Storybook Day Nursery

Storybook Day Nursery's strongest documented quality is the way communication runs through children's days. Ofsted rated the Upminster setting Outstanding in October 2023, retaining the judgement from its previous inspection. Singing, storytelling, carefully chosen books, signing and visual prompts worked together rather than sitting as isolated activities.

The setting has capacity for 60 children at 107 Front Lane, Upminster, RM14 1XN. At the October 2023 inspection, children attending were aged from birth to four.

In October 2023, practitioners built learning around what each child already knew and could do. Books led into activities where children could explore and practise new vocabulary. Singing continued through the nursery, while attention-building games and visual prompts gave children several ways to listen, understand and respond. Makaton, a system of signs and symbols used alongside speech, extended that communication support.

The Early Years Foundation Stage shaped the curriculum at the inspection: practitioners used children's interests and developmental starting points to plan progress across communication, physical, personal and wider learning. In practice, that meant extending knowledge through play rather than pushing children through a fixed sequence.

Routines also taught children how to manage themselves alongside others. In 2023, toddlers learned language for taking turns, while older children waited at lunch, listened to one another and used polite words or signs without prompting. Predictable routines helped children practise patience, cooperation and self-control. The resulting calm gave children space to concentrate, participate and become more independent.

Outdoor play had a similarly purposeful character. Younger children explored a natural treasure basket, others ran down a hill together, and a sensory footpath helped children with additional sensory needs engage physically with the space. These examples matter because movement, investigation and language were connected to play rather than taught as separate exercises.

Key-person relationships were a clear strength at the 2023 inspection. Inspectors found that recently enrolled babies felt secure enough to investigate their surroundings. Practitioners could also explain children's interests, progress and next steps. For room changes, each child stayed close to a practitioner they already trusted while making the transition alongside only a few peers.

Parents consulted in 2023 valued both the team's knowledge of their children and the quality of feedback they received. That combination is useful: close observation informs next steps, while communication lets families understand the progress behind everyday play. Practitioners shared high expectations across the setting and maintained children's interest, including when using a tactile book with young babies.

Support for children with SEND was embedded across the team. Practitioners worked with external professionals, received training for different needs and used a refurbished sensory room. Safeguarding arrangements were effective in 2023. Staff knowledge was tested through questionnaires and quizzes, while recruitment, vetting and supervision checked suitability.

The nursery is at 107 Front Lane in Upminster. In 2023, leaders also maintained links with local schools and received feedback from teachers on children's preparation. This describes transition support, not priority for a Reception place, but it indicates attention to the practical handover as children move on.

In October 2023, the nursery opened for 51 weeks of the year and received funding to provide early education for children aged two, three and four.

The archived nursery contact page directs enquiries to info@storybookdaynursery.co.uk. Families should request a current written quotation and discuss the attendance pattern they need directly with the setting.

• Attendance pattern. Discuss the exact full-day or half-day pattern required, including current session times and how funded hours are arranged.
• Sensory provision. Ask how the sensory room and outdoor sensory footpath are used for a child's individual needs and booked days.
• Transition plan. Ask how the nursery keeps a trusted practitioner close when a child changes rooms, and how that plan would fit the child's age and starting point.

Storybook Day Nursery suits families who value strong key-person relationships and communication-rich early learning. Its October 2023 inspection gives unusually concrete examples: tactile books holding babies' interest, signing supporting spoken language, and a sensory footpath widening access to outdoor play. Families considering either full-day or half-day care should establish the current booking model, but the documented quality of interaction and SEND support makes this a compelling Upminster option.