The Family Tree Day Nursery
Good★ 4.0 on GoogleBirth to 5Long established
A day nursery in Shefford for children from birth to 5, open 8am to 6pm. They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask. Rated Good by Ofsted in April 2025. Open since 2015, with 51 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
SG17 5BHWhat 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 January 2026 — Concern: actions taken what Ofsted published
Ofsted inspector, 24 April 2025 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Leaders and staff form strong bonds with children and get to know them well. Staff have a good understanding of children's individual needs and how they learn best.
They interact and engage with children well. Staff praise and encourage children to help build their confidence and self-esteem. This promotes children's well-being and helps them to feel happy and supported at nursery. The curriculum is clear with a strong focus on developing children's communication and language development. Older children develop their vocabulary as they chatter away while mixing coloured water at the 'potions station.' They show good language skills as they talk about what they are making and listen well to others. Staff use the correct language as they speak to and narrate children's play. Staff sing to babies to help them move through the transitions of the day. This helps children to become skilled communicators. Leaders and staff identify gaps in children's development. They collaborate with parents and external agencies to provide targeted support.
Children play alongside their friends, learning how to share and take turns with resources. Staff are good role models. They remind children about appropriate behaviour, such as not running indoors.
What Ofsted told them to improve
To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should:
- support staff's understanding of the curriculum intent so that teaching consistently focuses on the individual learning needs of each child.
- 24 April 2025Good Safeguarding: Yes
- 19 August 2019Good
- 21 June 2016Good
Rated Good or Outstanding at 3 of the last 3 graded inspections.
Still missing for The Family Tree 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
This one is first. Tick it and one or two others to see them side by side.