We’re incredibly proud to share the outcome of our latest Ofsted inspection at Banana Moon Day Nursery Barnstaple, which took place on 20 August 2026.

The inspection looked closely at the experiences, learning, wellbeing and care of our children, as well as our curriculum, inclusion, leadership and safeguarding. We were delighted that all areas inspected were judged to meet the Expected Standard, with our safeguarding standards also confirmed as met. 

For us, though, the most meaningful part of the report is the description of what it is actually like to be a child at Banana Moon Barnstaple.

The report goes on to recognise the way our team get to know individual children, listen to families and provide thoughtful support so that children feel understood, included and valued. It describes a nurturing environment where children can develop confidence and curiosity while being supported towards their next steps in learning. That is exactly what we want Banana Moon Barnstaple to feel like every day.

Our play-based approach is a huge part of who we are, so it was particularly lovely to see the inspector recognise that “Play sits firmly at the heart of this curriculum.” The report highlights how our curriculum builds progressively on what children already know and identifies what they need to learn next.

The inspector observed babies exploring shredded paper alongside attentive adults, children developing their physical skills, toddlers and pre-schoolers investigating the garden, hunting for bugs, playing parachute games and checking on vegetables they had planted. Mathematics was also seen being naturally woven into children's play and everyday experiences, including exploring 3D shapes through painting and printing. These observations really reflect our belief that children learn best when they are actively involved, curious and having fun. Supporting children's wellbeing and independence The inspection also recognised the strong relationships between our staff, children and families. The report says that leaders place children's welfare and wellbeing at the centre of their work, with staff gathering detailed information from families, adapting settling-in arrangements and responding sensitively to individual needs. Our key-person 'buddy system' was also highlighted as a positive development. The inspector noted that this helps ensure children have secure attachments and that staff know the children well, supporting their confidence, resilience and independence. We were also pleased to see recognition of the ways we encourage independence at mealtimes, with children serving their own food and scraping their plates as part of our food waste recycling initiative.

Another important part of the report was the recognition of our inclusive practice. Ofsted found that our team have a clear understanding of how to identify and support children with additional needs and other barriers to learning. Staff use information from parents and professionals alongside their observations and assessments to identify individual needs and provide targeted support. The report gives the example of staff providing motivating sensory activities when children become overwhelmed, helping them to regulate and re-engage with their learning. We were also recognised for making reasonable adjustments for individual children and families, including flexible settling-in sessions and tailored session times where needed.

We are particularly proud that Ofsted recognised the dedication of our leadership team and our focus on staff wellbeing and professional development.

The report describes a “cohesive, supportive leadership team” and recognises the importance we place on staff welfare, wellbeing and professional development. It also acknowledges the strong relationships we have developed with families and the wider community, including opportunities such as stay-and-play sessions, potty training workshops and birthday celebrations. The report notes that parents speak positively about the nursery, reflecting the warm relationships our team build with families. 

Safeguarding is, of course, one of the most important responsibilities we have. We were pleased that the inspection confirmed that our safeguarding standards were met. Ofsted specifically recognised that we have an open safeguarding culture where safeguarding is everyone's responsibility and concerns are actively identified, acted upon and managed. Keeping children safe, happy and secure is fundamental to everything we do.

While we are very proud of the report, we also see an Ofsted inspection as an opportunity to reflect and continue to improve. Our next steps are focused particularly on ensuring that staff interactions are consistently high quality across the nursery and continuing to develop routines so that children have the best possible opportunities to engage, learn and make progress. Ofsted specifically identified continued staff coaching and support, alongside further development of routines, as our next steps. These are areas we were already focusing on, and the report gives us a clear direction for continuing that work.

Most importantly, we want to say thank you. Thank you to our incredible team for the care, energy and commitment they give to our children every day.

Thank you to our families for trusting us with your children, working alongside us and sharing your feedback. And, of course, thank you to our wonderful children — because everything we do is ultimately about helping them to feel safe, happy, confident, included and excited to learn.

We are incredibly proud of Banana Moon Barnstaple and of the journey we are continuing to take together.