Great Expectations Day Nursery

An aeroplane made from recycled materials, a spirit level and a new word about its shape: learning at Great Expectations had a practical, inventive character in June 2023. Children pursued their own ideas, with staff adding tools and language to take those ideas further.

Ofsted rated the nursery Outstanding at its 15 June 2023 inspection. The nursery at Baugh Gardens in Bristol has capacity for 51 children, with a current age range of 3 to 60 months. Creative projects and everyday independence are the strongest themes in its inspection-era nursery life.

The early years foundation stage brings children's learning, development and care together. In June 2023, this meant building language through storytelling and signing, tackling design problems through construction, and learning to serve food and pour drinks independently. In June 2023, staff planned learning around children's interests and adjusted the next steps to individual needs. The recycled aeroplane project showed how a child's design could become an opportunity to explore balance and new vocabulary.

The Little Red Hen gave younger children another route into learning that month. They retold the story through speech and signing, then used garden materials, including lavender, in their painting. Books connected language with making and doing. An art class also formed part of the curriculum enhancements.

Practical responsibility extended outdoors. In June 2023, children watered plants at the allotment and helped prepare snacks for other children. At lunchtime they served food, poured drinks and washed their used crockery. Independence meant taking a real part in shared routines.

At its June 2023 inspection, Ofsted found safeguarding effective and exceptional progress for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities, supported by the special educational needs coordinator, manager and staff adapting their work to individual needs.

Emotional support in June 2023 was concrete: adults comforted upset children and helped them put feelings into words. Children practised expressing a boundary and seeking adult help. This connected reassurance with ways to manage disagreements.

Communication with families that month combined detailed conversations at handover with an online platform for progress updates. Support also reached beyond the attending child, with online safety information shared for older siblings. Parents had both a daily conversation and a digital means of following learning.

The address is Great Expectations Nursery, 26 Baugh Gardens, Bristol BS16 6PP. Opening hours are 7.30am to 6pm, Monday to Friday. The nursery operates across the year, closing on bank holidays and for one week between Christmas and New Year.

• Choosing for a baby. The current age range starts at 3 months, while children attending in June 2023 were aged 2 to 5. At a visit, ask how settling, sleep and daily care are organised for the youngest children.
• Holiday cover. Bank holidays and the week between Christmas and New Year are closure periods. Families needing childcare through those dates will need to plan cover around them.

Great Expectations suits parents who value practical creativity and children learning to do things for themselves. Its June 2023 examples make that character tangible: designing, storytelling, growing and contributing to mealtimes. The inspection judgement is strong, while the wider current age range makes the youngest children's arrangements a central consideration for families choosing baby care.