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Barney Bears Nursery in Barking

Ofsted: Good
(Dec 2022)
·
4.2(10 parent reviews)
·60 Upney Lane, Barking, IG11 9LR · Barking and Dagenham
Number of places
46 places
Age range
1–4 yrs
Last inspected
Dec 2022
Local authority
Barking and Dagenham

About this day nursery

Barney Bears Nursery, established in 2004 with its Barking branch and expanded to West Ham in 2012, is dedicated to fostering a happy and secure environment where children aged 3 months to 5 years can develop at their own pace. The nursery is Ofsted registered and committed to guiding children through the Early Learning Goals of the Early Years Foundation Stage, emphasising learning through play and themed activities within a homely atmosphere.

They highlight healthy eating, educational trips, outdoor play, and a key-person approach to childcare, with a strong focus on partnership with parents. The nursery categorises its care into "Baby Room" for infants up to 2 years, "Main Room" for toddlers aged 2-3 years, and "Pre-School" for children aged 3-5 years, tailoring activities to each age group's developmental needs and preparing older children for school.

The staff, many of whom have progressed within the company, are dedicated to nurturing children's growth and providing a supportive learning environment.

Our ethos

Barney Bears Nursery is committed to guiding children through the Early Learning Goals of the Early Years Foundation Stage, emphasising learning through play and themed activities within a homely atmosphere. They utilise a key-person approach to childcare, with a strong focus on partnership with parents.

What it's like

Children are happy and display a good sense of belonging at the nursery. They benefit from a warm and welcoming environment that helps them to feel safe and secure. Staff are positive role models and provide support and encouragement to help children to engage in a broad range of activities.

Ofsted registeredLearning through playHealthy eating focusOutdoor playKey-person approach

Pricing & funding

Fees are structured by age bands for baby, main, and pre-school rooms, with options for full days or morning and afternoon sessions. Standard fees include meals, formula milk, bottles, and extra-curricular activities. Government funding is accepted with options for 51-week or 39-week (term time) attendance.

Funding accepted

Tax-Free Childcare
  • Daily fee (3-24 months)£96.50 / day
  • Daily fee (2-3 years)£94 / day
  • Daily fee (3-5 years)£92 / day
  • Session fee (3-24 months)£66 / session
  • Session fee (2-3 years)£64 / session

Good to know

  • A £60 administration fee is required upon confirmation of a nursery space.
  • A fixed deposit is required to secure a space: £120 for 2 days or £220 for 3 to 5 days.
  • Fees include meals, milk formulas, bottles, and outings, but exclude nappies, wipes, and cream.
  • Fees are based on a 51-week year or a 39-week term-time year.
  • The nursery is closed for one week at Christmas.
  • Consumable charges apply to funded hours, billed at £1.54 per funded hour attended weekly.

Key facts

Staff

Several staff members are highlighted, with 100% first aiders and safeguarding trained staff, 65% with Level 3 qualification, and 45% with Level 2 qualification.

Opening hours

7.30am-6.30pm (daily sessions), 8am-1pm or 1pm-6pm (sessional care)

Food

All meals, milk formulas, and bottles are included, excluding nappies, wipes, and cream.

Age range

3 months to 5 years

Term time / All Year

All Year

Session types

Full day, Half day

Established

2004

Ofsted Inspection

Ofsted rating for Barney Bears Nursery

Last inspected 19 December 2022 · Amy Mckenzie

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 are happy and display a good sense of belonging at the nursery. They benefit from a warm and welcoming environment that helps them to feel safe and secure. Staff are positive role models and provide support and encouragement to help children to engage in a broad range of activities.

Inspector highlights

  • Children are happy and display a good sense of belonging.
  • Children with special educational needs and/or disabilities receive high levels of support.
  • Children have good opportunities to learn about diversity and different backgrounds.
  • Children have frequent opportunities to develop their physical skills.
  • Partnerships with parents are good.

Areas to develop

  • 1support staff who work with babies to extend their language skills and learning to an even higher level
  • 2strengthen staff interactions across the whole nursery to provide children with more time to process and respond to questions, to further develop their thinking skills.
Inspection #10234791 · Source: OfstedView full Ofsted report

What parents say

Verbatim quotes recorded in the Ofsted inspection

Parents state that they feel well informed about their children's learning.

They also express that staff know their children well and are kind and nurturing.

Inclusion & environment

How they support every child

SEND provision

Children with special educational needs and/or disabilities receive high levels of support. Staff work closely with a range of professionals to provide consistency in their care and education. This is a real strength of the setting.

Outdoor space

Children have frequent opportunities to develop their physical skills. They show good coordination as they balance on crates and ride around the garden on wheeled toys.

Parent Reviews of Barney Bears Nursery

4.2
(10)
Debbie Smith
2 years ago

My daughter has been attending this nursery for some time now and is always happy to attend. All the team are very caring, loving, and so knowledgeable in the areas of childcare, safeguarding, first aid, just to list a few. My daughter is a very shy child and the staff have been fantastic with her with lots of encouragement and support she is thriving and has built many relationships with other children, She is opening up and joining in with activities. All of this could not have been possible without the support from the staff.

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Ash B
2 years ago

Great nursery and standards, always nice to see an Ofsted ‘Good’ rating. Would recommend sending sending children here. Other parents also always speak good things of Barney Bears

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Metis London
10 months ago

Teachers are not caring.they don’t care kids in the school. After few day of the admission. I stopped sending my son.

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Reviews from Google for Barney Bears Nursery. See all on Google Maps

Inspection history

Date: June 2009

  • December 2022Good
  • March 2017Good
  • December 2013Good
  • June 2009Good

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