Cuddles & Care Children's Day Nursery, Wells

Independence ran through everyday life at Cuddles & Care Children's Day Nursery, Wells in January 2023. Toddlers washed their hands with little help, while preschool children used mirrors to clean their faces and hands after lunch. These were practical steps towards doing things for themselves, rather than school preparation reduced to letters and numbers.

Children can attend from 3 months to 5 years. The nursery occupies Ministry House in Cathedral Park, Wells.

At the 26 January 2023 inspection, Ofsted rated the nursery Good, including its education, and identified outdoor learning and additional strategies for communication as areas needing improvement. The balance matters: there was purposeful indoor learning, but the same planning attention did not consistently extend outside.

In January 2023, babies explored models during floor play and experimented with paint, while older babies used water play and climbed on equipment in the sensory room. Toddlers made marks and acted out roles; preschool children built with blocks and used animal figures in their own play. That inspection-time picture shows how different ages used different materials, rather than following one activity together.

Learning and Activities

The early years foundation stage is the statutory framework for children's learning, development and care. It brings learning and everyday care together: play, conversation and practical routines all contribute to a child's development. This is the framework every nursery must follow, rather than an additional programme unique to this setting.

In January 2023, room topics followed children's interests over several weeks. Preschool children matched natural objects to numbers and used an interactive table for solving problems; toddlers explored instruments and puzzles involving shapes and numbers. The examples give substance to learning through play: counting, making choices and investigating were embedded in activities children could handle themselves.

Outdoor and Community Life

Activities are planned for both indoor and outdoor settings. The January 2023 findings nevertheless make the quality of outdoor planning a useful discussion point: access to outdoor space and a carefully developed outdoor curriculum are different things. Families should weigh the activities offered there alongside the physical space itself.

An annual festival calendar includes World Book Day in March, Graduation in July and Harvest Festival in October. These occasions give the year recurring markers, with books, seasonal celebrations and the move towards school represented in nursery life. The calendar also includes celebrations from different religious and cultural traditions, rather than concentrating solely on Christmas and Easter.

Relationships and Communication

In January 2023, children settled readily and developed close relationships with practitioners. Older babies spent time in the toddler room before moving into it, exploring the surroundings and spending time with older children. That is a concrete transition arrangement: familiarity began before the room change itself, giving the move a gradual rhythm.

In January 2023, staff kept parents informed about children's daily activities, and a lending library supported learning at home. Sharing books connected learning at nursery with time at home, while updates about the day gave parents something specific to talk about with their child.

Inclusion and Wellbeing

At its January 2023 inspection, Ofsted found that targeted SEND support and cooperation with families and external agencies helped children make good progress, and that safeguarding arrangements were effective. Those are dated judgements, rather than a promise about every child's experience today.

In January 2023, staff used familiar action songs and words from children's home languages to support children learning English alongside another language. Preschool children had opportunities to discuss their ideas, listen to stories and use puppets. However, adults did not consistently add further approaches for children who needed more help developing speech. Families whose child needs communication support should give that issue proper weight.

In January 2023, toddlers needed little help washing their hands, and preschool children used mirrors when cleaning themselves after lunch; independence extended into everyday care, not just play choices.

Sessions and Attendance

The address is Ministry House, Cathedral Park, Rowdens Road, Wells, BA5 1UA. Opening hours are 7.30am to 6pm, Monday to Friday, with provision across the year and closures for bank holidays and Christmas. For working families, those closures belong in the childcare calendar alongside the daily opening window.

The Wells contact form accepts requests for a visit.

Funding and Paid Extras

In January 2023, the nursery received funding for free early years education for children aged two, three and four. Current prices come in the nursery's written quotation.

In January 2023, preschool children practised listening together and recognising their written names, making preparation for school a combination of personal independence and participation in a group.

• Outdoor learning. In January 2023, planning outside needed further development despite purposeful indoor activities. During a visit, ask how outdoor activities now build on children's interests.
• Communication support. January 2023 findings called for additional approaches to speech development. If this matters for your child, discuss the specific strategies staff would use and how progress would be shared with you.
• The attendance agreement. The weekday opening window runs from 7.30am to 6pm, with bank holiday and Christmas closures. Ask for a written attendance and funding proposal covering your intended hours, meals, consumables and other charges so that the whole arrangement can be assessed together.

Cuddles & Care suits families looking for care across the year. Its January 2023 account will also interest parents who value self-care and activities shaped around children's interests: practical routines sat alongside counting, construction and sensory play.

That dated picture was strongest indoors and in everyday routines. Outdoor planning and extra communication strategies deserve attention when choosing this nursery, especially for families whose child needs additional help with speech.