Bright Start Nursery

Our full day care nursery in the central Tarner area of Brighton is for children from 2 to 5 years old. We're based within the Tarner Family Hub and have close links with the centre and the groups which run from there.

We offer full-day sessions from 8am to 6pm, as well as shorter funded sessions such as:

9am to 1pm
1pm to 5pm

Read more about the Tarner Family Hub (brighton-hove.gov.uk).

Being close to the centre we have good bus links. We're close to Greater Brighton Metropolitan College, and share the building with Brighton and Hove Adult Education Hub.

 About Bright Start Nursery

We aim to provide a high-quality, inclusive, and safe learning environment for children aged 2 to 5 years.

The well-being and happiness of each child is of utmost importance to us. We feel strongly that ‘whoever you are, wherever you come from you are welcome here’.

We're a small setting with up to 22 child spaces per session. We have a warm, family approach so it’s important to us to forge strong relationships with the families to ensure a smooth transition from home to nursery.

We have a key person system and we encourage the children to form healthy attachments to their key person as well as other adults who work in our small setting.

We work closely with the following groups to ensure we support you and your children in the best possible way:

Ethnic Minority Achievement Service (EMAS)
Brighton and Hove Inclusion Support Service (BHISS)
Early Language Support Team (ELST)
Front Door for Families
Family Hub

We pride ourselves on providing a friendly, welcoming and inclusive environment in which everyone can thrive.

We work with a diverse cohort of families and children. Our staff team is committed to providing high-quality play and learning experiences to all.

Our environment 

Our learning environment is designed to help children feel secure and stimulated and to support their learning through a play-based approach. We observe children and notice their interests and fascinations and through this, we ensure their ongoing learning.

With a range of quality educational toys and resources, children can:

make choices independently and initiate their own learning
take part in stimulating activities, with the support and guidance of our staff

The nursery environment

We're based inside the Tarner Hub and we have sole use of the nursery room and outdoor garden area.

We have a ‘free flow’ approach between inside and outside whereby the children can choose which areas to access.

Both inside and outside there are:

opportunities for messy and creative play
cosy areas
book areas
small world play
construction play

We have access to other rooms in the Family Hub which we can use for mealtimes, other activities and small group work.

Outside area

Our outside area is a secluded rooftop garden area within the Family Hub building.

Children have access to this garden space throughout the day to go outside and be active. Come rain or shine, we're able to offer free flow between both spaces.

The space is set up to be flexible, so children can use the:

sand and water trays
planters for growing or selecting herbs in their play
bikes and ride-on toys
balancing equipment

An awning provides sufficient shade on sunny days.

Our staff

All permanent staff are either qualified to level 3 in childcare or have higher level relevant degrees.

We operate a key person approach where each child and family has a dedicated worker supporting them with all aspects of their settling, their development and their transitions.

All children also have a second key person, who can support them if their key person is absent. Being a small setting, the children build up relationships with all of the staff within the team.

We have an Early Years teacher who supports the learning in the setting.

Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND)

We cater for children with a wide variety of additional needs and differing abilities. We're inclusive and passionate about all children that we care for.

We have a Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Co-ordinator (SENDCO). We also have many staff who are experienced in caring for children with additional needs.

Inclusion

At Bright Start Nursery, all families are welcome. Around half of our children use multiple languages. We celebrate this by encouraging and welcoming families to share stories and songs in their home languages.

We access services such as the Ethnic Minority Achivevement Service (EMAS) to support us with some children if needed.

Food

Bright Start Nursery provides healthy snacks and a breakfast that consists of healthy cereal and toast. Cow’s milk, oat milk and water are provided at snack and breakfast times. Fresh drinking water is available at all times.

For lunch and tea, parents have the option of supplying a healthy packed lunch/tea or purchasing a meal.

Breakfasts are included in the below fees. Lunches and teas are optional and charged separately. 

Flexible, emergency and occasional care

Ad-hoc sessions may be booked subject to availability for children already attending the nursery. We'll consider each request for occasional or emergency childcare on an individual basis, subject to availability.

Transport options

Bright Start Nursery can be accessed on all major bus routes. The closest bus stops are:

Valley Gardens
St. Peters Church
Old Steine
Law Courts

There is limited on-street pay and display parking in front of the Family Hub.

Brighton Train station is a 10 to 15-minute walk away.

Opening times

We're open 51 weeks of the year, Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm.

Funded places, session times and fees

There are now more ways than ever to reduce your childcare costs. You can benefit from a wide range of funding options depending on your circumstances and the age of your children. To find out more visit Childcare Choices.

We welcome children with funded places including all 2, 3 and 4-year-olds.

Two-year-olds with parents in receipt of eligible benefits or tax credits are entitled to funded places, find out if you're eligible and apply online.

Nursery fees from 1 April 2024

Half day - £31.05 per session.

Full day - £62.10.

Meals (lunch and tea) - £2.74 per meal, charged separately.

Session times

Morning sessions run from 8am to 1pm, this includes breakfast.

Afternoon sessions run from 1pm to 6 pm.

Full-day sessions run from 8am to 6pm, this includes breakfast.

Funded sessions

At Bright Start Nursery we offer spaces for 2 to 5-year-olds, as:

part-funded sessions for the 51 weeks we're open
funded-only sessions for 47.5 weeks of the year with pre-set non-attendance weeks which coincide with Christmas and school half terms

EYFE funding for working families

2-year-old, and Extended hours for 3- and 4-year-olds.

11.17 hours per week, 2-year-olds, over 51 weeks
22.35 hours per week, for 3 and 4-year-olds, over 51 weeks

If your child is having EYFE hours and additional non-funded hours the additional hours will be charged at £6.21 per hour.

If you want your child to have their EYFE-funded hours only, these stand-alone sessions can be taken as follows:

EYFE funding for families using funded only sessions

2-year-olds and universal funding for 3- and 4-year-olds.

12 hours per week. Either 3 half days (9am to 1pm or 1pm to 5pm) or 1 day (9am to 5pm) and 1 half day, 47.5 weeks per year

Meals (provided by Little Tums)

Hot lunch - £2.74.

Cold tea - £2.74.

Fees are calculated monthly according to the number of sessions in the month. You'll be invoiced in advance payable on the 1st of the month.

Due to a different number of sessions in a month, the fees are likely to vary each month. You will not be charged for the Christmas closure.

Bank holidays and other non-attendance

We do not charge for bank holidays. There's no reduction in charges for absence due to holiday, sickness or any other reason.

More information about session times and fees

There's a minimum requirement of 2 sessions per week.

There are no registration fees. A deposit of £200 in advance is required and will be taken off the first month’s fees.

We ask parents to provide wipes, nappies and lunch where applicable.

Ending your place

If you wish to end your place at Bright Start, we require one month's notice in writing to withdraw a child from their place.

Ofsted

Ofsted URN: 2595561

Latest Inspection: 07/12/2022 Inspection (Early Years Register) Outcome: MET

Registration Date: 17/06/2020

Contact Bright Start Nursery

We're located at: Bright Start Nursery Tarner Family Hub, Ivory Place, Brighton, BN2 9QE.

To organise a visit to the nursery or find out more:

phone 01273 29 1570
send an email to brightstartnursery@brighton-hove.gov.uk

Find out more about children's centre nurseries.