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Smilers Nursery in Sandy

Ofsted: Expected standard·
4.7(25 parent reviews) ·54 High Street, SANDY, SG19 1AJ · Central Bedfordshire
Number of places
66 places
Age range
0–4 yrs
Last inspected
Apr 2026
Local authority
Central Bedfordshire

About this day nursery

Smilers Nursery, established in 2019 after acquiring Mini Explorers Day Nursery, provides a nurturing environment for children aged 0-4 years. Located in Sandy, Bedfordshire, the nursery operates Monday to Friday, from 7am until 6pm, all year round.

The dedicated team of 12 childcare staff, 10 of whom hold a Level 3 early years qualification, ensure a high standard of care and early education. Children at Smilers Nursery are happy and settled, forming strong bonds with their key person and developing kindness and respect towards their peers.

The nursery offers funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-old children. Staff are adept at understanding individual needs, including medical requirements and home lives, and actively support children with special educational needs and/or disabilities by making appropriate referrals and identifying resources for play-based learning.

The setting also fosters independence in children, encouraging them to problem-solve through play and participate in self-care routines.

Our ethos

Smilers Nursery is dedicated to fostering a love of learning by providing a nurturing environment where children feel valued and confident. Their approach emphasises individualised learning, strong relationships with key persons and families, and empowering children with a 'can-do' attitude to embrace challenges, explore, and develop resilience for lifelong learning.

What it's like

Children are happy and settled in this nursery and form close bonds with their key person. They are kind and respectful to their peers, follow instructions and routines well, and respond positively to staff who are good role models. Children enjoy role play activities outside and engaging in messy play indoors, developing their sensory and small-muscle skills.

Happy and settled childrenStrong key person bondsPromotes independenceSupportive of SENDStrong parent partnerships

Pricing & funding

Funding accepted

15 hours — eligible 2-year-olds15 hours — universal (3–4 yrs)
Pricing on request

This nursery doesn't publish its fees online. Contact them directly for an up-to-date price list and availability.

Request pricing →

Key facts

Opening hours

Monday to Friday, from 7am until 6pm

Age range

Birth to 5 years

Term time / All Year

All_year

Ofsted Inspection — new report card

Expected standard

Last inspected Apr 2026

Headline: Expected standard

Grade summary

Exceptional
—
Strong standard
—
Expected standard
Needs attention
—
Urgent improvement
—

Each dot represents one of the six inspection categories. Headline is the average of the six grades, rounded up.

Category grades

AchievementExpected standard
Behaviour, attitudes and establishing routinesExpected standard
Children's welfare and wellbeingExpected standard
Curriculum and teachingExpected standard
InclusionExpected standard
Leadership and governanceExpected standard
Age range
0 to 4
Registers
Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register, Voluntary Childcare Register
Ofsted Inspection

Ofsted rating for Smilers Nursery

Last inspected 28 April 2026

Safeguarding effective

What it's like to attend

Children are happy and settled in this nursery and form close bonds with their key person. They are kind and respectful to their peers, follow instructions and routines well, and respond positively to staff who are good role models. Children enjoy role play activities outside and engaging in messy play indoors, developing their sensory and small-muscle skills.

Inspector highlights

  • Children are happy and settled and form close bonds with their key person.
  • Staff have a good understanding of each child's individual needs, including medical needs and home lives, and provide resources for home learning.
  • The leadership team works closely with local schools to support children's transition to the next stage of education.
  • Staff encourage children to problem-solve independently through play.
  • Parents are complimentary of the nursery and feel supported through the pandemic.

Areas to develop

  • 1Build on opportunities for younger children to develop independence skills from the earliest stage of their time at nursery.
  • 2Help staff to further refine the focus of adult-led experiences to build on what children already know and can do.
Inspection #10208193 · Source: OfstedView full Ofsted report

Inclusion & environment

How they support every child

SEND provision

The leadership team is alert to any children who may have special educational needs and/or disabilities. They make appropriate referrals and contact professionals for additional support. Staff identify resources that may support children through play and are keen to embed this into their curriculum.

Outdoor space

Children enjoy role play activities outside, such as playing pretend traffic jams with bicycles. Staff introduce new ideas within play outside, for instance, children make leaf cupcakes in the mud kitchen. Children develop physical skills both indoors and outdoors, and enjoy creative movement to songs.

Parent Reviews of Smilers Nursery

4.7
(25)
Virena Georgieva
5 months ago

We are so very happy with Smilers, their staff and approach to childcare. Our child has gone there for over 2 years. The food is freshly cooked every day, their garden is huge and when the weather is bad ,the staff are super creative to keep children engaged. We have always felt that they listen to our special requests for our child and adapt to their needs. The management team is fantastic and we have a chance to ask questions at the door every day. My child comes home very happy, says he loves his friends and staff, and his development is growing every day. Can't recommend further.

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Dorota Bennis
8 months ago

Our son attended Smilers Nursery in Leyton for almost three years, and we couldn’t be more grateful for the wonderful start they have given him. From his very first days as a baby right through to his preschool years, the care, support and encouragement he received helped him flourish into a confident, happy little boy who is now ready to take on the world. A very special thank you goes to Sophia, who nurtured and supported him during his baby stage, giving him such a reassuring and loving introduction to nursery life. We are also so appreciative of Aishah, Sebrina, Natalia and Carlene, who guided and supported him during his preschool days with such kindness, patience and dedication. Each of them played a part in his journey, and we have seen his confidence, independence and curiosity grow in the most wonderful way. Smilers has been such an important part of his early years, and we will always look back with gratitude for the care and commitment shown by the whole team.

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Syeda Nahar
10 months ago

My daughter has just finished her time at this Nursery, and I want to say a huge thank you to all the wonderful staff. She had an amazing experience from start to finish, and I have nothing but great things to say about this place. All the teachers were so lovely, caring, and helpful. it was clear she was always in great hands. She was happy, supported, and encouraged every day, and we’ve seen her grow so much during her time here. Thank you for everything you’ve done for her, we’ll always look back on this chapter with such fond memories.

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Anthony Wilkey
a year ago

We are delighted with the experience we've had at Smilers nursery! Our little boy A has been going there for just over a year and he loves it :) The staff are fab, the communication and updates via the app are great and we're really clear on how his development's coming along whilst also seeing with our own eyes how happy he is. There's also a really supportive parents' community which is invaluable. Overall, we couldn't be happier.

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Denisa Tare
a year ago

I wanted to take a moment to express my heartfelt gratitude for the wonderful experience my daughter has had at Smilers nursery over the past two years. During her time at the nursery, she has not only grown socially and emotionally but has also made remarkable progress in her English language skills. The nurturing environment and engaging activities provided by the dedicated staff have made learning fun and enjoyable for her. I appreciate the personalized attention and encouragement she received, which has greatly boosted her confidence. The variety of educational experiences, from storytelling sessions to interactive play, has sparked her curiosity and fostered a love for learning. Thank you once again for your hard work and commitment to the children. We will cherish the memories and skills she gained during her time at Smilers nursery

Read on Google

Reviews from Google for Smilers Nursery. See all on Google Maps

Inspection history

Date: November 2021

The most recent inspection point has been hidden because the parsed entry didn't match the headline Ofsted rating (Good). We're re-checking it against the original report.

  • December 2021Good
  • November 2021Good

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