The Priory Day Nursery

Books, conversation and small steps towards independence shaped daily life at The Priory Day Nursery in December 2022. Children practised pouring drinks, preparing snacks and serving food: ordinary tasks that gave them a part in managing their own day.

At its 14 December 2022 inspection, Ofsted rated the nursery Good, judged safeguarding effective and found that children with SEND were supported through early identification and work with specialist agencies. These are dated judgements, rather than assurances about today's practice.

The Filton setting accepts children aged 2 to 60 months and has 57 places in total.

The early years foundation stage sets the requirements for children's learning, development and care. In everyday terms, this brings learning and play together with the support children need as they grow.

In December 2022, books provided a thread through the curriculum, with learning building on children's existing knowledge and interests. Group stories and singing gave children opportunities to listen and use language. Play dough offered a different kind of preparation: squeezing and pressing helped exercise the hand muscles used for writing.

Babies' experiences that December included filling and tipping jugs during water play, alongside conversations with staff to which they responded with smiles and babbling. Older children considered safety while constructing an obstacle course. These examples show learning woven into practical activity, rather than confined to group instruction.

In December 2022, children used their key person as a source of reassurance while attempting unfamiliar activities. Parents joined their children for settling sessions, giving families a role in that early adjustment.

The Colour Monster, a book used to explore feelings, helped younger children put emotions into words that December. Staff also helped children consider the effect of disagreements on others. Dietary needs were accommodated, and parents received ideas for healthy meals.

Hygiene was the clear improvement point in December 2022. Although children were encouraged to wash their hands and nappy-changing routines worked effectively, staff sometimes wiped children's noses without washing their own hands afterwards. The required improvement was consistency in hygiene practice, an everyday care issue that deserves attention alongside the positive findings.

The address is Flat, 99 Gloucester Road North, Filton, Bristol, BS34 7PT. Opening hours are 7.30am to 6pm, Monday to Friday, across the year, with bank holiday closures. That opening window matters for organising work and childcare around the nursery day.

In December 2022, the nursery received funding for early education for children aged three and four. This is an inspection-era funding position.

• Everyday hygiene. The December 2022 improvement point concerned staff handwashing after wiping noses. Consistent adult routines matter as much as teaching children to wash their hands.
• Settling for your child's age. Parents participated in settling sessions in December 2022. For a child joining now, ask how settling and daily care routines work for their age.

The Priory Day Nursery suits families seeking weekday childcare across the year, with a December 2022 account of learning through books, conversation and growing independence. Its strongest inspection-era details are practical ones: children doing things for themselves, babies exploring water and staff helping children understand feelings. The hygiene improvement point belongs in the same assessment.