Mama Bear's Day Nursery
Good★ 3.3 on GoogleBirth to 8+Open for decades
A day nursery in Bristol for children from birth to 8+, open 07:30 to 18:00, 5 days a week. They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask. Rated Good by Ofsted in July 2023. Open since 2010, with 54 places.
Places, hours and the day
Who they take, when they are open, and what a day there includes.
Where it is
BS16 4EHWhat 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, 24 July 2023 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Children show they feel safe and secure in this welcoming nursery. They eagerly enter, separate from their parents, and quickly settle down to the activities they wish to explore. Children confidently approach staff, who know them well and listen to their news. Children happily play together. For example, older children set up a pretend picnic. They sit together and share their food and are sociable, chatting about their food. Younger children explore the farm, putting the different animals in the pens and then singing 'Old MacDonald' using the models as props.
Children develop good levels of independence. Older children take off and put on their socks and shoes, serve their lunches and clear away their plates. Younger children help themselves to water from the dispenser, drink from an open cup and learn to feed themselves with cutlery.
The interim manager has a clear vision for her curriculum. She knows what she wants the children to learn and the skills they need to gain as they progress through the nursery and get ready for their move to school. She places a strong emphasis on ensuring children have experiences that they may not have outside of the nursery. Staff know the children very well and target the curriculum to help close any gaps in learning quickly. Children, including those who learn English as an additional language and those who receive additional funding, make good progress from their starting points.
What Ofsted told them to improve
To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should:
- help staff understand the need to allow children more time to think and respond to questions asked, to extend their expressive language further n provide more opportunities for children to learn about the similarities and differences between themselves and their friends.
- 24 July 2023Good
- 28 February 2019Good
- 24 November 2015Good
Rated Good or Outstanding at 3 of the last 3 graded inspections.
Still missing for Mama Bear's 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
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