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Abacus Day Nursery and Pre-School

Ofsted: Good
(Jul 2024)
·
5.0(3 parent reviews) ·Westside, Oxford Road, Newbury, RG14 1XB · West Berkshire
Number of places
70 places
Age range
0–4 yrs
Last inspected
Jul 2024
Local authority
West Berkshire

About this day nursery

Abacus Day Nursery, located in Newbury, has been a trusted childcare provider since 1992, known for its welcoming, 'home from home' atmosphere and convenient location with ample parking. The nursery holds an Ofsted 'Good' rating and emphasises high-quality early years education delivered by a dedicated and continuously trained team.

They offer both standard and full-day sessions, with options for 3, 4, or 5 days per week, plus extended hours for early starts and late finishes. Abacus focuses on 'Complete Care,' ensuring children feel safe, secure, and understood, with staff adept at interpreting and supporting children's emotional development through positive reinforcement.

Their 'Complete Development' approach is rooted in the EYFS framework, with a curriculum guided by Development Matters, and supplemented by engaging programmes like Boogie Mites for music and movement, and extensive outdoor learning experiences. The nursery provides stimulating environments with age-appropriate playrooms and outdoor spaces, including a covered sandpit and petting area.

Meals and snacks are freshly prepared on-site, adhering to Public Health guidance and accommodating dietary needs. Abacus also offers 'Complete Learning' through exploration and discovery, with child-height resources and interconnected rooms to encourage free-flow play.

They pride themselves on 'Complete Administration,' offering straightforward processes, no large financial deposit or administration fees, direct debit payments, and responsive staff readily available to assist parents.

Our ethos

We believe all children have an equal right to be fulfilled, unique and healthy individuals. Our vision is to provide the caring, happy and challenging environment every day which their parents would want themselves, making them 'Ready to learn, ready for life.'

What it's like

Children show they are excited and happy at the nursery. Effective key-person arrangements ensure children are well supported. Staff provide a wide range of activities that support children's interests and help them to build on their prior knowledge and skills, such as water activities for babies and exploring media for older children. They also support children's self-confidence and communication and language development.

Home from home feelOfsted Good ratedEYFS-based curriculumOutdoor learningFresh, on-site meals

Pricing & funding

Charges are based on wrap-around care outside funded hours, with full session fees applying during non-funded weeks. Annual fees are averaged for consistent monthly payments. Premium early and late sessions are available for an additional fee, and a voluntary contribution is requested for meals during funded hours.

Funding accepted

15 hours — universal (3–4 yrs)30 hours — working parents (3–4 yrs)Tax-Free Childcare

Good to know

  • Premium early start (from 7.30am) and late finish (up to 6.00pm) sessions are available.
  • Voluntary contribution requested to cover lunch and snack during funded hours.
  • During funded weeks, charges apply to the wrap-around care portion only.
  • Full session fees apply during non-funded weeks.
  • Annual fees are averaged to allow one consistent monthly payment.

Key facts

Opening hours

Mon - Fri, 7:30am - 6:00pm

Term time / All Year

All Year

Established

1992

Ofsted Inspection

Ofsted rating for Abacus Day Nursery and Pre-School

Last inspected 30 July 2024

Safeguarding effective
Overall effectiveness
Good
Quality of education
Good
Behaviour and attitudes
Good
Personal development
Good
Leadership and management
Good

What it's like to attend

Children show they are excited and happy at the nursery. Effective key-person arrangements ensure children are well supported. Staff provide a wide range of activities that support children's interests and help them to build on their prior knowledge and skills, such as water activities for babies and exploring media for older children. They also support children's self-confidence and communication and language development.

Inspector highlights

  • Leaders and staff work well together to create a welcoming environment for the children.
  • The curriculum has been re-created to build on what children know and can do.
  • Children have many opportunities to make independent choices about what they would like to do.
  • Staff understand how children learn and adapt their teaching to support children.
  • Staff utilise indoor and outdoor spaces well to ensure all children's needs are catered for and benefit from a wealth of outdoor experiences.
  • Staff have a good awareness of the importance of ensuring children's health and promote healthy practices.
  • Leaders are ambitious, passionate and reflective about the nursery, and they work with staff to model practice.
  • The special educational needs coordinator has a good awareness of her responsibility and works closely with parents and other professionals to support children with SEND.
  • Parents have access to an online app with information about their children's development.
  • Parents speak highly of staff and praise them for their support.
  • Arrangements for safeguarding are effective, with an open and positive culture.

Areas to develop

  • 1support staff to strengthen their understanding of how to support children's early language development and broaden their vocabulary
  • 2develop further the systems for coaching and mentoring of staff to raise the quality of education.
Inspection #10346963 · Source: OfstedView full Ofsted report

Inclusion & environment

How they support every child

SEND provision

The special educational needs coordinator has a good awareness of her responsibility to support and guide staff to create targeted plans to help all children to achieve. She works closely with parents and other professionals to enable children with special educational needs and/or disabilities to make good progress. Additional funding is used effectively to close any gaps in children's learning.

Outdoor space

Staff utilise the indoor and outside spaces well to ensure that all children's needs are catered for. Children benefit from a wealth of outdoor experiences planned to enhance their knowledge, education and curiosity. For example, they go for walks in the community and enjoy visits to the pantomime.

Parent Reviews of Abacus Day Nursery and Pre-School

5.0
(3)
Sandra Lup
5 years ago

We've had a great experience with Abacus Day Nursery, I highly recommend it! Our daughter settled in really easily and she feels very happy and comfortable there. The environment and facilities are great, with lots of space, many toys and a lovely large garden. I was really impressed with the variety of activities the children do every day, from cooking classes to French lessons. Children are very stimulated and have lots of fun!

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Whitney Burnett
5 years ago

Choosing a nursery for our daughter during a pandemic was extremely hard, understandably restrictions meant that we were only able to meet 1 member of staff and view the facilities after hours. I felt that I was handing my child over to perfect strangers without seeing how they interact with other children. However, we met Emily, the nursery manager, and saw the facilities available and decided to go ahead and secure a place. After 2 x 2 hour settling sessions, our Daughter started 3 days a week at the beginning of March 2021, this is a child who's entire life has been subject to social restrictions and not overly socialised! Within 3 weeks she was reaching out for the staff at the door and happily being handed over, the team in the Nest (under 2s) have been so compassionate and understanding that the transition going back to work, which gave me sleepless nights, has been so much easier than I could have imagined. I am so happy with out decision and thankful for the staff.

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Otilia Lazar
5 years ago

Great nursery, my son loves it, he’s been going since he was 1. Happy we chose it and although we now drive all across town to get there we would never think to move him. He has learned lots of things, activities are really interesting, and the food great!

Read on Google

Reviews from Google for Abacus Day Nursery and Pre-School. See all on Google Maps

Inspection history

Date: November 2009

  • July 2024Good
  • August 2018Good
  • January 2016Good
  • September 2010Good
  • November 2009Good

Frequently asked about Abacus Day Nursery and Pre-School

About the setting

Abacus Day Nursery and Pre-School registered in 1992. It is located in Newbury, Berkshire. It operates between Monday and Friday, from 7.30am to 6pm, for 52 weeks of the year, with the exception of bank holidays and the period between Christmas and New Year. The nursery is in receipt of funding for the provision of free early education for children aged two, three and four years. There are 18 members of staff employed to work with the children, 13 of whom hold relevant childcare qualifications between level 2 and level 6.

URN
511192
Registered person
Kingsclere Nurseries Limited
Day care type
Full day care
Register
Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register, Voluntary Childcare Register
Establishment type
Childcare on non-domestic premises
Previous rating
Good

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This listing has been compiled from official Ofsted records, the nursery's own website, details provided directly by the nursery where available, and other trusted public sources. We regularly review and update listings to keep the information as accurate as possible. Learn more