Once Upon A Time Daycare

Rebecca Cordery

2 months ago

Our family has been part of Once Upon A Time Daycare since the start of 2022, when our eldest daughter (Ayla) started at just six months old. The care both of our girls have received there has meant a great deal to us. As parents navigating additional needs, the early years can feel incredibly uncertain. One thing this nursery has always offered us is openness, kindness and a genuine willingness to listen. They have taken the time to understand Ayla as an individual and have worked closely with us as parents to support her needs. I will never forget a moment where I felt completely lost about Ayla’s future. Without hesitation, one of the managers reassured me and suggested Ayla potentially returning to the other branch and repeat her preschool year while we worked to secure the right support and progress her EHCP. That level of kindness and flexibility meant more to me than I can put into words. They have also supported collaborative working around Ayla’s needs, including allowing her TA to work alongside her therapists within the setting where possible. The consistency between home, nursery and therapy has been integral for her wellbeing and development. We’ve experienced both branches of the nursery, and the relationships we built with staff (particularly at the Dronfield site) have continued long after transitions between rooms and settings, which really speaks volumes about the people who work there. Our youngest daughter also started at six months old and initially found separation extremely difficult. She wouldn’t take a bottle and struggled to be put down. With patience, reassurance and consistency from the amazing staff in the baby room, she gradually settled and is now thriving and happily runs in each day. For families of children with SEND, finding a setting that is willing to listen, adapt and show genuine patience can make an enormous difference. The staff here have always treated Ayla with kindness and understanding, and that has meant more to our family than words can express. Yes, this nursery is a significant financial investment, but for the consistency of care, the relationships built with staff and the support shown to our family, it has absolutely been worth it. Ayla has been surrounded at OUAT by people who have believed in her, supported her, and allowed her to be exactly who she is; kind, confident, clever and thriving little queen 😊 We will always be grateful for the role this nursery has played in our daughters’ early years, and would recommend to anyone.

Zoe Sampson

a year ago

Both my children have had a wonderful time at Once Upon a Time nursery. Sally was wonderful when they first started in the little ones room and Aimee and Gina really stood out as key workers to both my children, and my daughter, who is in reception now, always talks about Alice and wants to go and see her! We love so many aspects of the setting- its soft play, the quality of food, the provision and especially in my daughter’s final year, we found the setting to be really good at getting the children to be school-ready. My son in particular loves the Kix football coaching that they bring in and I appreciate the app, which is filled with photos from my children’s time there. My daughter has so many happy memories from Once Upon A Time, from hatching chicks, lots of Art and crafts and her “Graduation.” The transition support to school was very good and the setting helped to ensure she made a great start at her new school.

Rishi ram Parajuli

6 months ago

⭐ 0 Stars – Deeply Disappointed and Shocked by Their Practices I am extremely disappointed with the way this nursery has handled our situation, and I feel it is important for other parents to be aware of our experience. When we first visited, we were clearly told that the notice period was 1 month. Several months later, when we enquired about availability, we were told that only limited spaces were available and that we needed to pay the deposit before they would even send the contract. Trusting their earlier explanation and wanting to secure our daughter’s place, we paid the £150 (£75 admin fee + £75 deposit). Only after paying the deposit did we receive the contract and forms. We relied on the earlier verbal information, completed the forms, and sent them back. Unfortunately, our circumstances changed, so we contacted the nursery — both by phone and email — one month before the start date to cancel. They acknowledged our cancellation, and even wished us well. However, when I asked for the deposit back, everything changed. They suddenly claimed that the notice period was 3 months, and that because their contract states the “contract starts once the deposit is paid,” we now owed them two additional months of fees, even though our child never attended, they never provided a single hour of care, and they did not spend a penny on our behalf. As they maintain the waiting list, they certainly did not have to leave the place vacant. This felt incredibly unfair and misleading. They bound us to a contract based on a telephone conversation, without sharing the contract terms until after the deposit was taken. No parent should be locked into a lengthy contract before even seeing it. As a community member and a supporter of local businesses, this behaviour was a real blow. It felt like a deliberate attempt to trap parents and take advantage of them financially. I challenged their claim several times, shared legal points, and even spoke with staff who privately agreed the matter should be closed. But the management ignored everything and instead escalated it to solicitors. The first solicitor contacted me on June. I responded in full detail, and they stopped pursuing the matter — presumably because they realised there was no legal basis for the claim. Now, from September, a different firm (name sounds like a formal court letter) has started sending threatening letters, adding extra charges on top of the original fabricated amount. It is extremely stressful, and completely unnecessary. I have responded to them too and am currently waiting for the court claim they keep threatening, which I am fully prepared to defend. It is deeply disappointing to see a childcare provider — an organisation that should be built on trust, transparency, and care — operate in this manner. Please read every document carefully and insist on receiving contracts before paying any deposit. My experience has shown that parents can be left vulnerable to unfair financial practices.

Caroline Slade

a year ago

We have been using this nursery for 6 weeks, and I think it is exceptional. I was astonished at how quickly our little one settled in, and the strong bond she has already developed with her key worker - and in fact all the other staff! I have never seen any staff or child looking stressed or upset, it is a consistently calm and positive environment and everyone seems to enjoy being there. The facilities are modern and amazingly clean, and we have been impressed by the quality and range of food offered. And the on-site soft play is just phenomenal - it's amazing that the children have access to this every day! Thank you to all the team.

Nicola Stainton

a year ago

We visited many nurseries when deciding where to send our daughter, but no where compared to once upon a time. It is a modern, clean, well organised facility and the staff are motivated, caring and approachable. The range of activities offered daily is great, as is the use of the indoor and outdoor space. The Soft play area really sets it apart from others.The food is varied and healthy and has encouraged our daughter to try lots of new things. She loves attending nursery and speaks about it often when at home. Each room she has been in has been excellent and very age appropriate. She particularly loves her current room leader Aimee. We look forward to also sending our son here soon. Nicola Atkinson