The Cottage Private Day Nursery, 55 Bedford Street

Babies have their own building at this Bedford Street nursery, with spaces for sensory exploration, imaginative play and movement rather than a single playroom doing every job. The Cottage Private Day Nursery, 55 Bedford Street has 27 places in total. It is the baby and toddler setting within a wider Derby nursery spread across separate buildings, so its identity matters when weighing the care on offer.

At its May 2023 inspection, Ofsted rated the setting Outstanding and found that close relationships with staff helped babies and young children become secure, confident learners. That judgement belongs to this setting, rather than to every age group on Bedford Street. The Babies & Toddlers building serves the 0-2 age group; older children have separate buildings within the wider Derby provision.

Full-day, morning and afternoon sessions give families different attendance patterns. The practical distinction is between choosing a session here and planning the later move to another building as a child grows.

Rooms and Ages

The Babies & Toddlers building contains an Imaginative Room, Physical Room, Sensory Room, Art Room and Main Playroom. Together, these make room for movement, pretend play, creative activities and exploration through touch. For a baby or young toddler, the useful feature is the variety of environments within provision designed for that age group, rather than sharing the older children's spaces.

In May 2023, physical learning included fitting puzzle pieces, handling dough and crossing balance beams. These were small, practical challenges: coordinating hands and eyes, experimenting with materials and using the body to balance. Encouragement accompanied the effort, making attempts and achievements part of the activity.

Learning and Activities

The early years foundation stage sets the requirements for children's learning, development and care, with learning through play and everyday interaction. Here, the May 2023 examples showed how that could work for the youngest children: an adult named an object, a child selected the matching puzzle piece, and conversation continued during routine care.

Dough exploration also had a relationship behind it. In May 2023, a hesitant child tried an unfamiliar texture with their key person nearby, gradually becoming comfortable enough to shape it. The adult's presence made exploration manageable. This is a useful picture of learning at baby pace, where confidence to try something can matter as much as completing an activity.

Children's home experiences also entered the day in May 2023. Music and materials connected with their backgrounds, while photographs helped children revisit familiar experiences and mirrors supported recognising themselves. These concrete starting points gave adults something meaningful to talk about with children whose spoken language was still developing.

A Bedford Street Christmas account from January 2025 identifies Winter Wonderland activities specifically for Babies and Baby Toddlers, alongside dressing up and their own Christmas party. These were seasonal experiences for the youngest groups, rather than the performances and activities organised for preschool children elsewhere in the Derby provision.

Relationships were central to daily care in May 2023. Babies formed close connections with their key staff, and adults used ordinary routines for conversation and singing. Nappy changing therefore offered individual interaction as well as physical care. At mealtimes, babies had opportunities to try feeding themselves with spoons, with older children practising using cutlery.

At the May 2023 inspection, Ofsted found effective safeguarding, careful sleep and medication practice, and successful early support for developmental gaps through assessment and work involving the special educational needs coordinator. These findings give substance to the grade: support involved identifying a child's emerging needs and adjusting teaching, rather than waiting for difficulties to become more pronounced.

Famly, the parent communication app, provides observations and assessments, messages and updates through the day. Its practical value is continuity: parents can follow development and communicate with staff. In May 2023, staff also shared information through an app and conversations with families, while a weekend soft-play session brought together children with special educational needs and/or disabilities and their families.

Chefs prepare meals using fresh ingredients sourced locally, with menus adapted for dietary requirements and allergies. Allergy-affected families should confirm current arrangements for their child before starting.

Sessions and Attendance

The setting's address is 55 Bedford Street, Derby, DE22 3PD. The wider Derby nursery also occupies other Bedford Street buildings, which makes the baby and toddler building the relevant starting point for families choosing this setting.

A Full Day runs from 7.30am to 6pm, Morning from 8.30am to 1pm, and Afternoon from 1pm to 5.30pm. Additional or part hours are also offered. Breakfast requires children to be in nursery before 7.45am, while the afternoon session includes tea. That gives mornings and afternoons different meal arrangements as well as different lengths.

Holiday absences remain chargeable, but bank holidays and the Christmas closure are not charged. Enquiries can be made by email at derby@cottagenursery.co.uk or by telephone on 01332 346500. Parking is provided on site.

Funding and Paid Extras

Funded early education and care are offered, including funding for eligible working families with children aged 9-23 months. Funding applies during term time across 38 weeks, with ordinary nursery charges returning during school holidays. Full-day sessions allow up to nine funded hours, and children must attend the designated core funded hours each day. Attendance cannot be booked exclusively for term time. The funded-hours arrangement therefore needs to be considered alongside the family's year-round childcare budget.

Meals and consumables are charged separately for funded hours, as are additional services outside the entitlement; extra attendance beyond the designated funded hours is paid childcare. The afternoon session includes tea, so meal treatment depends on the booking and funding arrangement. Current prices come in the nursery's written quotation, and the funding and charges page explains the structure.

In May 2023, most children moved to the sister nursery opposite at around two years old. This was a move between nursery settings, making the next stage of care a practical planning point for families starting with a baby.

• The baby building and the later move. Babies & Toddlers provision is separate from the older age groups, and in May 2023 most children moved across the road at around two. During a visit, ask how that change is prepared and how familiar staff help children settle into the next setting.
• Session and meal choices. Morning and afternoon bookings have different times, and the afternoon includes tea; breakfast requires attendance before 7.45am. Match the session to your child's eating routine as well as your working hours.
• Funded hours across the year. Funding covers 38 term-time weeks, with meals and consumables charged separately during funded hours and ordinary charges applying in school holidays. Compare the written quotation across both term time and holiday weeks.

A separate baby and toddler building, several themed rooms and detailed May 2023 examples of learning through relationships make this a compelling option for families beginning nursery care with a very young child. The strongest inspection evidence concerns attentive interaction, practical learning and early support.

It suits families seeking morning or afternoon sessions as well as full days, with the later move to another nursery building forming part of the decision. The essential financial consideration is how session choices, funded hours and holiday attendance fit together over the year.