The Bush Nursery
GoodBirth to 8+Open for decades
A day nursery in Shepton Mallet for children from birth to 8+, open 08:30 to 17:30, 7 days a week. They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask. Rated Good by Ofsted in September 2022. Open since 2000, with 11 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 Somerset
This is not this setting's price. It is the median hourly fee across all providers in 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
BA4 4HPWhat 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, 2 September 2022 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Children come into the nursery confidently. They settle quickly with the caring staff, who talk to them about what they have done at home and encourage them to join in with activities. Children have secure relationships with the staff, coming to them for cuddles and reassurance or to share their achievements. For example, children are keen to look for leaves and sticks in the garden to bring back to make shakers. They then take these shakers to other staff and proudly describe what they have just done. Children engage enthusiastically with a wide variety of activities, both inside and outside. Children show curiosity and become absorbed in their play. Staff encourage children to learn about their emotions by talking with children about how they feel.
The nursery remained open throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. The manager kept in touch with the families of children not attending at this time and sent parents ideas of activities that children could do at home. Parents are complimentary about the nursery and comment positively on the progress that their children are making. Parents value the communication from staff, which keeps them updated on what their child has been doing and how they can further support learning at home.
What Ofsted told them to improve
To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should:
- extend children's learning even further by providing suitably challenging activities for all children to meet their individual learning needs n be consistent with behaviour management techniques so that all children understand and can follow the expectations of the setting.
- 2 September 2022Good
- 19 October 2016Good
- 14 June 2013Good
Rated Good or Outstanding at 3 of the last 3 graded inspections.
Still missing for The Bush 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.