursery was founded. We are committed to preserving Omotoyosi's legacy while continuing to develop, improve and look towards the future.

  • Moses IloriNursery Manager
  • Monisola JonusaCompany Director
Meet the whole team
Our purpose

Your child's future is our

At Amazing Grace Nursery, we believe the early years of a child's life provide the foundations for everything that follows. That is why your child's future is our inspiration.

Our aim is not simply to provide childcare. We want to create an environment where children feel secure enough to explore, confident enough to communicate, supported enough to become independent and inspired enough to develop a genuine love of learning.

Our approach combines

  • High-quality education and care

    Creating meaningful learning opportunities through play, exploration and carefully planned experiences.

  • A warm, nurturing environment

    Where children feel safe, known, valued and supported.

  • Strong relationships with families

    Recognising that parents and carers are a child's first and most important educators.

  • A Christian-inspired ethos

    Promoting kindness, compassion, respect, gratitude and care for others, while welcoming families from every background.

  • Individualised learning

    Recognising that every child develops differently and has their own interests, strengths and needs.

  • Independence and resilience

    Encouraging children to make choices, solve problems, try new things and develop confidence in their own abilities.

  • Communication and relationships

    Helping children develop the language, social and emotional skills that provide important foundations for later life.

  • Curiosity and discovery

    Giving children opportunities to investigate their world, ask questions, experiment and learn through meaningful experiences.

  • Healthy, active childhoods

    Supporting children's physical development, wellbeing and understanding of healthy lifestyles.

  • Preparation for the future

    Developing the skills, confidence and attitudes children need for a positive transition to school and beyond.

What we believe

Why choose Amazing ?

Our Vision

Confident, independent little people

We support every child to build strong independence and belief in themselves through focused, in-the-moment learning and play. When a child feels happy, content and comfortable, they have the platform to face challenges, think for themselves and reach their own goals, and parents can feel confident they made the right choice.

Shaping Dreams

A home away from home

Ours is a creative, colourful and exciting place that nurtures each child into who they want to be. Inviting play and learning areas fill every room, shaped around the children's interests and their love of play. We are strong advocates of diversity and equal opportunity, supporting all children and families in their beliefs and culture.

Our Aim

The best possible start in life

Our aim is high-quality childcare that helps each amazing child grow, learn and become the best they can be. Underpinned by the Early Years Foundation Stage, our practice honours that every child is unique, so we empower the individual needs and interests of each one, and give every child a fun, loving and caring start to their future.

Learning through play

Rooted in the

The Early Years Foundation Stage is the Government's framework for children from birth to five, designed to grow and develop with your child right up to the end of the reception year. It places the emphasis firmly on learning through play, interaction and exploring the world, which is exactly how we've designed our setting.

We watch closely how each individual child learns best, then use it to plan the next learning goals and challenges together.

SEND. We work within the SEND Code of Practice, supporting children with special educational needs and disabilities and liaising with the right external agencies so that every child's needs are met.

The three Characteristics of Effective Learning

Playing & exploring

engagement

  • Finding out and exploring
  • Playing with what they know
  • Being willing to have a go

Active learning

motivation

  • Being involved and concentrating
  • Keeping on trying
  • Enjoying achieving their goals

Creating & thinking critically

thinking

  • Having their own ideas
  • Making links
  • Choosing how to do things
Everyday care

The details that keep them

Fresh meals, made on site

A healthy, nutritious and well-balanced diet, cooked fresh every day by our own cook.

  • Dietary needs catered for, including vegetarian, dairy-free and gluten-free alternatives, discussed with you at registration.
  • Four-weekly menus are displayed at the nursery entrance, with copies available on request.
  • A daily handover tells you exactly what your child ate, and how much.
  • All staff hold a Level 2 certificate in Food Hygiene.

Policies & safeguarding

A comprehensive set of policies that put your child's best interests first and meet Ofsted requirements.

  • Policies and procedures are available to parents on request, and reviewed yearly to keep protocol correct and current.
  • We strictly follow the EYFS safeguarding and welfare requirements in everything we do.
  • Regular health and safety reviews cover the whole building, even the areas children can't reach.
More than a nursery

The heart of Amazing Grace remains the same

Amazing Grace Nursery began with one woman's faith, determination and desire to provide something better for children and families. More than fifteen years later, we remain proud of those beginnings.

Our surroundings may have changed, generations of children have come and gone, and new members of our nursery family have joined us along the way, but the heart of Amazing Grace remains the same.

  • A place where children are loved.
  • A place where families are welcomed.
  • A place where children grow, discover and flourish.

As we look towards the future, we do so with enormous gratitude for those who have been part of our journey, and with a continued commitment to the legacy entrusted to us.

Amazing Grace Nursery. Your Child's Future Is Our Inspiration.

Come and see it for yourself

You're welcome any time we're open, 7:30am to 6:00pm. We'll show you around there and then, or book you in for a proper visit.

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