Parent Survey Feedback July 2025
66 individual responses received. Designed to be easy to complete and accessible. Direct web link and QR code sent to our school parents. Operated with translate function. Mix of multiple choice and open questions (examples below).
- What do you value most about nursery?
- What is your child’s favourite thing about nursery?
- If there was one thing you could change about your nursery experience what would it be?
- Do you feel confident you can talk to them (key person) about any concerns or celebrations?
- How do you find out about what your child has been learning about at nursery?
- Do you borrow books from our school library?
- Have you attended a family music session?
- Would you like to tell us anything else to help us improve?
Initial analysis indicates…
Exceptional Staff Confidence & Trust (95% satisfaction)
Parents have outstanding confidence in the nursery staff, with 63 out of 66 respondents (95%) feeling confident they can talk to their child’s key person about concerns or celebrations. This is a tremendous strength that reflects excellent relationship-building and professional practice.
Staff Quality is the #1 Valued Asset
What parents value most is overwhelmingly the quality of staff, followed by care & safety. Parents consistently praise the “affection and patience,” describe it as “like a family,” and specifically value how staff “get” their children, including those with additional needs.
Children Thrive on Social Connection & Outdoor Play
Children’s favourite things centre around friends and social interaction and outdoor activities. The emphasis on “friends and teachers – the people” and outdoor play suggests the nurseries are successfully creating a social, active learning environment.
Family engagement with nursery
- Music sessions: 48% attendance rate, but 20% find timing inconvenient
- Library: 30% are weekly users, engagement could be stronger
- Communication: Parents primarily rely on Tapestry and value verbal updates
We requested permission to publish ammonised parent comments on our website (examples below)
Little Hayes Parents
“I think all the staff do an amazing job! Nothing to improve on, in my opinion.”
“amazing staff and the outside space”
“My son really enjoys nursery—his favourite part is getting to interact with other children. He’s very social, so he loves making friends and playing in a group. He’s also really fond of the nursery staff; they’ve built a lovely bond with him, and he feels safe and supported around them. Another big highlight for him is the large garden—they spend a lot of time outdoors, and he absolutely loves having the space to run around and explore.”
“The staff are really friendly and helpful and make the children feel safe. Also the children have an access to the variety of resources and a big outdoor space.”
“We love how caring and friendly the teachers are! Thank you for creating a happy and safe place for our children to learn and grow. Keep up the great work”
“My child has grown in confidence with such supportive and kind staff. I am so pleased that he spent his preschool year at Little Hayes.”
“Nothing to improve, forever grateful for finding this amazing little haven for my baby girl. Thank you to my key person for your ongoing support and all the incredible members of staff at Little Hayes.”
“Honestly, the staff at Little hayes are amazing I couldn’t have prayed for a better nursery to help my little boy grow”
“Keep being the amazing people that you are.”
“very nice nursery good environment and very kind and helpful staff”
“Perfect don’t change”
“Little Hayes have been amazing in supporting my daughter. They have recognised where she had needed extra support and made adjustments to help her feel more confident in her surroundings.”
“My child has had a very positive experience at nursery, nothing I would change.”
“You are the best you don’t need to improve, simply you are the best”
What we value most is…
“the staff made me feel at ease about my child’s settling in journey.”
“We love how caring and friendly the teachers are! Thank you for creating a happy and safe place for our children to learn and grow. Keep up the great work”
“the positive and enthusiastic teachers”
“the lovely setting, nice staff”
“the security; health and safety; variety of activity they have for the children to do “
“friendly staff; teacher led provision; large outdoor space.”
“the interest in providing individual care. Feels like all of the staff really care which is really lovely.”
“the time and effort put in to help the children grow up with the relevant skills needed for moving up to school”
“how helpful the staff are”
“knowing my child is in safe hands with the most lovely staff, giving me time to focus on other important life admin and a positive future for my children”
“the staff and their care. The communication and transparency.”
“the behaviour, teaching style and supervision”
“my child’s learning and socialising”
“I value that she’s become very independent and confident she’s learnt to go to the toilet which was a big milestone for me.”
“how children are taught”
“What I value most about the nursery is the strong bond my son has developed with the staff. It gives me great peace of mind knowing that he feels settled, safe, and genuinely cared for when he’s there. The nurturing relationships he’s built with them mean a lot to both of us, and I truly appreciate the supportive environment they’ve created for him.”
“the friendly staff”
“teaching children motor skills to be independent”
“that my child loves it so much! Interacting with other children his age”
“the incredible staff!”
“I value the large garden as my child does not have a garden at home. Being outside is when my child is at her happiest.”
“I value the staff most of all for their caring, compassionate, and patient nature. “
“kind staff and very big garden”
“great teachers”
”the socialising and confidence boost it gives my daughter.”
“warm welcoming staff. Regular updates on my child’s progress. Amazing outdoor space. Secure environment, Gates always locked.”
My child’s favourite thing is…
“outside, particularly the woods or planting area. Also drawing and playing with friends.”
“She loves playing in the garden.”
“probably the freedom to do lots of different things”
“playing with her friends and suprising the staff with which teddy she will bring in in the morning!”
“playing with his friends and learning new things”
“Playing with the sand and water”
“the garden & he likes everything”
“spending time playing with her friends, drawing and singing”
“playing with friends and Teachers”
“dancing and playing being a teacher”
Speedwell Parents
“We love it and are extremely grateful to the whole staff team, but the reception staff are essential and perfect, they do a great service to the parents – listening to challenges especially. Thanks”
“Staff are wonderful, they put children’s needs above all else and know each child by name and character. Staff professionalism and kindness makes me feel my child has a safe place to be. I Would like to say a big thank you to everyone, it has been amazing and she will grow and blossom with the amazing start she had at Speedwell Nursery thank you.”
“They are amazing with my children, this is the 3rd child of mine to attend there, and it is by far the best nursery”
“Since my daughter started I saw her blossom and grow, to recognizie her name, colours, shapes, learn about families and so much more. Its been amazing she has loved every minute.”
“Keep hold of your staff they are your biggest asset. After sending my other children to private nursery’s and having high staff turnovers and bank staff daily. These women are truly not replaceable”
What we value most is…
“the affection and patience that the teachers have with him”
“everything it’s like a family and the teachers totally get my autistic son”
“is that the staff are welcoming and understanding and there to help, they are very helpful and always checking in. Wrens class is just an amazing team.”
“Staff are wonderful, they put children’s needs above all else and know each child by name and character. “
“I love the setting, environment/ atmosphere, the activities provided, the outdoors and even the gardening skills.”
“knowing she is safe and well cared for.”
“Quality care; Safe environment ; Communication; Activities “
“the friendly teachers”
“ the staff professionalism and kindness makes me feel my child has a safe place to be.”
“I value the care and attentiveness of the staff in wrens classroom, they are so caring and have so much patience. I love that EVERYONE that works in the nursery, no matter what work area, takes the time to get to know not just the kids that attend there but also their siblings who are there at drop off/pick ups.”
“Everyone is always so helpful and will do anything they can to help you. “
“their openness and a good community feel. Also the resources and initiatives of the nursey/staff. I love the volunteers that come in for show and tell.”
“I value the care and attentiveness from everyone at nursery from the teachers, the reception ladies and the brilliant SENCO. My son was deferred back to speedwell nursery for an extra year instead of school due to his learning needs as he is autistic and pre verbal. Everyone has just been amazing with him in the time that he’s been there, everyone has shown such love and care and I can never thank everyone enough for everything they have done in that time to help guide my child and myself on that journey, I will be truly sad when he does not attend anymore and I know my child for sure will miss his friend and support worker.”
“our child having time to socialise and make friends of their own. And having time to myself!”
“The care, attention and skill that exudes from my child’s key group teacher, and the warmth in care and support that all other members of staff give too.”
“the wonderful ladies that’s take such good care of my child”
“the staff – an amazing group of women who have looked after both my sons throughout their nursery journey. They’ve loved going in everyday and have always been welcomed and looked after with such love and care. Special thanks to their key people, who my sons absolutely love! I’d be lost without this place! As a working mum with not much family in Bristol, you have really helped me out and will be forever grateful.”
My child’s favourite thing is…
“seeing all the staff and playing in the garden and sand and home corner and he loves the music class”
“friends and teachers- the people.”
“Singing; Dancing; Sand play; Painting; Colouring; Playing outside”
“playing with cars and children”
“singing and dancing”
“My child in pre verbal but I know she loved being sang to.”
“the field and fun and friendly staff”
“learning and exploring”
“teachers and meeting with friends.”
“seeing their child and adult friends”
“the staff! She has been made to feel very welcome at speedwell and is always excited about her ‘speedwell days’. You have built a great relationship with her.”
“she also really enjoys the role play/home corner.”
“seeing her friends and teachers”
“his friends, staff and playing all day!”
High Overall Satisfaction with Targeted Improvement Areas
43% of parents said there’s “nothing to improve,”
28 parents provided specific suggestions:
- Session timing issues – including concerns about 6-hour sessions being too tiring for 2-year-olds and 2:30pm pickup conflicting with work
- Enhanced communication/feedback – more Tapestry updates, daily reports for younger children, clearer learning progress updates
- Wraparound care/extended hours – after school clubs, full-time options, wrap-around care
- Hot lunch/catering options – requests for hot food and school lunch provision
- Safety concerns – front gate security and traffic flow in alleyways
- More photos/pictures – additional visual updates on the app
- Parent engagement activities – bringing back parent singing/story times and stay-and-play sessions
As a team we used the feedback from the parent survey and discussed possible responses and changes/improvements in practice. These discussions were used to inform our draft SDP.
It is noted that some suggestions are within our ‘sphere of influence’ and some we, as an individual school, are not able to grant but the facts around these issues would benefit from better/ clearer communication with parents.
Session timing issues
Wraparound care/extended hours
Children currently receive either 15 or 30 hours government funded hours. Eligibility for these hours is determined by government criteria. An additional 15 hours, with in the same attendance pattern, is available as a fee paying place if we have availability.
Our current pattern of attendance is designed to maximise the number of places we can offer whilst maintaining stable, attachment aware practice. Our staffing model supports effective key person practice and promotes development of friendship groups and a sense of belonging for children.
Historically when morning and afternoon and whole day places are offered a strong preference for whole days was expressed by families. In individual cases attendance patterns can be altered in response to individual needs eg five mornings
Afterschool and breakfast clubs have been offered at both schools in the past. The level of consistent take up was not high enough to make the clubs financially sustainably long term. We can explore what costs would be with current ratios, staffing costs and sample occupancy rates and survey families for levels of interest.
Enhanced communication/feedback
More photos/pictures
We recognise that family communication is central to effective early years education. Careful attention needs to be given to the balance between providing written messages, e posts and photos and the possible interruption in classroom interactions this can cause. During the time children are at school high quality, attuned adult /child interactions are our priority.
Revisit and reflect on role of the practitioner in effective communication with families. (planned for INSET/ staff meetings) This is seen as a strength for many parents/carers therefore we need to reflect on consistency and reaching all families in ways that are accessible for them.
We have noticed that the numbers of parents engaging with Tapestry has fallen despite offers of support to access.
Launching new parent/ carer communication app, Class Dojo. This is the parent/carer communication app familiar to many families as it is used by most primary schools.
Raise staff awareness of sharing links with families to federation website with accessibility function and translations.
Termly ‘What we are learning’ posters and story map given as hard copy as well as electronically.
Investing in additional staff to facilitate parent/ carer progress meetings or phone calls for learning progress meetings.
Hot lunch/catering options
Free schools meals are not currently available to nursery aged children.
Very few parent/ carers were opting to book and pay for a hot school meal regularly, less than 10 on each site.
We were unhappy with the quality of the food, the choice and the service offered by the company that held the local authority contract. Due to the low numbers of meals being requested food was cooked off site and transported. Often food looked unappetising by the time it was served due to the long wait time. Other companies we approached would not deliver in such small quantities across two sites.
We are working with Childrens Kitchen organisation to support family learning about healthy lunch box options and access to reasonably priced healthy food.
Safety concerns
We are aware of the high priority gate security needs. We have a Drop off and Pick up times policy which details procedures and staff roles. Regular texts are sent reminding parents about the importance of closing the front entrance gates behind them. Following a suggestion we are going to trail requesting parent volunteers to stand on the entrance gates to remind other parents. (Saff also monitor the inside/ classroom entrances at pick up and drop off times and they are closed/ locked at other times)
At Speedwell site building work has been completed to facilitate better flow through the building and to allow access to the three classrooms.
Parent engagement activities
Our aim this school year is to enhance our offer of opportunities for families to engage with school based activities and home learning ideas. This will build on the activities piloted last year.
Staff and families making story, songs and games videos relating to our core books for use on our website.
Investment in additional staff time to focus on facilitating use of school library, book borrowing and family story telling.
Commitment to planning four afterschool ‘open house stay and play’ sessions over the year exploring the learning that happens in our fabulous outside spaces. These would also be an opportunity for parents to meet each other, socialise and make community links in a relaxed environment.
Share links to carefully chosen and relevant early learning websites/ apps on termly ‘What we are learning’ letter/ poster.
The very well received family music sessions with Ellie are continuing at each site and we are exploring a variety ways of offering this at different times of day and group sizes.
Little Lights project ‘Light up Language’ year two will working with the Speedwell team January to July and we have requested that we explore an element of family engagement.
This is funded partly through Pupil Premium funding and partly through voluntary contributions. Little Lights project is grant funded.
Physical space continues to be a challenge, especially at Little Hayes.