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Hillside Day Nursery in Bristol (BS15 8DB)

Ofsted: Good
(Mar 2025)
·
4.7(29 parent reviews)
·Hillside Day Nursery, Potterswood, BRISTOL, BS15 8DB · South Gloucestershire
Number of places
33 places
Age range
0–4 yrs
Last inspected
Mar 2025
Local authority
South Gloucestershire

About this day nursery

Hillside Day Nursery, situated in Kingswood, Bristol, operates across two conveniently located sites. The nursery provides childcare for 51 weeks of the year, opening from 7:30 am to 6:00 pm, and is closed on bank holidays.

The team at Hillside is dedicated to delivering high-quality care and education, striving to shape each child's future within a calm, welcoming, and enriching environment. The nursery prides itself on its Curiosity Approach accreditation, which involves using open-ended resources and authentic materials to foster creativity and imagination rather than traditional toys.

Children benefit from nutritious meals prepared on-site by a chef, an allocated key person, and access to outdoor gardens and "forest" play areas. They also offer an online journal to keep parents updated on their child's development.

The nursery has specific rooms for babies, toddlers, and preschoolers, ensuring age-appropriate care and activities.

Our ethos

Hillside Day Nursery prides itself on its Curiosity Approach accreditation, which involves using open-ended resources and authentic materials to foster creativity and imagination rather than traditional toys. The nursery is dedicated to delivering high-quality care and education within a calm, welcoming, and enriching environment.

What it's like

Children of all ages thrive at the nursery, gaining confidence and showing good behaviour. They explore inspiring indoor and outdoor environments, forming very good relationships with staff who show genuine warmth. Babies receive sensitive support, including reassuring cuddles when wary, and staff foster children's self-esteem by showing pride in their achievements. They are well-prepared for school.

Curiosity ApproachTwo sitesNutritious mealsOutdoor play areas

Pricing & funding

Charges are based on timed sessions ranging from nine to ten hours, with an optional early breakfast club. Fees are billed per session, with meals priced separately. Government funding is accepted, with additional hours charged at an hourly rate, and discounts are available for select employers.

Funding accepted

30 hours — working parents (3–4 yrs)

Good to know

  • Packed food can be provided to avoid meal charges.
  • A 10% discount on core sessions is available for CLF and CYN employees.
  • No charges are applied for bank holidays.
  • No fees are payable during the one-week closure between Christmas and New Year.

Key facts

Opening hours

Open 51 weeks a year, Monday to Friday, 7:30am – 6:00pm. Not open on statutory Bank Holidays.

Term time / All Year

All Year

Established

2003

Ofsted Inspection

Ofsted rating for Hillside Day Nursery

Last inspected 11 March 2025 · Linda Witts

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 of all ages thrive at the nursery, gaining confidence and showing good behaviour. They explore inspiring indoor and outdoor environments, forming very good relationships with staff who show genuine warmth. Babies receive sensitive support, including reassuring cuddles when wary, and staff foster children's self-esteem by showing pride in their achievements. They are well-prepared for school.

Inspector highlights

  • Children of all ages thrive at the nursery, gaining confidence and showing good behaviour.
  • Staff instinctively extend children's language and thinking skills, making good use of songs, rhymes and stories.
  • Staff promote children's social skills and independence from a young age.
  • The managers and staff are very enthusiastic in their roles and ensure that every child has fun in their learning and development.
  • Staff provide very good opportunities for children to play and learn outdoors, developing their interest in nature.

Areas to develop

  • 1monitor the effectiveness of the curriculum more closely to ensure every child, including the most able, are suitably challenged to maximise their learning.
Inspection #10388239 · Source: OfstedView full Ofsted report

What parents say

Verbatim quotes recorded in the Ofsted inspection

Parents praise the support their children receive from staff.

They feel well informed about their children's learning and appreciate the regular online updates and photos that give them an insight into their children's experiences.

Inclusion & environment

How they support every child

SEND provision

Staff understand children's individual needs, interests and abilities. They plan and implement a curriculum that provides many rich and varied learning experiences that build on what children know and can do effectively, overall.

Outdoor space

Full of smiles, babies and children explore the inspiring indoor and outdoor learning environments. Toddlers learn to negotiate steps in the garden, climb and slide, with staff close by to ensure their safety. Older children show their agility as they chase each other through the forest area. They also develop their throwing and kicking skills as they play ball games with staff. All children enjoy daily outdoor play and scheduled time in the forest area, with staff developing their interest in nature by encouraging them to search for minibeasts and create a waterfall.

Parent Reviews of Hillside Day Nursery

4.7
(29)
Bethan Leigh-Browne
5 months ago

My daughter has been attending Hillside Day nursery for just over a year and it really is a wonderful nursery! From day one we have felt this is a truly special early years nursery. The staff are incredibly kind, caring and passionate about what they do. Our daughter settled into the nursery very smoothly and formed really positive attachments to all her care givers in the baby room. We had no question that our baby was being very well cared for. Our daughter is now in the toddler room and she absolutely loves going to nursery. She has made lots of friends and doesn’t stop talking about all the adults there who look after her. The forest school is an amazing space and the early years curriculum they have developed at the nursery is varied, fun and engaging for the little ones. Communication with staff is great and we honestly can’t fault this lovely nursery!

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Gabriel De Azevedo
5 months ago

My daughter has been attending Hillside Day Nursery since she was 8 months old and is now nearly three, and the experience has been nothing short of outstanding. Sending your child to nursery for the first time is a big step, but the moment we met the team, we felt completely at ease, and that feeling has only grown stronger over time. The team at Hillside Day Nursery are truly incredible. They don't just 'look after' the children; they nurture, support, and genuinely care for them as individuals. The management team, Donna and Sarah have been amazing—their leadership ensures the nursery runs smoothly and that communication is always open and supportive. The level of dedication and warmth shown by every staff member is exceptional. Knowing our daughter is in such capable and loving hands allows us to focus on our day with complete peace of mind. We have watched our daughter absolutely thrive during her time here. She is constantly learning new skills, her confidence is soaring, and her development—both socially and educationally—is remarkable. The activities are engaging, imaginative, and clearly tailored to encourage curiosity and growth. The most telling sign of a fantastic nursery is how the child feels about going, and our daughter absolutely loves to be there. She often talks excitedly about her friends and the staff, and she runs in every morning with a huge smile. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

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Monisha Kulasekaran
5 months ago

From the moment my son joined Hillside Nursery at just 8 months old, it has truly felt like a second home for him — and for me as a mum. Leaving your baby and going to work is never easy, but the love, care, and reassurance I have received here has made all the difference. The staff at Hillside Nursery are incredibly kind, patient, and genuinely caring, especially the wonderful team in the baby room. Their warmth is felt every single day. When I go to pick my son up now, he doesn’t cry anymore, and that tells me everything — he is happy, settled, and feels safe there. As a working mum, there is no greater comfort than knowing your child is safe, loved, and surrounded by people who truly care about him. Hillside Nursery has given me something priceless: peace of mind. I go to work each day knowing my baby is not just being looked after, but is being nurtured with so much love and attention. I will always be grateful to Hillside Nursery and the amazing team for giving my son such a gentle, loving start. I cannot recommend them enough.

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Dan
5 months ago

My son began attending this nursery this year and he loves it, I feel confident that enjoys all of his time there. The staff have really helped his development and are so caring and nurturing. He loves the forest school sessions which the children experience weekly, the children spend a lot of time outdoors which is fantastic. The management team are always approachable and are willing to help at any time. Overall this nursery is amazing and my son is thriving in his development.

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Leanne
5 months ago

I cannot speak highly enough of this nursery. Our children have attended for 2+ years and we've now experinced all three levels - baby, toddler, and preschool. In each level, our children have had exceptional relationships with the staff, who are professional, attentive carers. The carers engage gently with children, and we appreciate their skills in addressing issues and communicating with parents. They create a calm, home-like atmosphere and encourage creativity, collaboration and friendships between the children. Their forest school area is fantastic - you get the best of a regular nursery and a forest school in one place, with children able to be outside almost every day either in the outdoor play area or the forest. Their staff post frequent updates and photos to be able to see what the children are doing throughout their day. The admin treat us with respect and they are professional and prompt in responding to issues. But most important - our children adore this place. They talk about their carers when they are at home, and they are happy to go and see their friends. They tell us about seeing squirrels and playing in the forest.

Read on Google

Reviews from Google for Hillside Day Nursery. See all on Google Maps

Inspection history

Date: October 2013

  • March 2025Good
  • July 2019Good
  • April 2016Good
  • October 2013Requires improvement

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