Once Upon a Time Day Nurseries, Hayes

A Good Ofsted judgement and a clearly observed emphasis on language, independence and outdoor play give this 46-place Yeading nursery a purposeful profile. It accepts children from three months to five years and is registered across the Early Years, compulsory and voluntary childcare registers.

In October 2024, children settled readily, formed positive relationships with their key person and became absorbed in activities shaped around their interests. Staff used praise to encourage persistence, including as children learned to handle scissors.

The setting follows the Early Years Foundation Stage, the statutory framework that brings learning, development and care together through play and adult guidance. At that point it used the HighScope teaching curriculum alongside that framework. Staff modelled language during play and introduced new vocabulary, giving everyday activity a deliberate communication focus.

In October 2024, every child had outdoor time built into the day. Children rode bikes around obstacles, showing awareness of the space they were moving through. Indoors, puzzles supported small key-group activity, while play dough, painting, books, pens and pencils helped children strengthen their hands and begin making marks.

Cultural identity also had a visible place. The team promoted the languages and cultures represented in the setting and marked cultural festivals and events through the year, helping children explore both similarities and differences.

Relationships were warm and well established in October 2024. Children separated easily from parents, behaved well and received calm adult help when disagreements arose. Independence was built into practical routines: younger children practised eating with a spoon, while older children served themselves, used cutlery, poured drinks and worked on putting on their coats.

Progress monitoring helped staff identify children who might have special educational needs or disabilities. When monitoring raised a concern, the team planned extra help and sought specialist input when needed. Safeguarding arrangements were judged effective.

There were two clear improvement points. Hygiene teaching was inconsistent, including support for children to manage runny noses, and the provider needed to strengthen individual coaching and mentoring so teaching quality became consistently higher across the team.

The nursery is at Hackland House, 346 Yeading Lane, Hayes, UB4 9AY. Its current record gives an age range of three months to five years and 46 registered places.

Funded early education was recorded for children aged two, three and four. Current delivery arrangements and charges are available directly from the nursery.

• Hygiene practice. In October 2024, hygiene teaching was not consistently reinforced. Ask what has changed since that improvement point was set.
• Staff development. Stronger individual mentoring and coaching was also requested. Ask how leaders now monitor consistency across the team.
• Attendance pattern. The booking patterns sold were not established. Confirm whether the nursery can accommodate the exact days and hours your family needs.

This setting is best suited to families seeking weekday care in Yeading, with dated evidence of purposeful language work, daily outdoor activity and routines that build independence. The Good judgement is reassuring, while the two improvement points give parents focused questions. The current attendance pattern and charge structure will be decisive for many families.