Summary
What we read, and from where
Click a reading to see it highlighted in the report.
- Achievement verified
Expected standard
- Behaviour, attitudes and routines verified
Expected standard
- Children's welfare and wellbeing verified
Expected standard
- Curriculum and teaching verified
Expected standard
- Inclusion verified
Expected standard
- Leadership and governance verified
Expected standard
- Framework verified
Report card
- Group verified
Bubbly Day Nursery Limited
- Inspection datesingle source
15 May 2026
- Inspectors verified
Gareth Cotterell
- Postcode verified
SE16 3PB
- Name on report verified
Bubbly Day Nursery Limited
- Safeguarding verified
Met
- URN verified
2792274
Deep dive
What this report says
In plain English
Join free to get a short, plain-English summary of any report.
Grade profile
Each judgement on its scale, weakest to strongest.
- AchievementExpected
- Behaviour, attitudes and routinesExpected
- Children's welfare and wellbeingExpected
- Curriculum and teachingExpected
- InclusionExpected
- Leadership and governanceExpected
Tone of the report
How positive or critical the inspectors' language is, from the words they chose. No AI involved.
In line with other reports of this type.
How the report reads, start to finish
Every paragraph in order, sized by length. Tap one to see it on the page.
Strengths
Quoted from the report. Tap to see it on the page.
Concerns
Quoted from the report. Tap to see it on the page.
No strong criticism found.
Next steps
Quoted from the report. Tap to see it on the page.
What the report dwells on
Topics by how often they come up, coloured by how they are described. Open one for an example.
Leadership & governance19
“Children form warm and positive relationships with leaders and staff.” p.5Communication & language10
“Children generally develop speech and language skills appropriate for their age.” p.2Parents & families8
“Parents speak positively about the nursery.” p.2Progress & outcomes7
“This enables children to thrive and achieve well.” p.3
Anatomy of the report
How the report is built, against others of the same type and grade.
- Pages
- 8
- Words of findings
- 1,702
- about usual (typical 1698)
- Reading level
- Hard
- Flesch 44, typical 43
- Average sentence
- 15 words
- Next steps
- 1
- typical 3
- Hedged sentences
- 5%
- “some”, “not always”, “most”…
Where the words go
Full report text
Bubbly Day Nursery Limited
Unique reference number (URN): 2792274 Address: Manor Methodist Church, 40 Galleywall Road, London, Southwark, SE16 3PB Type: Childcare on non-domestic premises Registered with Ofsted: 21/06/2024 Registers: EYR Registered person: Bubbly Day Nursery Limited
p.1
Safeguarding standards met
The safeguarding standards are met. This means that leaders and/or those responsible for governance and oversight fulfil their specific responsibilities and have established an open culture in which safeguarding is everyone's responsibility and concerns are actively identified, acted upon and managed. As a result, children are made safer and feel safe.
p.1
How we evaluate safeguarding
When we inspect settings for safeguarding, they can have the following outcomes:
p.1
How we evaluate safeguarding
Met: The setting has an open and positive culture of safeguarding. Not met: The setting has not created an open and positive culture of safeguarding. Not all legal requirements are met.
p.1
Achievement Expected standard
All children, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities, achieve well from their starting points and are well prepared for the next stage of their education. They make independent choices in their play and confidently serve themselves snacks, food and drinks. This helps them to develop important life skills. For example, older children work alongside staff to make dough, mixing, stirring and pouring ingredients to achieve the correct consistency.
p.2
Achievement Expected standard
Children generally develop speech and language skills appropriate for their age. They recall the rules in the setting, invite staff into their play and use key vocabulary, such as 'digging, soft' and 'squishy while searching for minibeasts. Singing is a popular activity in this setting. In addition to transition songs, children independently choose and sing a variety of well- known nursery rhymes, sometimes even during free play. This further supports their speech and language development.
p.2
Achievement Expected standard
Older children demonstrate positive self-care skills. They use tissues, wash their hands, and go to the toilet with minimal adult support. Children understand the importance of looking after themselves to avoid germs.
p.2
Behaviour, attitudes and establishing routines Expected standard
Leaders monitor children's attendance and punctuality effectively for all children. They maintain accurate records and follow up promptly to ensure children's safety. Where barriers to attendance are identified, leaders work closely with families to provide support. For example, staff offer flexible sessions and start times to help parents and carers to manage work commitments.
p.2
Behaviour, attitudes and establishing routines Expected standard
Children typically understand the expectations for their behaviour. Staff use a range of positive approaches and techniques if children become distracted or do not follow instructions. For example, children receive praise when they tidy up after themselves. Staff support children when they need reminders about what to do to help keep the setting tidy and safe.
p.2
Behaviour, attitudes and establishing routines Expected standard
Parents speak positively about the nursery. They comment on the progress their children have made and the nurturing relationships between staff and children. These relationships are a key strength of the setting. This contributes to children feeling safe and a deep sense of belonging.
p.2
Behaviour, attitudes and establishing routines Expected standard
Children develop secure friendships at the nursery. They sit together calmly and are supported to play cooperatively, take turns and listen to one another. Leaders and staff establish simple and predictable routines to help all children to understand what is expected of them.
p.2
Children's welfare and wellbeing Expected standard
All staff at the setting support children's emotional wellbeing effectively. They create a positive and harmonious environment, where children feel a sense of belonging. This enables children to thrive and achieve well. As a result, children typically regulate their feelings well and enjoy attending the setting.
p.3
Children's welfare and wellbeing Expected standard
Leaders and staff ensure children develop a clear understanding of how to recognise and regulate their emotions. When minor disagreements occur, children receive sensitive support to resolve them. Older children have small and meaningful responsibilities that empower their learning and promote emotional growth and development over time.
p.3
Children's welfare and wellbeing Expected standard
Staff consistently promote healthy food and drink choices throughout the day. Children learn the importance of making healthy choices, including practising positive self-care routines, such as washing their hands after using the toilet to prevent the spread of germs.
p.3
Children's welfare and wellbeing Expected standard
Staff also promote effective toothbrushing routines and sleep routines for those children that need them. They ensure that safer sleeping and eating guidance is adhered to. Leaders and staff make sure children have access to daily outdoor play. While leaders are still developing a dedicated outdoor area for gross motor play, the setting makes effective use of the adjacent park. They risk assess this space appropriately. Staff use daily visits to provide regular opportunities for children to develop their gross motor skills through outdoor activities.
p.3
Curriculum and teaching Expected standard
Leaders design a thoughtful and intentional curriculum. It includes a balance of adult- directed activities and open-ended free play, allowing children to guide their own learning. Planning is typically informed by what children need to learn next. Leaders understand how to use assessment to shape the curriculum so that staff teach children their appropriate next steps in learning.
p.3
Curriculum and teaching Expected standard
Promoting children's independence is a key strength at this nursery. All children, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities, mix their own dough, read their own stories and select their own resources and toys. Staff skilfully support transitions through familiar and well-loved songs. They use songs for washing hands, mixing, tidying and toileting to help children understand expectations and routines, while also generally developing their communication and language skills.
p.3
Curriculum and teaching Expected standard
Staff plan carpet sessions to extend child-led learning. During these sessions, they prioritise stories, songs, rhymes and mathematics, which they typically teach well. However, on some occasions, staff do not consider the sequence of skills they need to teach children early literacy. For example, they incorrectly introduce letter names while referencing phonetic sounds, when children are not at the stage of this development. For example, staff say 'A' for apple. This risks confusing children, particularly those who speak English as an additional language, when they start Reception class and begin a structured phonics programme. Staff generally use effective strategies, such as asking open-ended questions and narrating children's play. They model key vocabulary, such as 'pat' during sand play or 'higher' during bubble play. Children then use this vocabulary in their free play. However, at times, staff ask
p.3
Curriculum and teaching Expected standard
too many questions and narrate continuously without allowing children time to think and respond. As a result, their assessments of what children need to learn next are not always as precise as they could be.
p.4
Inclusion Expected standard
Leaders use additional funding, including early years pupil premium, to reduce barriers for children. For example, they use funding to support children's experiences in the community, sensory resources and practical help, such as a washing machine and spare clothes. This helps families in the local community and reduces barriers to children's learning experiences. Consequently, disadvantaged children generally take part in daily experiences and routines alongside the other children.
p.4
Inclusion Expected standard
Leaders, the special educational needs and/or disabilities coordinators and staff identify children's needs early. They gather information from parents and carers and complete baseline assessments. They are familiar with the agreed approach to support children with special educational needs and/or disabilities. Staff assess children, plan activities, carry out meaningful play-based activities and review their next steps. Leaders have effective links with the local authority and liaise actively with them.
p.4
Inclusion Expected standard
Leaders typically reduce barriers for children who speak English as an additional language. Staff speak to parents and carers, use translations or seek support from those who speak a similar language to gather information. Staff model some key words and phrases. However, on occasion, staff use simplified language, rather than the correct terminology with the children in the setting. This has an impact on the accuracy of what they are teaching and modelling. It also means children do not hear the correct pronunciation of words, to extend their vocabularies.
p.4
Leadership and governance Expected standard
Leaders have a clear and accurate understanding of their setting. Since opening, they have made several improvements and adjustments. These include strengthening staff recruitment processes, ensuring robust referencing and developing the outdoor area. This ensures that gross motor play is accessible and supported for all children. Leaders have generally prioritised staff training so that every member of the team understands how to carry out their roles effectively.
p.4
Leadership and governance Expected standard
Leaders consistently make decisions that are in the best interests of the children. They conduct regular supervision sessions with staff. The outcomes feed directly into the setting's development plan. This drives further improvement.
p.4
Leadership and governance Expected standard
Leaders use additional funding thoughtfully to reduce barriers to children's learning. This enhances opportunities for families and children, and promotes their overall wellbeing and development. For example, staff have recently benefited from safeguarding training and training on positive interactions. Regular discussions take place around staff's wellbeing and to reduce barriers to learning for all children. Although progress is evident, some improvements are not yet fully embedded or complete in the setting. For example, further development is needed in the garden area. Temporary adaptations have been made, such as extra staffing and daily park visits. However, children are not able to freely access outdoor spaces to extend their larger physical skills.
p.4
What it's like to be a child at this setting
Children arrive at the setting happy and settled, and ready to start their day. They are warmly welcomed by staff, who are attuned to their individual needs. Children's day begins with free-choice activities, allowing them to work alongside their key persons. They explore areas, such as construction and reading, as well as engage in colouring and drawing. During this time, children excitedly share news from the previous evening. Staff support these interactions by asking insightful and open-ended questions.
p.5
What it's like to be a child at this setting
Children benefit from a wide range of open-ended activities and resources. They enjoy regular outdoor play at the front of the nursery and daily access to the small park attached to the setting. Children take part in activities, such as digging for minibeasts, playing with water and sand, drawing spots on ladybirds and counting and discussing numbers.
p.5
What it's like to be a child at this setting
Children are actively involved in making choices about their learning. For example, during story time, they request to read the story of 'We're Going on a Bear Hunt' themselves while staff turn the pages. Children join in with the familiar repeated phrases. They share moments of laughter and excitement as the story unfolds towards finding the bear.
p.5
What it's like to be a child at this setting
Children form warm and positive relationships with leaders and staff. An effective key-person system ensures that parents and carers can share important information, helping staff place children's wellbeing at the centre of their practice. All children feel safe. Simple and predictable routines support their learning and development. Children, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities, make progress through carefully planned activities and staff's interactions during their free play.
p.5
Next steps
Leaders should ensure that staff understand when to intervene, comment, narrate play and when to step back, to develop a clear understanding of what children are able to do independently.
p.5
Address:
Manor Methodist Church 40 Galleywall Road London Southwark SE16 3PB
p.6
Address:
Type: Childcare on non-domestic premises
p.6
Address:
Registered person: Bubbly Day Nursery Limited
p.6
Address:
Operating hours: Monday,Tuesday,Wednesday,Thursday,Friday : 07:00 - 18:30
p.6
Address:
Local authority: Southwark Leaders should continue to enhance children's outside play to ensure children have the space and age-appropriate equipment to develop their gross motor skills. Leaders should support staff to extend children's language skills, such as by using the correct terminology and appropriate language, during the day rather than simplified language.
p.6
About this inspection
The inspector spoke with leaders, staff, parents and carers and children during the inspection.
p.6
About this inspection
We carried out this inspection under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 on the quality and standards of provision that is registered on the Early Years Register. The registered person must ensure that this provision complies with the statutory framework for children's learning, development and care, known as the early years foundation stage.
p.6
Facts and figures used on inspection
This data was available to the inspector at the time of the inspection.
p.7
Exceptional
Practice is exceptional: of the highest standard nationally. Other settings can learn from it.
p.7
Strong standard
The setting reaches a strong standard. Leaders are working above the standard expected of them.
p.7
Expected standard
The setting is fulfilling the expected standard of education and/or care. This means they are following the standard set out in statutory and non ‑ statutory legislation and the professional standards expected of them.
p.7
Needs attention
The expected standards are not met but leaders are likely able to make the necessary improvements.
p.7
Urgent improvement
The setting needs to make urgent improvements to provide the expected standard of education and/or care. services providing education and skills for children and learners of all ages, and inspects and regulates services that care for children and young people.
p.7
Urgent improvement
If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk .
p.8
Urgent improvement
You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .
p.8
Urgent improvement
Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .
p.8
Urgent improvement
T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted
p.8
Discuss this inspection
Members compare notes on inspectors and inspections here. Join free to read and post.
Join the discussion