Banana Moon Day Nursery
Good★ 4.4 on GoogleBirth to 8+Long established
A day nursery in Lower Sundon for children from birth to 8+, open 07:30 to 18:30, 5 days a week. They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask. Rated Good by Ofsted in December 2022. Open since 2011, with 52 places.
What you might pay
This setting does not publish its fees, and no national dataset holds them. This is what childcare costs across the council, as a starting point for the call.
What childcare usually costs in Central Bedfordshire
This is not this setting's price. It is the median hourly fee across all providers in Central Bedfordshire from the Department for Education's 2025 provider survey. No national data holds what an individual nursery charges, so ring and ask.
Places, hours and the day
Who they take, when they are open, and what a day there includes.
Where it is
LU3 3NZWhat the inspector found
One grade is one visit. A run of them tells you whether it has been good for years or has only just got there.
- 27 August 2026 — Concern: actions taken what Ofsted published
- 7 July 2026 — Concern: actions taken what Ofsted published
- 22 August 2023 — Concern: actions taken what Ofsted published
Ofsted inspector, 5 December 2022 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Children form close attachments to staff and show they feel safe and secure in the nursery. Babies spend time exploring crispy rice cereal and flour. They pick the resources up and enjoy the sensation of them tricking through their fingers. Older children use dough to make cakes. They carefully use buttons for decorations and enjoy pretending that it is someone's birthday. Young children show how they are learning how to take care of themselves. They know to look if any cars are moving before they cross the car park to the outdoor area.
Children become physically skilful and independent. They have access to the large outdoor space in all weathers. Children learn to put on their own coats and wellington boots. Older children move strategically across obstacle courses. They discuss how to manoeuvre safely from obstacle to obstacle. Children gain a sense of responsibility as they learn to serve their own meals, use cutlery and scrape their plates. Children's behaviour is good. They learn to be patient and take turns on the popular balance bikes. Children know that when the timer runs out it is another child's turn and they readily offer the bike to a friend.
What Ofsted told them to improve
To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should:
- enhance staff skills and knowledge in strengthening the curriculum for preschool children, to extend and challenge children's learning.
- 5 December 2022Good
- 10 January 2017Good
- 17 June 2013Good
Rated Good or Outstanding at 3 of the last 3 graded inspections.
Still missing for Banana Moon Day Nursery
- What it costs
- Funded hours
- Youngest age taken
- Meals
- Nappies
- Waiting list
No dataset holds any of this. Two parents telling us the same thing puts it on the page for whoever looks next.
What to ask them
None of this is in any national dataset and this setting has not published it, which is exactly why it is worth asking.
- What does it cost, all in? What is on top: meals, nappies, late pick-up, and what happens if you are late.
- Can I use my funded hours here? Whether they stretch them over the year, and the minimum days you have to book.
- Is there a place for my child's age? Baby rooms fill first and waiting lists are common.
- Who would my child's key person be? And how long have the staff been there. No dataset holds this and it matters more than anything above.
- Can I visit at a busy time? Mid-morning on a weekday tells you far more than an empty room after hours.
Day nurseries within a couple of miles
This one is first. Tick it and one or two others to see them side by side.