Bright Horizons Ely Day Nursery and Preschool

Home sleep routines, doll washing and stories give a concrete picture of life here in July 2024. At its July 2024 inspection, Ofsted judged Bright Horizons Ely Day Nursery and Preschool Good overall and found safeguarding effective. That judgement needs to be read alongside the later group safeguarding notice discussed below.

The nursery has capacity for 120 children, with an accepted age range of 3 to 60 months. Its address is on Cambridgeshire Business Park in Ely.

In July 2024, the early years foundation stage took practical form through singing, storytelling and counting plates and cutlery for lunch. These experiences brought language and number work into familiar routines. Children browsed books independently, while the eldest asked questions during stories.

Sensory exploration was another part of that July day: babies washed dolls using soap, and the eldest mixed paint with flour and water to explore the resulting paste. Role play gave children opportunities to invent stories together. The examples show what children could handle, discuss and investigate.

Preparation for school also had tangible props in July 2024. Teachers visited, staff helped children recognise school logos, and uniforms were used in role play. This made aspects of the coming change familiar through play and contact with teachers.

In July 2024, induction included learning about each family's routines, with babies' and toddlers' feeding and sleep patterns carried over from home. For families, that continuity connected nursery care with habits their child already knew. Staff shared information about children's days and worked with parents on potty training and changes between rooms; activity bags and book lending extended learning into the home.

Behaviour guidance needed more consistency in July 2024. Some staff addressed unwanted behaviour from a distance and did not reliably explain why it was unacceptable. The improvement action was to help children understand expectations and the effects of their actions.

A regulatory visit on 31 March 2026 identified failures involving safeguarding procedures, recruitment checks and staff supervision at Ely. Following the provider's response on 28 April 2026, the safeguarding and welfare actions were confirmed as met. This resolved branch outcome is separate from the later organisational notice.

On 22 June 2026, Ofsted issued a group Welfare Requirements Notice addressing weaknesses in safeguarding leadership, oversight and practice, while specifying that its organisational actions did not reflect concerns at every individual setting. The notice required action by 1 August 2026 on implementing safeguarding procedures, escalating concerns, handling allegations and monitoring training and supervision. This is a material consideration alongside the older branch judgement; the deadline alone establishes neither completion nor failure.

The address is 5 St Thomas Place, Cambridgeshire Business Park, Angel Drove, Ely, CB7 4EX. Opening hours are 7.30am to 6.30pm, Monday to Friday, across the year, with bank holiday closure. This opening window is useful for assessing how the nursery fits a working day.

In July 2024, the nursery provided funded early education for children aged two, three and four. That is a dated account of participation, rather than a promise about an individual family's entitlement.

• Group safeguarding action. The notice dated 22 June 2026 set organisational safeguarding actions with a deadline of 1 August 2026. Before joining, ask how those actions have been implemented at Ely and what subsequent outcome applies.
• Behaviour explanations. In July 2024, staff did not consistently explain the effects of unwanted behaviour. During a visit, discuss how practitioners now help children understand boundaries and the impact of their actions.

For families whose working day fits the weekday opening window, Ely merits consideration for the practical care routines and everyday learning described in July 2024. Home routines, shared books and preparation for school give that account substance. The later organisational safeguarding notice carries substantial decision weight, so the older Good judgement should form only part of a joining decision.