Brislington celebrates "Outstanding" OFSTED inspection

Staff, parents and children at our Brislington site are celebrating the results of our latest OFSTED inspection.

During our official visit on 29th June, OFSTED inspectors spent time reviewing our practices, policies and procedures in detail. They spent time with staff, children and parents.

They found us to be OUTSTANDING in all 15 areas inspected.

Outstanding results are extremely hard to achieve and reflect the best possible standards in care and education. We are particularly proud of Lucy and the whole of the team at Brislington. In particular we are proud that we are able to give the best possible outcomes to children in our care.

For more information on our Brislington nursery please call Lucy Payne on 0117 972 8234 or email brislington@mamabear.co.uk.

Shirehampton welcomes new Baby Unit and improvements to Front Garden

Building work to create a new Baby Unit and make improvements to our front garden play area for Pre-school children were completed on 18th December.

The new facilities have created three separate outdoor play areas for Babies, Toddlers and Pre-school children, with resources and activities specific to each age group.

The new Baby Unit will cater for up to 18 children under the age of two, with improved access to the garden.

The main hall will become a permanent soft-play area, ideal for climbing, sliding, stretching and balancing fun, whatever the weather!

For more information on our Shirehampton nursery please call Nicola Lane on 0117 982 3345 or email shirehampton@mamabear.co.uk.

Free Nursery Entitlement for 3 and 4 Year Olds

From 1st September 2010 every child will be entitled to up to 15 hours free nursery provision per week during term time from the term after their third birthday until they start school. These sessions are funded by the Local Authority and may also be subsidised by the care provider.

Parents / carers apply for the entitlement on a termly basis via the nursery. This is a simple process which we will help you with.

In line with the DCSF and Local Authority’s Codes of Practice Mama Bear’s are offering the free entitlement flexibly as detailed below. Please note though that some places may be limited with availability on a first-come-first served basis.

1. As part of an all year round, fee-paying nursery place. In this case the first 15 hours per week (with a maximum of 6 hours in any single day) during term time are free of charge.

2. Three free 5 hour sessions per week, term time only for 38 weeks of the year. These will usually be afternoon sessions from 1.00pm to 6.00pm but morning sessions may also be available. These sessions include meals and snacks, which are not funded by the FEEE and therefore a charge per session of £2.50 for morning snack and lunch and £1.50 for afternoon tea will be made to cover the nursery’s costs.

3. Five free 3 hour sessions per week, term time only for 38 weeks of the year. Morning sessions run from 8.30am to 11.30am and afternoon sessions from 12.30pm to 3.30pm. These sessions include drinks but no meals.

New Baby and Toddler Unit now open in Downend

Our new Baby and Toddler Unit in Coronation Road, Downend opened on Tuesday 12th January 2009.

Demand for places in our Downend Road nursery has been so great, with a waiting list of up to 50 children at its peak, that we have decided to open another setting in Downend to support working mums and dads in the area.

Based in Coronation Road (just round the corner from Downend road) the new setting is a dedicated Baby and Toddler Unit, caring for children from three months to around 30 months.

Our Downend Road setting has become a dedicated Pre-school for children from around 30 months until school Reception age.

The Coronation Road nursery is based in the old Willow Surgery in modern premises that have been extensively refurbished and converted for their new purpose. The setting offers large, light airy rooms with excellent access internally to all the facilities and to the outdoor areas. The babies and Toddlers benefit from separate outdoor areas, with free-flow access.

For parents there's excellent access to the nursery with on-site drop-off and collection parking.

We are open for 51 weeks of the year, Monday to Friday, 7.30 am to 7.00pm.

We currently have vacancies for all age ranges. For more information please call Sam Hills on 0117 956 5893 or email coronationroad@mamabear.co.uk.