News release

Watcombe Children’s Centre Nursery is the first nursery in Torbay to be awarded The Bristol Standard, recognising its commitment to improving the quality and effectiveness of its provision for children and their families.

The nursery works in close partnership with Watcombe Primary School and TCouncil’s Early Years Service.

The Bristol Standard framework enables settings to develop the quality of their care and play through self evaluation. Staff, children and parents are all involved in identifying the setting’s strengths, what they want to improve and how it will benefit the children. Certificates, which last a year, are then awarded to settings which demonstrate they have set appropriate challenges for improvement.

Feedback from the external validators stated that ‘Watcombe Children’s Centre Nursery has clearly worked through the standard with precision and depth. The submission clearly demonstrates the ethos and importance the setting gives to including parents in their children’s learning.’

Nursery Manager, Mary Gay, said: “I am delighted all our efforts in working towards The Bristol Standard have been recognised. It shows that we are committed to giving our children the very best care and making even more improvements. The benefits for the children have been very evident, the reviewing of practice has already lead to the creation of an extended outside space.

“I would like to thank all the staff and parents for their help over the past 12 months – their hard work has enabled the nursery to achieve this accolade.”

Torbay Council’s Executive Lead for Children, Schools and Families, Councillor Chris Lewis, said: “Well done to Watcombe Children’s Centre Nursery for going that extra mile to ensure its children have the very best care and provisions.

“Torbay Council is committed to improving the quality of services and our Early Years Team promotes The Bristol Standard to all early years settings in the Bay. Currently 35% of Early Years settings are taking part in this framework so I hope Watcombe Nursery’s award be the first of many.”

– Nik Salter