Mulberry Bush Day Nursery

Books to borrow, plants to tend and ducklings to handle carefully give Mulberry Bush Day Nursery a recognisable character. These were features of daily life in July 2023, combining stories with hands-on encounters with the natural world. The strongest picture is of children learning through ordinary experiences: sharing a game, remembering a story character or finding out why a plant needs water.

At its July 2023 inspection, Ofsted rated the nursery Good and judged safeguarding effective. Two improvement points deserve attention alongside that judgement: inconsistent opportunities to use home languages and noise that sometimes interrupted preschool learning.

At 15 Glencoe Street in Hull, HU3 6HR, the nursery has capacity for 75 children aged 1 to 8. Baby Room, Toddler Room and Pre-school Room provide its named room structure. The overall capacity is a whole-setting figure, rather than a measure of how many children share an individual room.

Rooms and Ages

Baby Room, Toddler Room and Pre-school Room distinguish the stages of nursery life. In July 2023, babies explored resources with growing confidence, while older children practised managing coats and shoes themselves. That gives a useful picture of the progression from supported exploration towards everyday independence.

The early years foundation stage is the framework for children's learning, development and care. In parent language, it connects what children learn with how they play, communicate and develop everyday skills; it is the common foundation for early-years provision, rather than an extra programme unique to this nursery.

Learning and Activities

In July 2023, the lending library extended story time beyond the nursery, with families borrowing books to share at home. Children also revisited familiar stories and recalled characters and settings. The practical benefit is continuity: a book can become part of family life rather than remain an activity confined to a nursery session.

Play also developed through staff introducing resources, including shelters for toy animals. Children shared games and practised taking turns. These examples show how conversations and materials were used to help a play idea grow, rather than leaving children with resources alone.

Outdoor and Community Life

In July 2023, the nursery garden gave children direct experience of caring for plants. They dug planting holes and learnt when watering was needed. Watching duck eggs hatch brought another kind of learning, followed by careful handling of the ducklings. Both experiences made changes in the natural world something children could observe for themselves.

Regular outdoor opportunities also gave children space for movement and fresh air at that time. Gardening added a purpose to being outside, linking physical activity with looking after living things.

In July 2023, babies had close relationships with their key person and other staff, with cuddles and sensitive support helping them settle into routines. Older children were encouraged to attempt personal care for themselves, while staff remained ready to help. The balance was between offering comfort and giving children room to try.

At the July 2023 inspection, Ofsted found that children with special educational needs and/or disabilities made good progress, supported through inclusion funding and cooperation between staff, parents and services. This is a dated assessment of how support worked in practice, with resources directed towards children's individual needs.

Communication with families in July 2023 helped parents understand their children's learning. Staff also used praise for effort and achievement, giving children encouragement tied to what they had actually attempted or accomplished.

A nursery cook prepared meals and snacks in July 2023, and children learnt why toothbrushing matters. Those everyday routines linked care with learning about health.

The address is 15 Glencoe Street, Hull, HU3 6HR. The nursery opens Monday to Friday throughout the year, closing on bank holidays. Its opening day begins at 6.30am.

Attendance can be once or twice a week or every day. That gives families different weekly patterns to consider, while keeping the distinction between how often a child attends and the hours booked on each day.

In July 2023, funded early education was offered for children aged two, three and four. This is an inspection-time fact about participation, rather than a promise of an individual child's entitlement or a particular funded booking arrangement.

• Preschool concentration. In July 2023, noise sometimes made listening, sustained play and group participation difficult. On a visit, ask how the Pre-school Room now manages sound during these activities.
• Home languages. Opportunities for children to use their home languages were uneven across the nursery in July 2023. Families using more than one language should discuss how their child's language will be included in everyday play and conversation.
• Closing time. Two opening windows give different finishing times: 6pm and 6.30pm. Resolve the collection deadline before arranging work and travel around a booking.

Mulberry Bush suits families considering attendance once or twice a week as well as every day, with an early opening time that may be useful around work. Its July 2023 picture combines close relationships, practical independence, shared books and learning in the garden. The decision turns on whether today's arrangements address the two educational improvement points and whether the agreed collection time fits family life.