Bear Necessities Childcare

About this day nursery

Bear Necessities Childcare, located in Manchester, provides a welcoming and stimulating environment for children from 0 to 4 years old. The day nursery, which received a "Good" rating from Ofsted in May 2022, focuses on supporting children's emotional well-being and development across the seven areas of learning.

Children are described as happy and excited to attend, quickly engaging in activities such as exploring in the sand and experimenting in the water tray. Staff at Bear Necessities Childcare maintain high expectations for all children, planning meaningful opportunities that build on prior learning and encourage independent thinking.

The curriculum incorporates activities like re-enacting stories, experimenting with textures, and using songs to introduce new words. The day nursery places importance on health and well-being, offering plenty of outdoor play, nutritious home-cooked meals, and activities to promote dental hygiene.

Children also engage in community visits to learn about their local environment. The setting fosters an understanding of diversity, teaching children about different cultures and encouraging kindness.

Leaders at Bear Necessities Childcare are committed to staff development, with ongoing training that directly benefits the children, such as a "brilliant babies" course that led to the introduction of more calm spaces for infants. The nursery effectively supports children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) through tailored plans and sensory resources, ensuring all children make good progress.

Parents consistently praise the staff and the progress their children make, highlighting the support received during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Our ethos

Bear Necessities Childcare is committed to nurturing children's emotional well-being and development, fostering independent thinking through meaningful, play-based learning opportunities that build on prior knowledge. They emphasise health, well-being, diversity, and community engagement, with a focus on enabling all children to progress.

What it's like

Children arrive happy and quickly engage in well-planned activities; they have strong bonds with staff who provide reassurance and support emotional well-being. Children make good progress across the areas of learning, are highly engaged, behave well and have daily opportunities for outdoor play, while COVID-19 measures currently mean parents drop off and collect at the door.