Bede's Prep School Nursery Review

Orange squeezing, animated stories and sensory play featured in Bede's nursery provision at the June 2024 inspection. Children can join from three months within the independent Prep School in Eastbourne, with a Baby and Toddler Unit and older groups based at Holywell Mount.

The distinction between settings matters. ISI's inspection of 4 to 6 June 2024 judged Bede’s Nursery at Holywell good overall, but Bede’s Nursery, at Downs House, inadequate overall, with ineffective safeguarding. These were separate judgements about the registered early years settings. Families should weigh the care findings for the setting their child would attend.

The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) combines learning with children's development and care. In June 2024, learning at Holywell built on children's interests and existing knowledge. Storytelling encouraged children to recount familiar tales, while some older children recognised words on game labels. Drawing also gave children practice with pencil control. These are concrete steps towards language and early literacy.

Outdoor learning connected conversation with practical activity: children explored oranges, tasted them and squeezed juice for snack time, exercising their hands as they learned. Floating and sinking experiments introduced vocabulary; counting steps brought number practice into ordinary movement. Pirates and sea-life supplied themes for older children's activities. Group songs and stories sometimes continued beyond children's attention spans, and shorter group activities were recommended.

At Downs House in June 2024, education and behaviour were both good despite the serious care shortcomings. Singing and commentary during play supported babies' emerging language. Mark-making and pretend-play writing tools exercised hands, while outdoor activities included balancing and climbing. Staff sometimes interrupted absorbing activities or hurried children towards something new. They needed to extend children's interests more thoughtfully.

Warming Up Sessions let children and parents spend time with the team before starting, helping staff understand individual routines. Settling is repeated when children change rooms. Parents can receive reassurance by telephone or email during the day. Baby and Toddler Unit families receive a daily care log covering food, bottles, nappies and sleep; older groups have verbal handovers.

In June 2024, flexible settling at Downs House supported attachment to a key person. Additional support involved speech and language therapists where needed. At Holywell, staff worked with parents on special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), monitored children and sought specialist advice when appropriate. Children ate lunch in the school dining room, practising independence and conversation. Holywell's safeguarding was effective, supported by staff training and checks on their understanding.

Safety and sleep. Downs House's June 2024 findings require serious attention. A temporary sleep-room closure reduced usable space, displaced play and disrupted meals. Younger babies slept in buggies with restricted movement and more limited ventilation; some ate snacks while crawling, creating a choking hazard. Drinking water was difficult to access, drinks were not offered sufficiently, and furniture obstructed a fire exit. Most serious concerns were addressed during the visit, reducing immediate danger, but weaknesses in leadership knowledge and risk assessment remained. Required action covered staff training, supervision and daily risk management, alongside a recommendation to improve sleep arrangements. Families should assess these care issues when considering a place.

At Holywell, the regulator had not been notified about a manager change, although suitability checks had been completed and children's care was unaffected.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Treat Reception admission as a separate application and use the school's Prep admissions route: contact prep.admissions@bedes.org to pursue entry.

Transition activities have a different purpose. At Holywell in June 2024, nursery children spent time in their next classroom environment and met their future teachers before the academic year began. Pre-School activities included learning letter sounds. Familiar people and surroundings help prepare children for the change; they do not secure admission.

Nursery and baby care are charged by session. Morning runs from 8am to 1pm, School Day from 8am to 4pm, and Extended Day from 8am to 6pm. Breakfast Club runs from 7.45am to 8am. The different finishing times give families distinct booking options.

Charges depend on the sessions booked and Early Years Education Entitlement (EYEE) provision. Contact the nursery for current charges and entitlement details. Tours can be booked through nursery@bedes.org or 01323 356987, allowing families to discuss the nursery day before accepting a place.