Buttons Nursery

Separate spaces for babies, toddlers and preschool children, plus a secluded garden, give Buttons Nursery a clear shape: children have surroundings suited to their stage, with outdoor play woven into nursery life. The single-storey building in Washington has capacity for 50 children, accepting ages from 3 months to 5 years. Its appeal lies in the everyday detail: following babies’ home routines, encouraging toddlers to choose activities and helping older children become more independent.

At its May 2024 inspection, Ofsted rated Buttons Good overall. There are useful strengths beneath that judgement, alongside two specific teaching improvements that families should weigh. Full days, mornings and afternoons are offered, making the setting relevant to different working arrangements and shorter periods of nursery attendance.

Rooms and Ages

The Sunshine Room carries a 0–2 years label, with babies accepted from 3 months; its emphasis is sensory discovery through light, textures, shapes and colour, in a space with changing facilities where staff aim to follow familiar home routines. The baby room’s stated maximum is three children per staff member.

For children aged 2–3, the Rainbow Room encourages choosing activities, following personal interests and developing independence, including support with potty training. Spare clothes come from home.

The Big Room serves children from 3 years to school age, combining a layout organised around EYFS learning areas with self-chosen play and individual observation by a key person.

Learning and Activities

EYFS, the Early Years Foundation Stage, provides the framework for children’s learning, development and care; here, the day includes learning through play, exploration, problem-solving and expressing ideas. It is the common foundation for nursery education. Buttons’ practical emphasis includes early concepts such as shape, sequence and size, with equipment chosen to support children at different developmental stages.

In May 2024, children used a drawing activity about trains to explore counting and shapes, linking their pictures to experiences of travelling by bus. Digital resources helped them look things up. This is a useful example of several kinds of learning meeting in one activity: conversation, mathematical ideas and a subject children recognised from their own lives.

In May 2024, stories prompted discussion about characters’ feelings and helped children recall words they had already learned. However, interruptions during group storytelling drew children away from the activity, and some questioning moved on before children had enough thinking time. The two improvement priorities were therefore concrete: allow longer pauses for answers and adapt group activities so children can participate more fully. Families interested in language development should pay attention to how those changes work in practice.

Outdoor and Community Life

A secluded garden combines grass, soft play areas and an adventure trail. Outdoor activity can take place in different weather, with staff shaping opportunities to practise balance, coordination and physical strength.

Community links include charitable support for PIP Poland Syndrome, Mickey’s Place and Washington Mind. Parents and carers receive updates about the causes the nursery supports.

Relationships and Communication

A key person gives each child a familiar adult and parents a regular point of contact. The role includes building a relationship, recognising strengths and sharing new skills with the family. Parents can also speak with other staff, so communication does not depend entirely on one person being present.

Settling sessions before a child starts are free, and baby settling sessions include a parent so routines and particular needs can be discussed together. For the youngest children, that makes the handover more than a brief introduction: staff have an opportunity to understand what is familiar at home before nursery attendance begins.

Daily diaries cover children under 3, giving parents an account of their day. In May 2024, communication also included an online app and open days where staff discussed development and ways to continue learning at home.

Inclusion and Wellbeing

At the May 2024 inspection, Ofsted found safeguarding effective, praised support for children with SEND through work with external professionals, and judged that staff’s knowledge of individual children supported good developmental progress. The current staff structure includes lead and deputy SENDCO roles, alongside designated safeguarding lead responsibilities. These are identifiable responsibilities within the team, rather than a general promise of support.

Staff training includes internal programmes and opportunities through external organisations. Lunch cover is provided by early years qualified assistants.

Food is cooked fresh each day in the nursery kitchen, with a separate baby menu and a gradual introduction to different textures during weaning. The dietary policy is to accommodate religious needs, special diets and allergies wherever possible; parents provide babies’ familiar bottle feed, made up to the required mix, and any commercial weaning products they choose to use.

Sessions and Attendance

Buttons offers full days from 7.30am to 5.30pm, morning sessions from 7.30am to 12.30pm and afternoons from 12.30pm to 5.30pm. A minimum booking of two sessions each week applies.

The nursery opens Monday to Friday and operates for 51 weeks, closing on bank holidays and during the week between Christmas and New Year. Its attendance options combine shorter sessions with full days, while the holiday closures need to sit alongside parents’ own working calendars.

Payment is monthly in advance, with standing order, cash or voucher accepted. Fees continue during sickness absence and personal or public holidays, although exceptional circumstances may receive managerial discretion. Leaving requires four weeks’ notice or payment instead, so the financial commitment extends beyond the days a child actually attends.

Getting There

The address is 11–13 Baird Close, Washington, NE37 3HL. Enquiries can be made through the contact form, by telephone on 0191 419 2442 or by email at info@buttonsnursery.co.uk; applications use a downloadable form that can be sent back or delivered to the nursery.

Funding and Paid Extras

Funded early education is offered, including the Working Parents Entitlement of 15 hours from the term after a child turns 9 months until school starts, over 38 weeks. The funding offer also includes support for eligible two-year-olds and an extended 30-hour entitlement for three- and four-year-olds whose parents meet the qualifying conditions and obtain approval through the Childcare Service. Funded hours are delivered during term time.

The nursery handles the funding claim after parents supply a birth certificate copy and complete a form. Funding and paid attendance should be considered separately: a funded entitlement is not a promise that any chosen booking pattern will be covered by it.

Fees include meals and snacks, while parents supply the bottle feed and chosen commercial weaning products described above. A non-refundable booking deposit applies. Current prices come in the nursery’s written quotation, which should be considered alongside the minimum attendance commitment and notice terms.

• Language and group learning. In May 2024, some questions left too little thinking time and group stories were disrupted. During a visit, ask how staff now pace questions and organise storytelling so children stay involved.
• The baby-room transition. Sunshine Room care aims to follow home routines, and movement towards the next stage takes confidence and mobility into account. Discuss how your child’s routines and readiness would shape settling and room changes.
• Attendance and costs. Two sessions a week is the minimum, and fees continue during absence and holidays subject to exceptional discretion. Weigh the intended pattern against those terms, including the four-week leaving notice.
• Dietary requirements. Allergies and special diets are accommodated wherever possible, while familiar bottle feed comes from home. Families affected by allergies should confirm current kitchen practice and arrangements for their child.

Buttons suits families seeking either full-day attendance or shorter morning and afternoon sessions, with a clear progression through age-based rooms. The garden, sensory baby care, key-person relationships and practical encouragement of independence give parents concrete reasons to consider it.

The Good judgement provides a dated assessment of quality, but the teaching improvements deserve attention too. The strongest decision will connect the child’s stage and routines with the room they would join, while weighing the two-session minimum and continuing charges during absence against the family’s intended attendance.