Jellytots Day Nursery

Abi Jackson

7 months ago

My son has been at Jellytots since he was around 9 months old. For the first year, we couldn’t have been happier. The nursery had a lovely, family feel, the staff were consistent and genuinely caring, and communication with parents was great. After a swap in management, things changed. The atmosphere shifted quite noticeably, communication became less open and the overall feel of the nursery less welcoming. The manager’s approach often came across as abrupt and dismissive. Staff began moving between rooms without notice, and my son was transitioned into the preschool room earlier than expected, which we weren’t consulted about. Over time, staff turnover became a real issue. Many of the familiar faces we and the children knew well left, often without any information being shared with parents. New staff members seemed to come and go so quickly that it sometimes felt like there were new faces every week. Parents were rarely introduced to them, and it became difficult to know who was who. This constant change made the nursery feel unsettled and quite different from the close, stable environment it used to be. There was also an incident where my son was injured while in their care, which wasn’t properly reported to us. It eventually had to be reviewed on CCTV to establish what had happened. The way this was handled felt very unsupportive and left us questioning how seriously concerns are taken. Invoices have often been unclear, and communication around billing could definitely be improved. I’ve also noticed that children from the after-school club are sometimes placed in the same room as the younger preschool children, which seems to have an impact on behaviour and the kind of play and conversations that take place. We now rarely receive photos, updates or observations, so it’s difficult to get a sense of what our child’s days are like. Staffing ratios are sometimes explained by saying a staff member “within hearing distance” is included, which I don’t personally feel is acceptable or reassuring. There used to be a senior manager who was very involved and approachable, but they no longer seem to be present or engaged despite disappointing changes currently taking place. It’s really disappointing because this nursery started off as such a special place. We truly valued the care and warmth it once offered. Sadly, over the past year, the lack of consistency, transparency and good communication has made it feel very different.

Sara Lees

9 years ago

Staff went above and beyond settling my daughter in, she was extremely anxious and is still a very sensitive girl. Pleased to say she has blossomed here and will be ready for school come September. The staff are fun, friendly and supportive. This nursery has provided an encouraging environment to allow her to make choices and become a little more independent and ready for school come September, something I could not have done on my own. It's a small, homely environment that would make any child feel safe and cared for.

ladybirds ladybirds

8 years ago

A super nursery. Excellent caring staff, a super setting for children from 6 months to starting school. All staff are fully trained and experienced. Well worth a visit, exceptional rooms for all ages. Home cooked food, healthy snacks - all in all exceptional

Andy Cooper

7 years ago

Couldn't recommend this nursery enough. The staff are friendly, engaging and all have the children's best interests at heart. We have been really impressed with the variety they provide the children.

Richard Boxall-Hunt

7 years ago

Freindly and welcoming atmosphere, with focus on both care and learning. Great to see ongoing development of the staff aswell.