Mead Open Farm Day Nursery and Activity Day Camp
Good★ 3.8 on GoogleBirth to 8+Long established
A day nursery in Leighton Buzzard 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 They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask.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 January 2025. Open since 2022, with 114 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
LU7 9JHWhat 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.
- 22 October 2024 — Concern: actions taken what Ofsted published
Ofsted inspector, 13 January 2025 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Children are happy and settled and enjoy attending this lively, supportive nursery.
The implementation of a practical key-person system and sensitive settling-in procedures help children to settle quickly and build strong bonds with staff. Staff have high expectations of children and act as good role models, demonstrating a positive, enthusiastic attitude. Children reflect this and are confident in their play.
For example, young children use their good language skills as they exclaim 'look, like rain' when they sprinkle coloured lentils. They eagerly note how the lentils fall faster than coloured paper discs. Children persist when faced with challenges. For instance, older children work out how to make a train track slope and persevere as they try to make the track turn a corner.
What Ofsted told them to improve
To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should:
- support staff to be consistent in the presentation of group activities so that, for example, children can engage in these with minimal distraction and gain the maximum benefit from these opportunities n enhance the support offered to parents in building on children's learning at home.
- 13 January 2025Good Safeguarding: Yes
Still missing for Mead Open Farm Day Nursery and Activity Day Camp
- 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.