Little Fishes
GoodBirth to 5Open for decades
A day nursery in Bedford for children from birth to 5, open 08:00 to 18:00, 7 days a week. They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask. Rated Good by Ofsted in July 2024. Open since 2022, with 55 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 Bedford
This is not this setting's price. It is the median hourly fee across all providers in Bedford 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
MK43 8JTWhat 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.
Ofsted inspector, 18 July 2024 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Staff provide a learning environment that captivates the interests of children. They plan a range of varied activities for the children to explore and enjoy. For example, children use real tools to hammer nails into wood and handle real bricks as they pretend to build a house. Children confidently describe and understand the procedures to follow to ensure they remain safe. Additionally, staff demonstrate to younger children how to fill their buckets with sand. Younger children proceed to copy and enjoy exploring and handling the sand. Children behave well and demonstrate a 'can-do' attitude. They are supported by staff to share and take their turn.
Staff frequently sing songs with the children, such as 'The Wheels on the Bus', and share stories with them. Younger children are encouraged to look at the pictures of animals and to make the associated animal sounds. They eagerly 'meow' like a cat.
Older children listen well. They remember what comes next in familiar stories, answer questions and confidently recite known phrases. Staff provide opportunities for children to develop their mark-making skills. Children use large brushes, water and chalk to make marks on paving slabs. Older children concentrate as they practise writing their name and draw recognisable pictures. They confidently use language to describe their drawings and are able to read letters by saying the sounds of them.
What Ofsted told them to improve
To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should:
- improve the consistency of teaching so that all staff use a range of higher level interactions that encourage children to draw on their existing knowledge and experience n identify professional development opportunities to strengthen existing knowledge and further enhance the quality of teaching.
- 18 July 2024Good
Still missing for Little Fishes
- 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.