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The Big Top Nursery

Ofsted: Good
(Oct 2023)
·
4.4(7 parent reviews) ·74c High Street, Waddesdon, AYLESBURY, HP18 0JD · Buckinghamshire
Number of places
50 places
Age range
0–4 yrs
Last inspected
Oct 2023
Local authority
Buckinghamshire

About this day nursery

The Big Top Nursery, now part of the Kindred Nurseries family, continues to provide dedicated childcare in Waddesdon. As an award-winning group with over 50 UK nurseries, Kindred Nurseries focuses on creating engaging and inspiring environments for children.

The nursery prides itself on offering transparent and all-inclusive fees, ensuring parents have a clear understanding of costs without unexpected charges. They actively support families in navigating childcare funding schemes and aim to empower parents to maximise their financial benefits.

The nursery emphasises quality provisions, which include nutritious, home-cooked meals and enriching activities, all designed with the child and family in mind. The Kindred group has received accolades such as the Nursery World Award 2025 for Working with Parents, highlighting their commitment to an exceptional nursery experience for the entire family.

Located in Waddesdon, the team remains dedicated to the same high standards of care and education it has always provided under its new umbrella.

What it's like

Children enjoy their time at the setting, arriving happy and excited. Staff plan activities around children's interests and sessional topics, incorporating resources from outdoor excursions. Children are confident learners, with staff providing a range of engaging activities both indoors and outdoors.

All-inclusive childcareAward-winning nursery groupTransparent fees

Pricing & funding

Funding accepted

30 hours — working parents (3–4 yrs)15 hours — universal (3–4 yrs)Tax-Free Childcare
Pricing on request

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

Key facts

Opening hours

Monday to Friday from 7.30am to 6pm

Term time / All Year

All Year

Ofsted Inspection

Ofsted rating for The Big Top Nursery

Last inspected 26 October 2023

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 enjoy their time at the setting, arriving happy and excited. Staff plan activities around children's interests and sessional topics, incorporating resources from outdoor excursions. Children are confident learners, with staff providing a range of engaging activities both indoors and outdoors.

Inspector highlights

  • Leaders and managers have high expectations for children and staff, and have improved training and supervisions.
  • Staff support children's personal, social and emotional development well, encouraging them to talk about their feelings and setting clear boundaries.
  • Children develop good physical skills, with ample time to explore outdoors and a well-thought-out garden area.
  • Children with special educational needs and/or disabilities are well supported, with early identification of needs and referrals to outside agencies.
  • Staff learn about children's experiences and home lives to plan and create new opportunities, such as bus rides for those who haven't experienced them.

Areas to develop

  • 1provide older children with further mathematical challenges, to help progress their skills further
  • 2help staff understand the need to allow younger children more time to think and respond to questions.
Inspection #10295874 · Source: OfstedView full Ofsted report

What parents say

Verbatim quotes recorded in the Ofsted inspection

Parents report that they appreciate the feedback about their child's time at the setting and their achievements.

They are grateful for the support they receive when children struggle with areas of their development and the support they receive to make referrals to outside agencies.

Inclusion & environment

How they support every child

SEND provision

Children with special educational needs and/or disabilities are supported well. Staff identify needs early and make referrals so that children get the support they need in the quickest time possible. Staff work with other agencies to ensure consistency. This helps children to make the best progress possible.

Outdoor space

Staff provide a range of activities, indoors and outdoors, which capture children's interest. For example, children in the garden make 'mud soup,' adding different herbs and spices from labelled jars. Staff give children ample time to explore outdoors, including walks to explore the local area and parks. The garden area has been well thought out to ensure that children are given opportunities to explore different areas and use a range of equipment and resources.

Parent Reviews of The Big Top Nursery

4.4
(7)
Stephanie Pro
2 years ago

I felt apprehensive when I knew that my son would be attending nursery full time. But the staff at Big Top in Waddesdon have been amazing through out. He started just before his 1st birthday. The setting is wonderful, he is happy and does so many different activities. The communication is excellent. The garden is a brilliant size, he is so well cared for and is thriving. I know that he is safe, and learning everyday.

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Olivia Crawford
2 years ago

Couldn't recommend Big Top more to parents sending their children to nursery for the first time. My son has so much fun and learns so much every day, with a brilliant keyworker who knows him so well. The nursery communicates very well with us with photos and daily diaries of what our little boy is up to which provides us with so much reassurance that he is safe and learning lots and having fun while we're at work. He can't wait to get inside every morning!

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Sarah Pickering
2 years ago

We are so glad we have sent our daughter to Big Tops for the last four years. The staff are absolutely fantastic and have been incredibly supportive. They ensure the children engage in exciting and interesting activities and our daughter has made so much progress socially and academically. We have always been confident that she is safe, thriving and is developing well socially. We couldn't have hoped for better.

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Steve M
7 years ago

I was very nervous about putting my child into nursery, however Big Top Waddesdon far exceeded my expectations. The staff are all great and caring, the environment is perfect. The children seem to get a great deal of direct attention. A lot of effort is put into the activities. There is an impressive attention to detail. I can easily say that my child has benefitted greatly both socially and educationally. I highly recommend Big Top nursery Waddesdon.

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Rachael Harrison
2 years ago

Wonderful nursery - lovely staff and setting, lots of great activities and well managed. Fully recommend

Read on Google

Reviews from Google for The Big Top Nursery. See all on Google Maps

Inspection history
Improved from Inadequate → Good in 2023

Date: February 2014

  • October 2023Good
  • May 2023Inadequate
  • October 2017Good
  • February 2014Good

Frequently asked about The Big Top Nursery

About the setting

The Big Top Nursery registered in 2013 and is based in Waddesdon, Buckinghamshire. It operates every weekday for 51 weeks of the year, from 7.30am to 6pm. The nursery receives funding for the provision of early education for children aged two, three and four years. A team of 26 staff work with the children, with 15 holding appropriate early years qualifications at level 3 and above.

URN
EY465545
Registered person
Big Top Nursery Limited
Day care type
Full day care
Register
Early Years Register
Establishment type
Childcare on non-domestic premises
Previous rating
Inadequate

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This listing has been compiled from official Ofsted records, the nursery's own website, details provided directly by the nursery where available, and other trusted public sources. We regularly review and update listings to keep the information as accurate as possible. Learn more