Teddy Bear Nursery

A wooden boat bound for imaginary planets and ride-on cars turned into language lessons give Teddy Bear Nursery its character. At its May 2023 inspection, Ofsted rated the nursery Outstanding and found that its carefully planned teaching helped children make excellent progress.

Based at Mardons House, Nightingale Way, Radstock, BA3 4NL, the nursery has capacity for 26 children. In May 2023, the children attending were aged two to four; the experiences described below belong to that period.

In May 2023, outdoor play combined movement, imagination and conversation. Children practised balance and steering on ride-on toys and squeezed water from sponges to make pretend rain. A wooden boat became transport for imaginary journeys, with staff extending the play through questions about animals and planets. These were opportunities to talk and think as well as move.

The early years foundation stage is the framework for children's learning, development and care. Here, its breadth was visible in May 2023 through physical play, conversation, imaginative journeys and practical tasks. Activities followed children's interests while building skills in a planned sequence.

Language teaching happened within play. In May 2023, washing ride-on cars introduced action words, while pauses in conversation gave children time to form their answers. Staff also demonstrated tricky tasks, such as pouring water or freeing an animal toy from ice, then encouraged another attempt. Persistence had a practical purpose.

At the May 2023 inspection, Ofsted found that the key-person arrangements supported secure relationships, children with SEND made exceptional progress with individual support, and safeguarding was effective.

In May 2023, staff and families worked with other agencies to develop individual learning plans. Support included bucket time, a small-group activity, and the sensitive use of children's comfort toys. Those details matter: support was adapted to the child rather than reduced to a general promise of inclusion.

Everyday routines also encouraged independence in May 2023. Children cared for books, took turns and joined in putting toys away after a bell signal and song. Indoors and outside, staff supervised children closely and helped them recognise hazards and ways to reduce risk.

The address is Mardons House, Nightingale Way, Radstock, BA3 4NL. In May 2023, opening hours were 8am to 4pm, Monday to Friday, during term time.

At that time, the nursery received early-education funding for children aged two, three and four. This is a dated account of funding participation, rather than a promise of a funded place for an individual family.

• Term-time planning. The May 2023 opening pattern covered weekdays during term time. How would the nursery's current attendance arrangements fit your working week and holiday needs?
• Individual support. In May 2023, learning plans drew on families and other agencies, with small-group activities and comfort toys used in support. Discuss how this approach would translate into a plan for your child.

Teddy Bear Nursery's May 2023 picture suits families who value imaginative outdoor play, conversation woven into practical activities and support tailored to individual children. The strongest detail is the connection between care and learning: secure relationships sat alongside patient encouragement to attempt difficult tasks. Families seeking term-time care have a useful starting point in the dated opening pattern.