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Mama Bear's Day Nursery in Bristol (BS8)

Ofsted: Good
(Jun 2023)
·
4.8(5 parent reviews) ·St Johns Church, Apsley Road, Bristol, BS8 2ST · Bristol
Number of places
80 places
Age range
1–4 yrs
Last inspected
Jun 2023
Local authority
Bristol

About this day nursery

Mama Bear's Day Nursery Clifton, ideally located at the junction of Whiteladies Road and Apsley Road, offers a dynamic and engaging environment for children aged three months to five years. This former Bristol Auction Rooms building has been thoughtfully repurposed to create spacious, open-plan rooms, each designed to foster nurturing and educational experiences through play.

The nursery emphasises both flexible booking options, catering to parents with varied work schedules, and a secure setting for all children. Outdoor play is encouraged in enclosed and supervised areas, alongside an extensive garden featuring swings and a sandpit, providing ample opportunities for physical activity and social development.

The nursery is strategically positioned to serve commuting parents, ensuring a convenient and excellent childcare solution.

What it's like

Babies and children thrive at this setting, lead by enthusiastic, caring and nurturing staff. The ambitious and individualised curriculum supports learning based on their individual interests. Staff skilfully adapt activities to meet the individual need and age range of the babies and children.

Flexible booking systemOutdoor play spacesConverted auction house building

Pricing & funding

Fees vary by age group and session length. Charges include meals and snacks, but exclude baby milk, nappies, wipes, and creams. Funded hours can be taken in specific afternoon sessions or stretched across other sessions for an hourly flexibility charge.

Funding accepted

15 hours — working parents (9 months–2 yrs)15 hours — universal (3–4 yrs)30 hours — working parents (3–4 yrs)Tax-Free Childcare

Good to know

  • Registration fee applies unless only accessing EYE-only sessions.
  • All fees include meals and snacks, but exclude baby milk, nappies, wipes, and creams.
  • Stretched funded hours can be taken up to 24 hours per week for 47.5 weeks of the year.
  • Afternoon funded sessions start at 1:00pm.

Key facts

Opening hours

Monday to Friday, from 7.30am to 6pm, throughout the year

Age range

3 months to 5 years

Term time / All Year

All Year

Established

2013

Ofsted Inspection

Ofsted rating for Mama Bear's Day Nursery

Last inspected 7 June 2023 · Chelsea Woollard

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

Babies and children thrive at this setting, lead by enthusiastic, caring and nurturing staff. The ambitious and individualised curriculum supports learning based on their individual interests. Staff skilfully adapt activities to meet the individual need and age range of the babies and children.

Inspector highlights

  • The proactive manager implements a well-focused, challenging curriculum that effectively supports children from their starting points.
  • Babies and children have daily opportunities to play outdoors and build on what they already know about the world.
  • The special educational needs coordinator (SENCo) is knowledgeable and collaborates well with parents and the local authority.
  • Children's communication and language skills are promoted well through positive interactions with staff.
  • Children's emotional well-being is supported effectively from settling into the nursery, moving rooms or going to school.

Areas to develop

  • 1review the outside area for under twos to enhance opportunities to build on their overall learning outdoors.
Inspection #10280326 · Source: OfstedView full Ofsted report

What parents say

Verbatim quotes recorded in the Ofsted inspection

Parents speak highly of the staff and the care their babies and children receive.

They comment on how well staff share information with them about their children's care and learning needs.

Parents speak positively about the trips out of the setting, including a recent visit to the beach on the train.

They discuss how their children recall these trips at home and how this provides varied learning experiences for their children.

Inclusion & environment

How they support every child

SEND provision

All children make good progress in their learning including, children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) and those children who speak English as an additional language. The special educational needs coordinator (SENCo) is knowledgeable and collaborates well with parents and the local authority. Staff use effective assessment to monitor children's development, ensuring that gaps in children's learning are swiftly identified and support plans are put in place to help close those gaps.

Outdoor space

Babies and children have daily opportunities to play outdoors and build on what they already know about the world. Older children enjoy a range of exciting activities that motivate and enhance their learning across all areas. However, babies are not being provided with sufficient learning opportunities outside to enhance their curiosity and motivation to learn.

Parent Reviews of Mama Bear's Day Nursery

4.8
(5)
Rufus Hood
3 months ago

We took our son to Mama Bears from when he was 4 months old and Louise, Oliwia, Maddy, Nell, Lauren and the whole team made him and us feel super welcome and relaxed. He absolutely loves it there always getting very excited as we walk in each day. The team are extremely flexible and very helpful whatever situation we faced. Cannot recommend enough and particular shout out to Louise, Oliwia and Maddy for being so amazing with him during the days themselves. The only reason we are having to love nursery (a huge wrench for us) is because a place has become available at a nursery that is 15 minutes closer. For 2 working parents this makes a big difference, but we are absolutely gutted to be leaving. Thank you so much!

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Charlie Berning
4 years ago

Highly recommended! Our little boy has been going here since he was 3months old and the nursery have been fantastic since day one. I never have any concerns about leaving him here. The ladies are so warm and friendly and all genuinely care about the children and you can see the connection and bonds that they have with the little ones. I love all the messy play and the room for adventure and growth within a safe environment. It's the only nursery locally to offer flexible childcare which has been a life saver for my shift work. Our boy is 14 months now and he is so outgoing and inquisitive and I'm sure mama bears and the ladies here have a huge party to play in that..thank you all, we only wish we lived closer!!

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Ioana Spiridon
8 years ago

I strongly recommend this nursery I can say that is the perfect nursery . My daughter started preschool a year ago she was 3y and 4 months,she didn't talk properly but after 2 months you could see the huge progress she made , all the teachers are so friendly with kids and parents and also encourages kids with potty training ,sharing and many other useful things.

Read on Google

Reviews from Google for Mama Bear's Day Nursery. See all on Google Maps

Inspection history

Date: June 2014

  • June 2023Good
  • August 2017Good
  • June 2014Good

Frequently asked about Mama Bear's Day Nursery

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