Barley Wood Nursery
GoodTakes funded hoursBirth to 8+Long established
A day nursery in Bristol for babies from 3 months up to school age, open 07:30 to 18:00, 5 days a week. They take the funded hours. They do not publish prices, so ask. Rated Good by Ofsted in May 2025. Open since 2015, with 90 places.
What it costs
Prices change without notice. Treat these as what to ask about, not a quote.
Funded hours
Most children will be eligible for 3 and 4 year-old funding, starting from the term after their 3rd birthday.
What childcare usually costs in North Somerset
This is not this setting's price. It is the median hourly fee across all providers in North Somerset 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
BS40 5SAWhat 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.
- 4 January 2024 — Concern: actions taken what Ofsted published
Ofsted inspector, 28 May 2025 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Leaders have created a varied curriculum, helping children to gain the fundamental skills they need for future learning. These include independence, confidence and resilience. Younger children relish the surrounding gardens and woodland space as they run freely and kick balls, developing their hand-eye coordination. Babies learn to negotiate their body movements and balance as they climb onto see-saws and walk across stepping stones. Staff support, encourage and praise children, building their confidence and self-esteem. Babies begin to say key words, including 'clap clap' and 'dinosaur'. Staff consistently narrate what they are doing and use repetition well, helping babies to develop their understanding of language. Staff introduce complex vocabulary to older children, such as 'oxygenate' as they safely observe the pond. Children enjoy discussions with staff and demonstrate their curiosity about what is in the pond. For example, children talk about saltwater and freshwater fish, lily pads and why fish stay at the bottom of the pond, telling staff
'because it is cooler'. Children develop a good understanding of two-way communication.
Staff are positive role models for children and have high expectations for children's behaviour. They implement consistent routines and gently remind children of their rules, including 'walking feet'. This helps children to know what is expected of them. Staff explain to children what is happening next and have robust systems in place to support transitions between rooms, helping children to feel valued, safe and secure. Children enjoy playing together and say, 'You are my best friend.' Staff use the 'Zen Den' as a calm space to provide more focused support, helping children with their emotional regulation.
What Ofsted told them to improve
To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should:
- ensure that activities are targeted more precisely to children's individual next steps and interests to help children sustain their focus and attention n support staff to strengthen their understanding of how to adapt their interactions to continuously challenge and extend children's learning, helping to maximise their progress.
- 28 May 2025Good Safeguarding: Yes
- 4 April 2022Good
- 27 September 2017Good
Rated Good or Outstanding at 3 of the last 3 graded inspections.
Still missing for Barley Wood Nursery
- What it costs
- 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
Some of this is above, from the setting or from parents, and it can go out of date. The rest is in no dataset anywhere. Either way it is worth ten minutes on the phone.
- What does it cost, all in? What is on top: meals, nappies, late pick-up, and what happens if you are late.
- How do you apply my funded hours? Whether they stretch them over the year, and the minimum days you have to book.
- Do you have a place for a child of my age now? 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.