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Bubbly Nursery For Children With Special Needs

Ofsted: Inadequate
(Jul 2025)
·
5.0(24 parent reviews) ·St. Dunstan's Church, 32 Bellingham Green, London, SE6 3JB · Lewisham
Number of places
13 places
Age range
2–4 yrs
Last inspected
Jul 2025
Local authority
Lewisham

About this day nursery

Bubbly Nursery is a specialist setting in Bellingham Green, supporting children aged 2 to 9 years old who have special educational needs or developmental delays. The nursery prides itself on working closely with therapists and other professionals to create individualised learning plans that cater to each child's unique learning style.

They offer a high staff-to-child ratio and a team experienced in supporting children with conditions such as Autism, cerebral palsy, and Down Syndrome. The curriculum is built on early identification of needs, following the Special Education Code Policy (2014), and incorporates activities that address fine and gross motor skills, sensory needs, and social communication.

Sign language is also offered as an extra curriculum to help children express themselves and stay focused. Bubbly Nursery collaborates with various external organisations and professionals, including Child Development Teams, early years advisors, and portage services, to ensure comprehensive support.

They place a strong emphasis on parent partnerships, with key workers providing weekly feedback on each child's progress. The nursery operates from Monday to Thursday, closing on Fridays, half terms, Easter, and during the summer holidays, requiring a minimum attendance of two days per week to facilitate routine and key-worker relationships.

The manager is a qualified nurse and registered health visitor with NHS experience, leading a dedicated team.

Our ethos

Bubbly Nursery is a specialist setting that supports children aged 2 to 9 with special educational needs and developmental delays. Their approach is built on early identification, individualised learning plans tailored to each child's unique style, and close collaboration with therapists and other professionals. They incorporate activities to address fine and gross motor skills, sensory needs, and social communication, and offer sign language as an extra curriculum. Parent partnerships are emphasized through weekly feedback from key workers.

What it's like

Leaders and staff lack understanding and do not consistently implement the nursery's policies and procedures, leading to compromised children's welfare and safety due to breaches in legal requirements. Despite this, staff are confident in child protection reporting and leaders are committed to an inclusive service, recognising when children need time away from the main group. However, activities and routines often fail to consider children's developmental needs, languages, or backgrounds, and leaders are not ambitious enough for all children.

Special needs focusHigh staff-to-child ratioTherapist collaborationIndividualised learning plansSign language integration

Pricing & funding

Fees are charged per day or per session, with morning, afternoon, and full-day sessions available. The nursery also offers after-school and summer clubs. Fees include snacks and drinks, but parents must provide main meals for their children.

Funding accepted

15 hours — universal (3–4 yrs)30 hours — working parents (3–4 yrs)
  • Private daily rate£80.00 / day
  • Extra hours£15 / hour
  • Morning session£50 / session
  • Afternoon session£50 / session
  • After School Club£22.00 / session

Good to know

  • Accepts 15 and 30 hours government funding.
  • Snacks and drinks are provided.
  • Parents must provide main meals.
  • Offers full day, half-day, after-school, and summer club sessions.
  • Last collection time is 5:30pm.

Key facts

Opening hours

9:00am – 6:00pm, Monday to Thursday (last collection 5:30pm). Closed on Fridays, half terms, Easter, and summer.

Session types

Full day, Half day, After School Club, Summer School Club

Age range

2 to 9 years old

Term time / All Year

Term Time

Ofsted Inspection

Ofsted rating for Bubbly Nursery For Children With Special Needs

Last inspected 8 July 2025 · Kareen Jacobs

Overall effectiveness
Inadequate
Quality of education
Requires improvement
Behaviour and attitudes
Requires improvement
Personal development
Inadequate
Leadership and management
Inadequate

Actions the provider must take

  • obtain an enhanced criminal records check for every person aged 16 years and over who works directly with children
  • ensure that an additional criminal records check is completed for staff who have lived or worked abroad
  • ensure that leaders and staff understand and implement the nursery's policies and procedures, with particular regard to emergency evacuation and recruitment
  • develop effective and appropriate supervision arrangements, so that staff understand how to provide an engaging curriculum that meets the developmental needs of each child and reflects their languages and backgrounds
  • check that the required number of qualified staff are always on the premises when children are present
  • check that the good health and safety of children is consistently promoted during activities and care routines.

What it's like to attend

Leaders and staff lack understanding and do not consistently implement the nursery's policies and procedures, leading to compromised children's welfare and safety due to breaches in legal requirements. Despite this, staff are confident in child protection reporting and leaders are committed to an inclusive service, recognising when children need time away from the main group. However, activities and routines often fail to consider children's developmental needs, languages, or backgrounds, and leaders are not ambitious enough for all children.

Inspector highlights

  • Children start to understand the differing needs of their friends and begin to develop their social skills.
  • Staff supervise children effectively outdoors, ensuring safety during risky play.
  • Some children show determination and skill as they climb, hang and swing from larger equipment outdoors, gaining confidence in their physical abilities.
  • Staff make steady progress in their learning, strengthening hand muscles and using descriptive vocabulary during dough play.
  • Leaders have established strong partnerships with external services and advisers, working collaboratively to support children and families.

Areas to develop

  • 1Leaders do not ensure that an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check is obtained or seek at least two references for all staff members, in accordance with the nursery's recruitment policy.
  • 2Leaders fail to complete additional criminal records checks for staff who have lived or worked abroad, as required.
  • 3Leaders and staff are unclear about the nursery's emergency evacuation procedure.
  • 4Staff require more support to develop their teaching skills to help children engage in activities that build on what they know and can do, and reflect their languages and backgrounds.
  • 5The expectations of leaders and staff for some of the most-able children are too low.
  • 6Leaders are unaware when some requirements are not being met, or procedures are not correctly implemented.
  • 7Very occasionally, there are not enough qualified staff on the premises.
  • 8Staff do not give consistent messages to children about how to stay healthy and safe during activities and care routines.
  • 9Staff's teaching is not always effective.
Inspection #10394437 · Source: OfstedView full Ofsted report

Inclusion & environment

How they support every child

SEND provision

Leaders show their commitment to an inclusive service that welcomes children and their families, regardless of their support needs. Leaders have established strong partnerships with external services and advisers. They work collaboratively with agencies to support children and their families and help to keep them safe. Children benefit from some of the teaching methods suggested by visiting therapists.

Outdoor space

Staff supervise children effectively outdoors. This helps to ensure children's safety during risky play. Some children show determination and skill as they climb, hang and swing from larger equipment outdoors. They gain confidence in their physical abilities.

Parent Reviews of Bubbly Nursery For Children With Special Needs

5.0
(24)
Kate Sissons
8 months ago

My son has absolutely LOVED the Bubbly Holiday Club over the summer holidays. This provision has been an enormous help. The staff are so kind and loving. They also fully understand his complex needs. When I drop him off at Bubbly I don’t feel any anxiety. Because I know that my little boy will be very well taken care of and he always has so much fun. I 100% recommend Bubbly nursery AND the holiday club to any SEND child.

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Billie Thomas
8 months ago

My son had a lovely time during the summer holidays club. He’s really enjoyed playing and shopping with the other children. It can be very difficult to find care for a special needs child however, Francis was absolutely lovely and welcoming. I will be booking again once the club has spaces.

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Neena Nair
10 months ago

My 3-year-old son was very hyperactive, constantly running around, had difficulty focusing, and struggled with speech delays. His previous nursery couldn’t cope with his needs, and I had to withdraw him. After a lot of searching, I found Bubbly Nursery—even though it’s not in my borough, it has truly been a lifesaver. My son has autism spectrum with speech delay, and within just a few months at Bubbly Nursery, he has made incredible progress. He is now trying to communicate more, speaking many new words, and even forming short sentences. Frances and her amazing team have a deep understanding of children with special needs, and their support has made all the difference for us. I’m beyond grateful for everything they’ve done. Highly recommended!

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sujith chandran
10 months ago

Bubbly Nursery was a true blessing when I needed it most. My 3-year-old son, undiagnosed with ADHD and speech delay at the time, couldn't settle in other nurseries. Bubbly was the only place that truly understood and supported children with special needs. In just six months, I saw amazing progress—he started making eye contact, trying to speak, and even socialising. I'm so grateful to Frances and her team for their care and dedication. Highly recommend to any parent feeling lost.

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Lovene ellis
11 months ago

Excellent care given to my he loves it there bubbly give him the space to learn and develope socially. Bubbly co-operation with us as his parents have been unmatched they're very hands on and always help us to understand the things we need to put in place for him and how to go about. I'm very please so far with the level of care my son is receiving 💙

Read on Google

Reviews from Google for Bubbly Nursery For Children With Special Needs. See all on Google Maps

Inspection history

Date: May 2019

  • July 2025Inadequate
  • September 2019Good
  • May 2019Inadequate

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