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Banana Moon Day Nursery in Lower Sundon

Ofsted: Good
(Dec 2022)
·
4.6(11 parent reviews)
·Manor Farm Court, Manor Road, Lower Sundon, LU3 3NZ · Central Bedfordshire
Number of places
52 places
Age range
0–4 yrs
Last inspected
Dec 2022
Local authority
Central Bedfordshire

About this day nursery

Banana Moon Day Nursery in Lower Sundon offers a nurturing and stimulating environment for children aged 0 to 5 years. Located in rural Bedfordshire, the purpose-built nursery boasts extensive outdoor spaces, including a large field, encouraging children to engage with nature and be physically active.

The nursery emphasises a holistic approach to learning through its unique Early Learning & Development Programme, which is designed to support each child's individual journey. This play-based curriculum focuses on fostering exploration, curiosity, and excitement, guided by dedicated early years professionals.

The nursery values strong partnerships with parents, ensuring open communication and mutual support in a child's developmental journey. Drawing on what early years professionals understand about childhood development, the programme is cross-referenced with the Statutory Framework for the Early Years Foundation Stage, meeting all its components while offering unique, inspiring experiences.

Our ethos

Banana Moon Day Nursery follows a play-based curriculum, part of their unique Early Learning & Development Programme, designed to foster exploration, curiosity, and excitement. This approach supports each child's individual journey, is cross-referenced with the Early Years Foundation Stage, and encourages engagement with nature and physical activity through extensive outdoor spaces.

What it's like

Children form close attachments to staff and show they feel safe and secure in the nursery. They explore various materials and engage in imaginative play. Children become physically skilful and independent, learning self-care and demonstrating good behaviour.

Purpose-built facilityExtensive outdoor spacesPlay-based curriculumStrong parent partnerships

Pricing & funding

Pricing on request

This nursery doesn't publish its fees online. Contact them directly for an up-to-date price list and availability.

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Key facts

Opening hours

7.30am - 6.30pm

Age range

0 to 5 years

Term time / All Year

All Year

Ofsted Inspection

Ofsted rating for Banana Moon Day Nursery

Last inspected 5 December 2022

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 form close attachments to staff and show they feel safe and secure in the nursery. They explore various materials and engage in imaginative play. Children become physically skilful and independent, learning self-care and demonstrating good behaviour.

Inspector highlights

  • Children form close attachments to staff and feel safe and secure.
  • Staff identify individual learning needs and interests, planning a wide range of activities and tracking progress effectively.
  • Children who speak English as an additional language make rapid progress in communication and language skills.
  • Partnerships with parents are very good, with staff sharing information and providing advice.
  • Children thrive in their communication and language development, with staff reinforcing learning effectively.

Areas to develop

  • 1enhance staff skills and knowledge in strengthening the curriculum for pre-school children, to extend and challenge children's learning.
Inspection #10235564 · Source: OfstedView full Ofsted report

What parents say

Verbatim quotes recorded in the Ofsted inspection

Parents say that staff share information with them about their children's progress and provide advice on how to support their learning at home.

Parents state that their children are very happy to attend and benefit from spending lots of time outdoors.

Inclusion & environment

How they support every child

SEND provision

Staff identify children's individual learning needs and interests and, overall, plan a wide range of activities across all areas of learning. Good systems are in place to track children's progress. This helps staff to recognise any gaps in learning quickly. They take prompt action to support children who have additional needs. As a result, all children are making good progress and are well prepared for the next stage in their education.

Outdoor space

Children become physically skilful and independent. They have access to the large outdoor space in all weathers. Children learn to put on their own coats and wellington boots. Older children move strategically across obstacle courses. They discuss how to manoeuvre safely from obstacle to obstacle.

Parent Reviews of Banana Moon Day Nursery

4.6
(11)
Aimee Hall
11 months ago

Ever since our son joined banana moon aged 1, the entire team have been fantastic. They are so helpful and you can clearly see how comfortable and enjoyable the children are in their company. I have seen the nursery grow in such a short space of time by making so many improvements to rooms and offerings for the children. (Baby room makeover, new fencing and revamp of outdoor area, book library, field equipment). The grounds are beautiful and the possibilities are endless for exploring children. The activities my son does are excellent providing him with a large range of education and sensory engagement. The ideas the staff have are amazing and are always relevant to what is currently going on and what the day/week represents, for example “national bee day”

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Jodie Charters
2 years ago

Our son has been attending now for a few months. He is in the baby room, he only does every Friday but honestly we couldn’t be more happier. When you arrive to pick up (could be any time, we never arrive at a set time) you can see through the window the staff are so attentive, so smiley and you can see they care for the children. Our little boy is a large character and he seems to be so settled. The staff are so lovely and you get such a good feeling from them. The security on arrival is really good, gated so no strangers can get in. The outside area is a really large lovely field and the kids can really explore the outside life. We had visited a few nursery’s before we found Banana moon & none had the amazing feel that Banana moon does. The staff make this place. Thank you for looking after our little boy. Cains mum & Dad

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Paula Hughes
5 years ago

Banana Moon have provided amazing care for our son for the last two years. He enjoys attending each day, has made many friends there and has bonded with the staff so well. The changes put in place by the Banana Moon team during the recent Covid pandemic have helped us to feel that our son is going to a safe environment and that all procedures are followed. We have and will continue to recommend Banana Moon to anyone looking for day care for their children.

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Claire Kerrison
5 years ago

My son has attended this nursery for three years and has enjoyed every second! It’s a beautiful, nurturing environment in which the staff truly care about the welfare of each child. The activities and menu are varied. My son frequently comes home covered in anything from mud to sparkly flour! The play field is beautiful - my son thinks it’s totally normal to share playtime with horses!

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SiJax1
5 years ago

I never anticipated a Nursery to generate such a community spirit, but BM Sundon is staffed by such thoughtful, reliable, enthusiastic staff that inclusion follows naturally . No two days are ever the same for my 3y.o. boy, and he's talks non-stop about his action-packed day as soon as we jump back in the car. Even during these pandemic times, their events are so well-planned that they offer opportunities for families to become involved that I'm conscious that other nursery facilities are not currently offering, or able to. I'd have absolutely no hesitation in recommending this nursery to any parent, particularly those Mums & Dads that are keen for their children to get plenty of fresh air while performing fun exploratory activities. My only disappointment is that eventually we will have to move on to school, but Susie and the brilliant team have prepared us so well. Top marks, and thanks from the bottom of our hearts for being the 4th emergency service during lockdown!

Read on Google

Reviews from Google for Banana Moon Day Nursery. See all on Google Maps

Inspection history

Date: June 2012

  • December 2022Good
  • January 2017Good
  • June 2013Good
  • June 2012Good

Frequently asked about Banana Moon Day Nursery

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