The education watchdog inspects services for learners of all ages - including schools, childminders, training providers, and local authorities- regularly and assigns them one of four different ratings: “Outstanding” is the top rating, followed by “Good”, “Requires Improvement” and “Inadequate.”
The classification is based on five key categories: quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, leadership and management, and early years provisions.
Note that nurseries and pre-schools are not inspected every year.
Here are all the Bristol nurseries and pre-schools rated as "outstanding" by Ofsted (as of August 14, 2024). All full reports - including category scores - are available via Ofsted’s official website.
5. Rozey Days Montessori Ltd, 358 Lodge Causeway, Bristol BS16 3PL
Published in June 2023, the Ofsted report for Rozey Days Montessori Ltd reads: "Leaders create an inspirational nursery for all that attend. Staff report high levels of morale. Leaders listen and value their input. They support staff well-being with regular 'catch up' meetings and their approachable manner. Leaders are constantly reflecting and are highly focused on improving on their already outstanding practice. Children with special educational needs and/or disabilities receive exceptional support. The special educational needs coordinator quickly identifies children who need extra help. She works closely with staff, parents and external agencies to obtain the support needed to ensure that children have the best possible experience while at the nursery. Strategies to support children are quickly implemented. Children have extremely high levels of respect for their environment and others around them. Children respect the wishes of each other. Highly qualified and skilled staff teach children skills for life. Children care for plants and animals. Children have exceptional levels of independence from a young age. The inspirational managers and staff value and embrace the celebration of all cultures and backgrounds. This is weaved throughout all they do, embedding respect for the diversity of all from a young age. Children learn about foods from other cultures. Staff share favourite foods from their cultures, make them with the children and share why these are special to them." | Google Maps
6. Archfield House Nursery, 2 Archfield Road, BRISTOL BS6 6BE
Published in March 2023, the Ofsted report for Archfield House Nursery reads: "Managers have created an ambitious curriculum which is securely embedded across the nursery. They have a firm vision of what they want children to learn and why. Staff are confident and knowledgeable in the curriculum and the signs of successful learning. Children's learning experiences build their knowledge over time. Staff support children to be very confident communicators. The nursery has developed a strong focus on language and communication. Staff guide children to learn new words by making deliberate choices in their own speech. Children know staff value their opinions. Interactions between staff and children are of an exceptionally high quality. Managers have excellent links with other early years professionals. The nursery is an active member of a local early years group and managers use a recognised self-evaluation framework to reflect and improve practice. They support and guide other professionals and contribute to the wider community as trainers and mentors. The nursery has an excellent provision for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). The special educational needs and/or disabilities coordinator (SENCo) is very knowledgeable and confident in her role. She guides staff to recognise when children may need extra support and how to implement effective strategies. The nursery has created wonderful partnerships with parents who comment that they feel very well supported by staff, and that their children make exceptional progress in their learning and development. " | Archfield House Nursery and Preschool via Google Maps
7. Pooh Corner Day Nursery, 46 Lower Redland Road, Redland, Bristol BS6 6ST
Published in January 2023, the Ofsted report for Pooh Corner Day Nursery reads: "The senior manager and leaders are passionate and committed to providing an extremely high-quality provision. They constantly reflect on practice and are extremely proactive to make improvements to benefit children. Staff sensitively and successfully support children's positive behaviour and promote children's levels of resilience and self-esteem very effectively. Children develop their imagination and a love of books. They demonstrate excellent listening and attention skills for their age. Children delight in sensory play. They eagerly manipulate dough and explore squidgy gel alphabet letters with staff, talking about what the letters represent. Staff challenge children successfully to have a go and learn through trial and error. Staff encourage children to make decisions about their play and expertly adapt activities to help children achieve. Children enjoy a wide variety of freshly prepared, nutritious snacks and meals and regular fresh air and exercise, promoting their good health. Staff support children to take supervised risks in their physical play, and, as a result, children develop excellent coordination skills. Children develop excellent independence and self-care skills. Babies learn to feed themselves and staff teach older children to use mirrors to wipe their faces after eating. Pre-school children thoroughly enjoy taking responsibility for tasks, such as setting and clearing away tables and chairs at mealtimes. Parents speak glowingly about the friendly and approachable senior manager and staff. They speak positively about the settling-in procedures which are tailored towards children's individual needs. They appreciate the support they have received from staff to promote children's learning and development. They feel well informed about their children's time at nursery and would recommend it to their friends." | Google Maps
8. White Tree Preschool, Methodist Church, 4 North View, Westbury Park, Bristol BS6 7QB
Published in January 2023, the Ofsted report for Christ Church Clifton Pre-School reads: " The management and staff team lead the curriculum with exceptional passion and knowledge. Staff plan activities that meet the individual needs of the child. All children show outstanding levels of focus and self-motivation to join in. Staff are confident to allow time for children to discover and ask questions. They provide excellent open-ended questions to help them think critically. Children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) receive the best possible outcomes, reducing the gaps in learning. Staff liaise with parents, professionals and the local authority. Children who are learning to speak English as an additional language make exceptional progress. Staff value home experiences. They work together with parents to learn key words in home languages to communicate with them. The setting provides a highly inclusive approach. Staff provide outstanding opportunities for children to make links with the community. Staff connect with local schools, providing children with pictures, school uniforms and welcoming teachers into the setting. Children take regular visits to the local residential home. Staff organise local trips following children's current interests, for example a visit to the local dentist. They also offer a babyand toddler group, which they open to the local community. Partnership with parents is phenomenal. Parents form close and respectful relationships with the team, they offer the highest praise for the setting. Parents' comment it is 'incredibly personal'. The management team are highly enthusiastic about staff professional development. Staff speak extremely positively of the training opportunities on offer, each being tailored to the individual. They receive regular communication, supervisions, and peer-on-peer observations. Leaders strive to deliver high-quality care and education, reflecting and evaluating practice." | Google Maps