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The Secret Garden Private Day Nursery (attenborough)

Ofsted: Good
(Jul 2021)
·
4.4(5 parent reviews) ·235 Attenborough Lane, Attenborough, Nottingham, NG9 6AS · Nottinghamshire
Number of places
19 places
Age range
1–3 yrs
Last inspected
Jul 2021
Local authority
Nottinghamshire

About this day nursery

The Secret Garden Attenborough Day Nursery and Pre-School is a family-run establishment committed to providing outstanding care for children aged 0-5 years. Located in the serene natural setting of Attenborough, near Beeston, the nursery operates across two sites, taking full advantage of its proximity to the Attenborough nature reserve.

This provides an excellent environment for outdoor exploration, with pre-school children regularly engaging in weekly forest school sessions during term time. The nursery emphasises a child-centric approach, fostering imagination and learning through exploration and natural play, while also demonstrating a commitment to environmental consciousness.

The Secret Garden boasts experienced and well-qualified staff, who prepare balanced and nutritious meals on-site. The nursery has been recognised for its excellence, earning a spot as a ‘Top 20 Rated Nursery in East Midlands’.

They also have a sister nursery in West Bridgford.

Our ethos

We are a family run nursery and pre-school who believe in offering you outstanding care for your child. Our focus is on each child's interests, encouraging every child to learn by exploring and expanding their own imagination, using as much outdoor and natural play as possible, while doing our bit to help the environment too.

What it's like

Children appear happy and content in this friendly nursery where they develop positive attachments with staff and feel safe and secure. They quickly become engaged in play and learning, moving confidently around the homely environment with an eagerness to learn and play, which is evident in activities such as exploring paint to strengthen their fingers for early writing. Children behave well, learning to play cooperatively, share toys, and take turns.

Family-runForest SchoolOutdoor playNatural settingOn-site meals

Pricing & funding

Fees are structured around full week, full day, and half-day sessions, with rates effective from April to September 2025. An optional early start is available for an extra charge. While government funding is accepted for eligible children, additional fees are charged to cover meals during funded hours.

Funding accepted

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

Good to know

  • Closed for one week between Christmas and New Year, and on all Bank Holidays.
  • An early 7.30am start can be requested for an additional daily fee.
  • Funded sessions are subject to additional meal charges.
  • A 10% discount is available on unfunded weeks for NHS employees and second siblings.
  • A 50% discount is offered to teachers during the summer holidays.

Key facts

Food

Balanced and nutritious meals freshly prepared on site.

Opening hours

Monday - Friday 8am - 6:00pm

Age range

0-5 years

Ofsted Inspection

Ofsted rating for The Secret Garden Private Day Nursery (attenborough)

Last inspected 9 July 2021 · Jan Hughes

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 appear happy and content in this friendly nursery where they develop positive attachments with staff and feel safe and secure. They quickly become engaged in play and learning, moving confidently around the homely environment with an eagerness to learn and play, which is evident in activities such as exploring paint to strengthen their fingers for early writing. Children behave well, learning to play cooperatively, share toys, and take turns.

Inspector highlights

  • The managers are ambitious and reflective and support staff effectively.
  • Staff attend online training to build skills, leading to changes in the toddler room layout to develop curiosity.
  • The managers know their curriculum and follow children's individual interests.
  • Staff are good role models for speaking, making eye contact and repeating words.
  • Children relish playing with dinosaurs, broccoli, and play dough, developing early mathematics skills through counting and filling/emptying containers.

Areas to develop

  • 1support staff to review their practice and focus more rigorously on what they want children to learn when delivering planned focused activities, so each child receives the best possible learning outcomes
  • 2develop staff's understanding of how to use questions with children, in order to increase their thinking and language skills.
Inspection #10174846 · Source: OfstedView full Ofsted report

Inclusion & environment

How they support every child

SEND provision

Children with special educational needs and/or disabilities have tailored support to help meet their needs and aid their learning and development. Staff work with parents and other professionals, such as schools and a family officer, when children need extra support.

Outdoor space

Children put on their own shoes to venture into the outside area. Children thoroughly enjoy the activities outside. They run about in the garden, climb, balance and use a range of balls to learn how to kick and catch.

Parent Reviews of The Secret Garden Private Day Nursery (attenborough)

4.4
(5)
James Bonella
6 years ago

This is an amazing place to send your children. My son started when he was one. This can be a tough time for new parents. Our son like many cried when left. The staff at Attenborough were amazing. Always putting us at ease and letting us call as many times through the day as we wished. This really helped rather than worrying all day at work. My son did settle and this was due to him forming a strong a real bond with his key worker. The staff at Attenborough know our son really well and can tell when he may be a little under the weather. They always look after him as well as you’d wish. The nursery also put up with us wanting to use reusable nappies. They’re keen to mirror what we do at home as much as possible. Including nap schedules and food preferences. My son has made great developments, has gained confidence and has developed real bonds with many members of staff. The children undertake a range of activities. We love that the children regularly go outside too (every day).

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Catherine Kelly
4 years ago

Lovely staff who provide are really nurturing environment for the children. Placed in a great location with a wide variety of activities available to take part in. Unfortunately, management let the team down with poor communication, lack of transparency surrounding their policies and virtually no working in partnership with parents which resulted in me moving my son away from here. The deposit was also not returned and emails have been ignored.

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Marc Hartley
11 years ago

Just can't take it highly enough great environment for kids to learn & develop

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Inspection history

Most recent inspection

9 July 2021

Good

Only one graded inspection on record — a trend chart will appear here once a second graded report is published.

View full Ofsted report

Frequently asked about The Secret Garden Private Day Nursery (attenborough)

About the setting

The Secret Garden Private Day Nursery (attenborough) was registered in 2018 and is located in Attenborough, Nottinghamshire. The nursery employs nine members of staff, with seven holding Level 3 and 4 early years qualifications, one with a degree in early childhood studies, and one unqualified. The nursery is open from Monday to Friday, 7.30am until 6pm, and provides funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-old children.

URN
EY556352
Registered person
Secret Garden Childcare Limited
Day care type
Full day care
Register
Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register
Establishment type
Childcare on non-domestic premises

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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