The Cottage Day Nursery Derby

A children's council choosing names for nursery chickens gives Bedford Street a memorable character. In July 2023, children discussed their choices together and reached a decision: a small, concrete example of children having a say in nursery life. Today, themed play spaces, gardens and practical activities give The Cottage Day Nursery Derby plenty of substance beyond its home-like ethos.

At its July 2023 inspection, Ofsted rated the nursery Good and found safeguarding effective, with secure relationships through the key-person system. That judgement belongs to the Bedford Street main nursery. The Derby site also contains a separately inspected baby and toddler unit, so families should distinguish the provision their child would attend.

The current age range extends from birth to five, while the Main Nursery and Preschool spaces cater for different stages of childhood. Full-day, morning and afternoon bookings provide genuinely different attendance options. The strongest reasons to consider this setting are its themed rooms, communication through Famly and learning that connects play with everyday experiences.

Rooms and Ages

Main Nursery, for children aged two to three, occupies two storeys, combining spaces for art, imaginative play, sensory experiences and physical development with access to a larger playground and a softplay area.

Preschool, for ages three to five, combines the Quiet Room's interactive learning, everyday experiences in the Main Room and creative work in the Art Room with two outdoor playgrounds and wildlife.

Learning and Activities

The early years foundation stage is the shared framework for children's learning, development and care, bringing play, communication and growing independence into the nursery day.

In July 2023, a pom-pom activity introduced words for position through movement: children followed actions, waited for turns and contributed an action of their own. Mud-and-water play offered a different kind of thinking, as children considered which utensils could move soil into bottles. One activity supplied clear adult guidance; the other began with children's experimentation.

In July 2023, staff missed opportunities to extend learning during routines and freely chosen play, including discussions about food and exercise. Learning between planned activities needed attention too.

Bedford Street's Holi celebration in April 2025 combined an explanation of the festival with art, movement and sensory play. Children wore white T-shirts for coloured paint throwing in the garden, made rangoli-style artwork and explored rice, petals and water. The activities connected a cultural celebration with things children could make, touch and discuss, including how friends celebrated at home.

Halloween in November 2024 brought another practical theme. Preschool children experimented with fizzing pumpkins, while Main Nursery children used bubbles for printing and shaped pumpkins from playdough. Dressing up formed part of the celebration. These examples show different activities attached to different age groups, rather than a single task repeated throughout the nursery.

Outdoor and Community Life

The garden supports more than running around. In July 2023, children examined a ladybird's markings and shared their discovery with friends; older children also listened to a story beneath a slide. Nature and books could sit within outdoor play, with familiar surroundings supplying the material for conversation.

A four-week Cycle Derby project described in September 2023 gave preschool children riding practice to develop balance and coordination. The local cycling organisation visited on Mondays during June; children began with balance bikes, and some progressed to pedal bikes.

A post-office outing described in August 2025 connected children's handmade cards with the process of sending a letter. They selected stamps and posted their work, then received a royal reply. For a preschool child, that makes writing purposeful: a message leaves the nursery and reaches someone elsewhere.

Famly, the parent communication app, combines instant messaging with observations, assessments and nursery updates. Parents can follow progress and contact the team between face-to-face conversations.

At the July 2023 inspection, Ofsted found that assessment identified emerging developmental gaps promptly and that the special educational needs coordinator helped staff put targeted support into practice. This is a dated finding about how individual needs were addressed, rather than a blanket promise about every child's experience today.

In July 2023, preparation for school included photographs of local schools and uniforms in role play, alongside lunchtime arrangements resembling those children would meet at school. These are tangible ways to make an unfamiliar next step more recognisable. They concern preparation for school life, rather than an advantage in securing a school place.

Children's understanding of expectations also needed attention in July 2023. Staff intervened when necessary, but did not consistently explain the reasons behind instructions. For families, the distinction matters: a child benefits from understanding why a boundary exists, as well as knowing what an adult wants them to do.

Meals are prepared by chefs using fresh, locally sourced ingredients, with menus adjusted regularly and arrangements for dietary requirements and allergies. Allergy-affected families should discuss current practice for their child's needs during a visit.

Sessions and Attendance

The nursery's main address is 76–78 Bedford Street, Derby, DE22 3PD; the wider Derby site uses 55/76/78 Bedford Street. It opens Monday to Friday, from 7.30am to 6pm, with bank-holiday and Christmas closures. This is care across the year, rather than exclusively term-time attendance.

Full Day runs from 7.30am to 6pm. Morning bookings cover 8.30am to 1pm, while Afternoon runs from 1pm to 5.30pm and includes tea. Children having breakfast need to attend before 7.45am. These differences are worth matching closely to a family's working day: the morning session starts later than the full day, and the afternoon ends earlier.

Holiday absences remain chargeable, while bank holidays and the Christmas shutdown are not charged. Enquiries can be made by telephone on 01332 346500 or by email to derby@cottagenursery.co.uk.

Getting There

Bedford Street is on the outskirts of Derby city centre, a few streets from Uttoxeter Road. On-site parking is provided, which gives families a practical option when travelling by car.

Funding and Paid Extras

Funded early education and private childcare are offered. The Derby funding arrangements cover 38 term-time weeks, with full nursery prices applying during school holidays; this does not create an exclusively term-time booking option.

The funding options include Flying Start and Expanded Childcare for eligible younger children, Universal Funding for three- and four-year-olds, and Extended Funding for eligible working families. Universal Funding provides 15 hours weekly; Extended Funding adds a further 15 hours to reach 30. Accessing the full 30-hour entitlement requires attendance for at least 3.5 days per week, with a maximum of nine funded hours per full-day session. Eligibility conditions apply to the relevant schemes.

Meals and non-food consumables are charged separately during funded hours, and additional private hours also incur charges. The Derby funding table includes activity charges whose treatment varies with the child's age and funded-hours pattern. Families should obtain a written quotation showing their chosen attendance pattern, funding deduction and separate charges; current private session prices are detailed on the timetable and fees page.

• The right Bedford Street provision. The Derby site includes separately inspected main and baby provision. During a visit, establish which building and provision your child's booking covers, and look at the spaces they would actually use.
• Learning between activities. In July 2023, extending learning during routines and free play, and explaining expectations clearly, needed attention. Ask how food, exercise and reasons for boundaries are discussed with children now.
• Funding across the year. Funded hours cover term-time weeks, while holiday weeks attract full nursery prices and funded meals and consumables cost extra. Compare a written quotation across both parts of the year before choosing an attendance pattern.
• Food and allergies. Chefs accommodate dietary requirements and allergies. Use the visit to discuss ingredient information and the current arrangements for your child's particular needs.

For families choosing between full-day care and shorter morning or afternoon sessions, The Cottage offers useful variety alongside themed spaces for toddlers and preschool children. Famly provides a practical link with parents, while the post-office outing, Holi activities and cycling project illustrate learning connected to experiences beyond a table-top task.

The July 2023 Good judgement is the relevant main-nursery inspection position. Its improvement points deserve attention alongside its strengths in relationships and individual support. It suits families wanting care across the year through full days, mornings or afternoons, with separate age-specific environments and the funded-hours charge structure understood before booking.