Busy Bunnies Nursery, New England

A large shared garden and a day built around children's choices give Busy Bunnies Nursery, New England its character. Free-flow play connects the indoor provision with outdoor time, while a key person works with each family from registration through to the move to school. This is a setting where the practical details matter as much as the educational offer: lunch comes from home, and care follows the term-time calendar.

The nursery has capacity for 60 children, accepting ages from 3 months to 5 years, at New Inn, 627 Lincoln Road, Peterborough, PE1 3HA. At its December 2022 inspection, Ofsted judged it Good overall and found safeguarding effective. Morning, afternoon and all-day attendance are offered, with the latest finish at 3.30pm.

Rooms and Ages

The Toddler Room and Pre-School room share a large garden, with free-flow play forming part of the sessions. The layout gives outdoor activity a place in the ordinary nursery day rather than reserving it for a separate outing. For families comparing care for different ages, the whole-setting age range is broad; the room arrangement is an important part of deciding how an individual child will spend their time.

Children's interests help shape activities. That gives practitioners a starting point in what a child already wants to explore, alongside the planned routine. It also makes the distinction between choosing an activity and following a timetable less rigid: both have a place here.

Learning and Activities

The early years foundation stage provides the framework for children's learning, development and care, bringing play and everyday experiences into their education. In December 2022, independent choices, conversation and shared activities gave children practical ways to learn under that framework.

In December 2022, children could reach resources themselves and practise independence during the day. Real produce became material for pretend play and conversations about healthy eating. Regular cooking introduced food associated with different cultures. These were practical experiences, linking ideas to things children could handle and use rather than leaving learning at the level of explanation.

The daily routine includes circle time before children leave and Good afternoon time, a named slot in the afternoon routine. Breakfast starts the day for early attenders, while snack breaks punctuate the morning and afternoon. The routine gives children recurring points of reference around their play.

Outdoor and Community Life

Garden free flow features in both the morning and afternoon routine. In December 2022, outdoor play included scooters, climbing, large construction and making marks, alongside a swing that children shared and pushed for one another. Physical activity and cooperation came together in the same space.

Occasional trips and special events are part of the group-wide offer described for this branch. Participation is optional, and some trips may involve a contribution towards costs; children who do not join can attend the nursery as usual. That keeps an outing from becoming a condition of childcare attendance.

Relationships and Communication

The key person approach starts with registration and continues through school transition. Its practical value is continuity: a family has an ongoing relationship with someone involved in their child's care, rather than relying entirely on separate conversations with different staff.

Tapestry, the online learning journal used across the group, lets parents view their child's experiences and contribute observations from home. It also carries newsletters and other information. At New England, termly parent consultations sit alongside regular workshops and stay and play sessions, giving families ways to discuss development and take part in nursery life.

Communication remains a useful subject for a visit. In December 2022, some parents lacked enough information about learning plans and were unsure whom to approach with questions. Teaching also varied in consistency, prompting recommendations to strengthen staff supervision and improve how future learning was explained to families. Those are specific improvement points, rather than a reason to overlook the rest of the provision.

Inclusion and Wellbeing

Practitioners receive training in speech and language development and supporting children with special educational needs. At its December 2022 inspection, Ofsted found that staff identified developmental delays, worked with other professionals and supplied additional help while referrals were pending. That finding describes support at the time of the visit; the current training offer gives families a concrete mechanism to discuss in relation to their own child.

Healthy routines extend beyond activities. Children who remain for lunch have toothbrushing in their afternoon timetable, making oral care part of the day rather than simply a topic to talk about.

Sessions and Attendance

New England opens during term time, Monday to Friday, from 8am to 3.30pm. The main choices are a morning session from 9am to noon, an afternoon session from 12.30pm to 3.30pm, or all-day attendance from 8am to 3.30pm. These serve different needs: a short morning or afternoon of early education, or care spanning the nursery's opening day.

Paid attendance also includes shorter clock-time combinations, and other arrangements may be requested. Flexibility sits within the term-time operating model and the afternoon closing time. Families planning their working week need both elements to fit, rather than treating flexible attendance as extended opening.

The nursery's address is New Inn, 627 Lincoln Road, Peterborough, PE1 3HA, and enquiries can be made on 01733 897799.

Funding and Paid Extras

Funded childcare is offered for children aged 9 months and for 2-, 3- and 4-year-olds. Funding is delivered during term time, with flexible funded attendance between 8am and 3.30pm on weekdays. Private paid sessions are also offered; current prices come in the nursery's written quotation.

Parents supply a healthy packed lunch when their child stays over lunchtime, including during funded attendance; snacks are provided, with the group-wide snack menu changing each term. Lunchbox guidance helps families plan what to send.

Nappies and wipes come from home, with no nursery charge for those items. Suncream can either be supplied by parents or obtained through an optional annual charge, so consumables have different arrangements rather than a single inclusive package. The same branch arrangements apply alongside the funded offer.

• Term-time care and a 3.30pm finish. Morning, afternoon and all-day patterns offer useful choice within a shorter opening day. Match the closing time and holiday coverage to your family's commitments.
• Care for the youngest children. The accepted age range begins at 3 months, while the room layout names a Toddler Room and Pre-School room. During a visit, ask how babies' care and room placement are organised.
• Teaching and parent updates. The December 2022 improvement points concerned consistency of teaching, staff supervision and explanations of future learning. Ask how supervision and consultations now address those points, and who handles questions between meetings.

Busy Bunnies New England suits families seeking term-time morning sessions, afternoon attendance or an all-day pattern ending at 3.30pm. The shared garden, free-flow play, key person relationships and Tapestry journal give the offer a clear shape. Packed lunches and parent-supplied nappies and wipes also make the everyday responsibilities straightforward. The decision rests on whether that timetable fits, how the youngest children are accommodated, and how clearly staff can explain the teaching and communication arrangements raised in December 2022.