Berkeley Gardens Day Nursery

72 Berkeley Avenue, Reading RG1 6HY
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8.4 11 Reviews
  • Berkeley Gardens Day Nursery, Reading
Berkeley Gardens Day Nursery provides care for children in the Reading area.

Berkeley Gardens Gardens Day Nursery provides quality care for children between the ages of 3 months and 5 years of age.

The nursery's ethos is to create an environment where children are engaged, motivated, independent thinkers, who have a positive attitude to learning, supported by secure and respectful relationships.

The team work in close partnership with parents/carers to ensure that each child's needs are individually met so that children can reach their full potential during their time at Berkley Gardens.

There is a large garden where children can explore and practise different skills, including large equipment, bikes, mud kitchen and role play.

Meals are freshly prepared daily for children to enjoy by a onsite cook with individual children's dietary needs catered for. Meals are balanced and fresh produce is used daily.

Care Provided by Berkeley Gardens Day Nursery

  • Type of Service
  • Day Nursery – Privately Owned
  • Open all year
  • Full Day Care

Good to Know

  • Person in charge
  • Maria Hine (Manager)
  • Number of Childcare Staff
  • 30
  • Total Places for Children
  • 98
  • Age Range
    • from 0 years 3 months
    • to 5 years 0 months
  • Opening Times
  • Monday 08:00-18:00
    Tuesday 08:00-18:00
    Wednesday 08:00-18:00
    Thursday 08:00-18:00
    Friday 08:00-18:00
  • When Closed
  • Bank Holidays & from 2pm Christmas Eve until the first working day after New Year.

Funding & Fees Guide for Berkeley Gardens Day Nursery

  • Under 2's - £85 per day,
    Over 2's - £77 per day.
    Full time discounted rate:
    Under 2's - £365 per week,
    Over 2's - £345 per week.


  • Contact us for information regarding the government funding available
    Fees were revised May 2023


  • Parking
  • Parking is available at the nursery.


Berkeley Gardens Day Nursery Reviews (11)

8.4

Berkeley Gardens Day Nursery has a Review Score of 8.4 (8.375) out of 10, based on 3 reviews in the last 2 years. Over all time Berkeley Gardens Day Nursery has 11 reviews.

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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

My daughter has been with the nursery since she was 13 months started when Covid hit and the nursery has always been great to keep you up to date with their day with photos and written-up dates.
They have extra weekly activities like wiggle waggle my daughter loves dancing each week and learning new
routines.
The staff are great and always have time to talk if you need them it feels like a family-run nursery. They have a great outdoor space which they use as much as they can which is great for all the children to explore.
We are sad to be leaving the nursery in August to begin school but the memories and friends my daughter made in her early years have been amazing.
Would recommend to anyone to send their children here.

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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

This nursery is beyond words. It is such a pleasure to talk to the staff and my daughter is so happy to go there! the pictures and videos they have from each time my daughter goes show how much effort they go through to ensure the children are safe and happy.
I have on occasion needed the nursery's
help with various things and they are very accommodating.
The fact that my daughter spent very little time getting used to the nursery speaks for itself. I'm so grateful for their help, as a mother it just brings some relief knowing that I'm dropping my child to a place she loves.
The best nursery in locally.

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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Our boy has been in Dragonflies for 18 months and he loves it he has learnt so much from being there made loads of great friends and the staff look after them all so well.
We are so glad he got to spend his years before school there and we are going to miss him being there a lot.

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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Very well organised and managed nursary. Children all seem happy and well cared for. Good facilities inside and out and helpful staff. Never had any concerns and our child has been a happy attendee for 3 years. Very happy to recommend.

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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

This is an exceptional nursery, taking quite fantastic care of our two children’s mental and physical development. Where there are issues with, for example, our children’s behaviour, the nursery takes significant time to explain them to us and helps us to work through them with the child. I can’t recommend
us nursery highly enough. It has transformed the lives of our children.

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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Both our children are with Berkeley Gardens Day Nursery and they have been happy and fulfilled there from day one. Even our baby who was born in lockdown immediately took to the warm, welcoming and highly competent carers he was placed with there. The nursery have supported us with our eldest who is
showing signs of autism and their care and support has made both him and us more confident. We’ve moved across town but still bring the children here because we know they will get the best care from the best people. Highly recommend.

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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

I can not recommend Berkeley Gardens Day Nursery enough. It has been fabulous for my son’s development and social skills. There are so many activities on offer each day and also French lessons and Wiggle-Waggle dancing.
The staff are amazing and they are very good at providing regular feedback and
updates.
My son loves going to nursery, which is a huge relief in the mornings when I drop him off. He doesn’t even say goodbye to me!

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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Really happy with the level of care for my son at this nursery. Ever since he started he settled in really well and he enjoys going. As a parent, they have put me at ease to leave him the whole day whilst I’m at work. Highly recommended!

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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

I rarely write reviews except something is truly exceptional or when it is the opposite. Berkeley Gardens is a brilliant nursery and extremely well managed. The staff and in-house team go above and beyond in providing a great childcare experience (I tried two other nurseries before this). I only hope
they maintain the very high standard we have now come to expect. Drop offs are guilt free. Door policy with camera before opening is brilliant. The food, healthy and fresh. The fussiest eater will try. Nappies wipes included. My child's key person is truly phenomenal. Not phoney or fake nice. Toys, outdoor space are a child's dream come true. My feedback and concerns feel valued. Without looking like a paid reviewer (I'm just very demanding like most parents), if you are looking for a nursery for a very loved little one and not just any will do, then look no further. You will not regret it. One thing, it is not cheap. It is very good value (think a really good Waitrose) which is miles better than cheap.

Reply from Claire Hermitage, Director of Childcare at Berkeley Gardens Day Nursery

Thank you so much for your wonderful comments Adenike, we really appreciate your feedback.


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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Excellent and flexible day nursery with super friendly staff. My 17 month old has been attending since January 2017 and really enjoys himself there.


I have been impressed with the range of activities he does and that he has been taught to feed himself by his key worker.


Reply from Claire Hermitage, Director of Childcare at Berkeley Gardens Day Nursery

Thank you for your feedback, we really appreciate you taking the time to review the Nursery.


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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

My son attended the nursery from 2016 - March 2017 and unfortunately, due to work and future plans we had to relocate to Farnborough.


I have to say, without doubt, this is the best nursery by far and trust me when I say this because I have tried other 3 places before they had space for my son.


I

just really wish I could take them with me.


The staffs are exceptionally awesome in the way they take care of the children and all the activities they filled in all week.


The morning cuddles and evening updates. Amazing place and hardworking people.


My son has learned a lot and made lots of friends that he is already missing.


Reply from Claire Hermitage, Director of Childcare at Berkeley Gardens Day Nursery

Thank you for your kind comments, we really appreciate the time you have taken to write the review and we wish you and your family all the very best for the future.


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Current Review Score: 8.4 (8.375)

Overview of Review Score

The Review Score of 8.4 (8.375) out of 10 for Berkeley Gardens Day Nursery is based on a) the Average Rating and b) the number of positive Reviews.

  • a) The Average Rating is 5.0 out of 5 from 3 Reviews in the last 24 months.

  • b) The score for the number of positive Reviews is 3.4 out of 5 from 3 positive Reviews in the last 24 months.

Detailed Breakdown of Review Score

The maximum Review Score for a Day Nursery is 10, which is made up from the Average Rating of Reviews (maximum of 5 points) and the Number of Reviews (maximum of 5 points) in the last 24 months:

  • a) 5 Points are available for the Average Rating from all Reviews in the last 24 months.

    The Average Rating of 4.972 for Berkeley Gardens Day Nursery is calculated as follows: ( (35 Excellents x 5) + (1 Goods x 4) ) ÷ 36 Ratings = 4.972

  • b) 5 Points are available for the number of Positive Reviews in the last 24 months. A Positive Review is defined as any Review with an 'Overall Experience' of '4' or '5' (out of a max rating '5').

    The 3.403 Points relating to the number of positive Reviews for Berkeley Gardens Day Nursery is based on 3 positive Reviews in the last 24 months and is calculated as per below:

    The 5 points available are broken down as follows:

    • i) 4 points are available for the first 10 Positive Reviews in the last 24 months; 3 points for the first Positive Review, and then 0.125 Points for each of the next four Positive Reviews and then 0.1 Points for the next five Positive Reviews. (1st = 3.000, 2nd = 0.125, 3rd = 0.125, 4th = 0.125, 5th = 0.125, 6th = 0.100, 7th = 0.100, 8th = 0.100, 9th = 0.100, 10th = 0.100) 3 + 0.125 + 0.125 = 3.25

    • ii) 1 point is available for the number of Positive Reviews reaching 20% of the number of registered child places in the last 24 months. If this number is partially reached, then that proportion of 1 point is given. eg a Day Nursery registered for a maximum of 50 child places has to reach 10 Positive Reviews to receive 1 point, if it has 7 reviews it will receive 0.7 points. 20% of the 98 number of registered child places is 19.6. 3 Positive Reviews ÷ 19.6 = 0.153

  • When a Review is submitted by someone who has previously submitted a Review, only the latest Review will count towards the Review Score.

  • If a Day Nursery does not have a review in the last 24 months, then it will not have a Review Score.

Child Vacancies

Please Contact Us for Latest Vacancies

Awards / Recognitions (0)

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Meet the Team (1)

Maria

Maria Hine

Job Title: Nursery Manager

Joined: 2002

Maria Hine, NVQ 3, Nursery Manager, joined the Nursery team in October 2002. Maria took on the position as Nursery Manager in March 2018. Maria previously worked at our sister Nursery Forbury Gardens Day Nursery as the Deputy Manager before transferring over to Berkeley. Maria completed her Level 3 Qualification with the Nursery and worked in a variety of roles from Nursery Nurse to Room Leader to more senior positions.


Maria has a vast experience of child development and has worked in all age groups. Maria has attended a variety of training courses and has a Level 3 Diploma in Management and Leadership. Maria also works in the role of Designated Safeguarding Officer. Maria is a mum to 3 children who all attended the Nursery before starting school.


Frequently Asked Questions about Berkeley Gardens Day Nursery

What is the Age Range of Children that Berkeley Gardens Day Nursery accepts?

Berkeley Gardens Day Nursery accepts Children aged from 0 years 3 months to 5 years 0 months.

What Days & Hours is Berkeley Gardens Day Nursery Open?

Berkeley Gardens Day Nursery is open: Monday 08:00-18:00, Tuesday 08:00-18:00, Wednesday 08:00-18:00, Thursday 08:00-18:00, Friday 08:00-18:00.

How many Children does Berkeley Gardens Day Nursery have capacity for?

Berkeley Gardens Day Nursery has capacity for a total of 98 Children.

How far is Berkeley Gardens Day Nursery to the centre of Reading?

1.0 mile(s) as the crow flies, distance by road may be significantly further.