The Early Years Academy Derby

135 Duffield Road, Derby DE22 1AF
Submit a Review
10 46 Reviews
  • The Early Years Academy Derby, Derby
The Early Years Academy puts the children at the forefront of everything they do!

The Early Years Academy believes that in order for children to learn and thrive they must first be happy, engaged, and motivated for thinking (learning) to occur.  

The Early Years Academy aims to create awe and wonder in every moment, providing environments that become alive with possibilities. Opening the world to children through enriched natural environments that teach each child to enjoy being in the moment; a moment that will never be again. Ensuring that each child has a strong sense of belonging builds a foundation for well-being, and becomes all that they can be through environments that are full of play, learning, and adventure. 

Care Provided by The Early Years Academy Derby

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

Good to Know

  • Person in charge
  • Maggie Bellamy (Manager)
  • Number of Childcare Staff
  • 40
  • Total Places for Children
  • 104
  • Age Range
    • from 0 years 3 months
    • to 5 years 0 months
  • Opening Times
  • Monday 07:30-18:00
    Tuesday 07:30-18:00
    Wednesday 07:30-18:00
    Thursday 07:30-18:00
    Friday 07:30-18:00
  • When Closed
  • Public Holidays & 1 week between Christmas & New Year

Funding & Fees Guide for The Early Years Academy Derby

  • £42.00 Morning and Afternoon sessions
    £74.00 Full Day
    £69.00 10 hour day
    £66.00 9 hour day
    £63.85 8 hour day


  • Fees are reviewed annually and remain competitive. A 10% discounted rate is applied to all full-time fees. 1-week holiday discount.


  • Parking
  • Limited parking spaces to the rear of the nursery.


The Early Years Academy Derby Reviews (46)

Total of 46, showing 21-40
10

The Early Years Academy Derby has a Review Score of 10 (9.950) out of 10, based on 32 reviews in the last 2 years. Over all time The Early Years Academy Derby has 46 reviews.

Overall Experience

  • 45
  • 1
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0

Date Published

46
8
10
32
14
Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

A brilliant nursery. Staff are kind, attentive and genuinely care for the children. Our little boy was anxious when starting (we’d just moved house) and they were so thoughtful in making him feel safe and settled, making him a lovely family book, finding out what we’d been up to as a family so they
could talk with him about it, and taking the time to do the things he enjoys.


They also run lots of events to bring the families into the nursery which has really helped him to settle - and for us to feel more a part of his experience and community there.


They always use communication through the App which we’ve found so much easier to engage with than the nursery we were at before moving up to Derby. The garden is brilliant, with so much space, and they’re always up for taking them out to play, which our little boy loves! The on-site chef makes sure they get exposed to all sorts of lovely and healthy meals.


Really couldn’t rate this nursery higher.


Facilities / Outside Space

Learning

Resources / Equipment / ICT

Care

Activities

Staff

Food / Nutrition

Management

Cleanliness

Safeguarding

Value for Money

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

I would definitely recommend this nursery. The staff are kind and caring and the activities they set up for the children are fantastic and really varied. There is lots of outside play. There is good communication with parents both in person and through the app.

Facilities / Outside Space

Learning

Resources / Equipment / ICT

Care

Activities

Staff

Food / Nutrition

Management

Cleanliness

Safeguarding

Value for Money

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Couldn’t speak higher of this nursery, the staff, the environment, the out of hours activities they put on are all fantastic! My little boy started in October 2023 and they helped him settle in so well. The updates and focus weeks are so well planned to suit his development needs and interests that
it puts my mind at total ease. Thank you early years!

Facilities / Outside Space

Learning

Resources / Equipment / ICT

Care

Activities

Staff

Food / Nutrition

Management

Cleanliness

Safeguarding

Value for Money

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

My daughter has been going to the Early Years Academy for just over a year now and she honestly loves it. I couldn’t believe how well she settled in and I’m really pleased I sent her there. The practitioners are all really lovely and get to know the children really well. They run several nice events
each term too which makes the parents really feel a part of the nursery experience. Communication is really good but also not too full on, just a nice balance. I’m really impressed and would recommend to anyone

Facilities / Outside Space

Learning

Resources / Equipment / ICT

Care

Activities

Staff

Food / Nutrition

Management

Cleanliness

Safeguarding

Value for Money

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Great staff who really take the time to understand and know your child.
They work very hard and my daughter is happy and safe at the nursery.
Lots of options for length of the day. Staff are kind. Would definitely recommend.

Facilities / Outside Space

Learning

Resources / Equipment / ICT

Care

Activities

Staff

Food / Nutrition

Management

Cleanliness

Safeguarding

Value for Money

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

The Early Years Academy Derby is an excellent choice for your little one. My baby started when she was just 4 months old and The Early Years Academy Derby team has taken care of her just as I would have done at home. They are so focused around ensuring the baby is comfortable at home, achieving all
the developmental milestones. I am so happy my baby is a part of The Early Years Academy Derby family.

Facilities / Outside Space

Learning

Resources / Equipment / ICT

Care

Activities

Staff

Food / Nutrition

Management

Cleanliness

Safeguarding

Value for Money

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

We are so happy with how our boy has developed at nursery and feel lucky that he is able to interact with such great staff. They always put the children first, provide a varied and well-balanced menu for meals and keep us well informed of his progress.

Facilities / Outside Space

Learning

Resources / Equipment / ICT

Care

Activities

Staff

Food / Nutrition

Management

Cleanliness

Safeguarding

Value for Money

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

My daughter has been attending The Early Years Academy for just over a year now and I couldn’t recommend it any more than I already do! The kind, welcoming nature of the staff makes you feel immediately at ease, as approachable, highly knowledgeable, and generally lovely people. All staff know you by
name and take a genuine interest in your home life, really giving that family feel. My daughter absolutely loves attending each day and has developed in leaps and bounds since she first started, which isn’t a surprise given the resources available, both in and outdoors. Staff ensure we, as parents, are involved at every step of the learning journey gaining our input for likes/dislikes and keep us regularly informed. The additional events are frequent, well organised, and really lovely additions to our overall experience. I couldn’t be happier with The Early Years Academy and know my child is in the best possible provision, feeling safe, secure, and nurtured.

Facilities / Outside Space

Learning

Resources / Equipment / ICT

Care

Activities

Staff

Food / Nutrition

Management

Cleanliness

Safeguarding

Value for Money

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

We are so impressed with Early Years Academy. The staff are wonderful with the children and everything is very child/family centred. They have a calm environment and nurturing approach, where the children are encouraged to explore and learn in an exciting way.

Facilities / Outside Space

Learning

Resources / Equipment / ICT

Care

Activities

Staff

Food / Nutrition

Management

Cleanliness

Safeguarding

Value for Money

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

My 8-year-old son attended The Early Years Academy before it was The Early Years Academy and he loved it! Some of the amazing staff remain in place and still have a great connection with him. My 2-year-old daughter now attends The Early Years Academy and she is also excited to go to nursery every day.
The staff are great, my daughter has formed some very strong bonds there and the environment, creativity and effort made around learning, fun and inclusion are just brilliant. As a busy working parent, I also really appreciate the fact the admin side of things is exceptionally efficient and that I can manage everything and see all of my daughter's progress through the app.

Facilities / Outside Space

Learning

Resources / Equipment / ICT

Care

Activities

Staff

Food / Nutrition

Management

Cleanliness

Safeguarding

Value for Money

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

My stepson has been attending The Early Years Academy for over 6 months now and I cannot speak more highly of the nursery, their staff and the service provided as a whole. Our child is on the autism spectrum and requires some additional oversight and care to ensure he thrives in their settings. The
Early Years Academy are wonderful at providing this, they have some SEND specialist staff who are worth their weight in gold, helping our child's development in a truly meaningful way. The manager at The Early Years Academy is great - highly responsive, accommodating to our needs and pro-active about ensuring the children have development plans that are personalized to their individual needs. Quite simply - we couldn't have asked or hoped for a better provider, we are very grateful for the time they put into our son and we would recommend this nursery to anybody in the area.

Facilities / Outside Space

Learning

Resources / Equipment / ICT

Care

Activities

Staff

Food / Nutrition

Management

Cleanliness

Safeguarding

Value for Money

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

We continue to be delighted with The Early Years Academy. Our son has been attending for ten months now, and he enjoys going every day. The staff are consistently kind and caring, and I have had no concerns at any point. They take the time to understand his needs.
The food cooked for them is of a
high standard and always varied. Activities seem different every day, and the children are always outdoors when the weather allows.
The environment is superb, always clean, tidy and with a welcoming feel.
We had the choice of three nurseries in close proximity, and we have no regrets about choosing The Early Years Academy. Thank you to everyone!

Facilities / Outside Space

Learning

Resources / Equipment / ICT

Care

Activities

Staff

Food / Nutrition

Management

Cleanliness

Safeguarding

Value for Money

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Our children have been attending The Early Years Academy Derby for a year and a half. Both settled in really well and always look forward to going to nursery and come home very happy. Our two-year-old has special needs due to physical and health-related issues which require additional care and management
of his condition. The support from the nursery has been wonderful, the staff know him well and have a good understanding of his needs and take his needs seriously to ensure his well-being needs are met.

Facilities / Outside Space

Learning

Resources / Equipment / ICT

Care

Activities

Staff

Food / Nutrition

Management

Cleanliness

Safeguarding

Value for Money

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

The Early Years Academy Derby is a fantastic childcare setting! The staff are attentive, really taking time to get to know each child and how to help them enjoy their day at nursery. Training and development are clearly high on the agenda, and this shows in the opportunities given to the children to
learn through play. The physical environment is welcoming, homely and clean. My child usually cleans his plate so it's safe to say that the meals served get the seal of approval too! Communication and updates via the app are very thorough, and the time taken by the staff to talk to the parents at either end of the day is really beneficial. I wouldn't hesitate in recommending The Early Years Academy to anyone!

Facilities / Outside Space

Learning

Resources / Equipment / ICT

Care

Activities

Staff

Food / Nutrition

Management

Cleanliness

Safeguarding

Value for Money

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

The Early Years Academy Derby has been a great first experience in childcare for our daughter. The staff are very caring and passionate. They are always doing new sparks and activities with the children.

Facilities / Outside Space

Learning

Resources / Equipment / ICT

Care

Activities

Staff

Food / Nutrition

Management

Cleanliness

Safeguarding

Value for Money

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

We are very happy with The Early Years Academy Derby. The staff are excellent, trained and very supportive of the kids' development, but also with the family's specific needs and challenges. The nursery is well-equipped and the premises are beautiful. They provide an excellent diet, our son loves the
food. Nappies, milk and cream are all included, which is very convenient. We would highly recommend The Early Years Academy to other parents.

Facilities / Outside Space

Learning

Resources / Equipment / ICT

Care

Activities

Staff

Food / Nutrition

Management

Cleanliness

Safeguarding

Value for Money

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

I just wanted to pass on our gratitude to all the wonderful staff at The Early Years Academy. I for one was very concerned about my daughter starting nursery, it's not an experience I have ever enjoyed and certainly, with my older son, there were times when I felt guilty for sending him, or would find
myself worrying about him etc. Since starting she is very visibly happy and well cared for. All the staff have been accommodating and the communication is the best I have known. I can honestly say I feel happy for her when it's one of her days as I know she's going to have the best fun and care. The setting is out of the way for us, ideally, it would have been a nursery closer to our home or work. We both agree it is 100% worth the extra travel to get our daughter there.


We are so grateful to have found The Early Years Academy and couldn't be happier.


Facilities / Outside Space

Learning

Resources / Equipment / ICT

Care

Activities

Staff

Food / Nutrition

Management

Cleanliness

Safeguarding

Value for Money

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Our son sustained an injury at home meaning he had to take some time out of nursery. He is continuing to recover and returned to nursery this week. We were nervous how this might go, but it went so, so amazingly well. We felt we needed to formally thank the manager and all her wonderful team! The staff
supported our son like he was family, encouraging him, supporting him and adapting activities to include him. He's had the most amazing time and his walking has improved greatly in just two days! The staff are utterly amazing and supported us greatly. Thank you for everything you do!

Facilities / Outside Space

Learning

Resources / Equipment / ICT

Care

Activities

Staff

Food / Nutrition

Management

Cleanliness

Safeguarding

Value for Money

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

I am so happy that I found The Early Years Academy for my little boy, who started in April. It is such a lovely and caring place and the staff have been fantastic at helping to settle my son in and keep me updated both in person and through the app. They have so many activities for the children to really
spark their imagination and get involved in all sorts! My little boy loves being outside and the space is fantastic for him to run around in, and the setting that the staff have created inside is just brilliant with water play, sand play, dinosaurs, nature stations, you name it! The effort that the team go to with things like getting the children involved in the Queen's Jubilee is amazing and so much fun for the little ones. A really lovely and caring place, I would highly recommend.

Facilities / Outside Space

Learning

Resources / Equipment / ICT

Care

Activities

Staff

Food / Nutrition

Management

Cleanliness

Safeguarding

Value for Money

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

My little boy has been at the nursery since he was 9 months old he is now 2 and a half, he loves every minute of it and has come such a long way in his development, he has built such strong bonds with the staff members and is excited to get to nursery every morning to see the staff and his friends.
The staff's communication is fantastic and they are always happy to answer any questions I have about him, the app is always updated throughout the day so I can have constant updates on how he is doing. The setting is a lovely place for the children. I couldn’t wish for a better place for my son to be and couldn’t thank the staff enough for everything they do.

Facilities / Outside Space

Learning

Resources / Equipment / ICT

Care

Activities

Staff

Food / Nutrition

Management

Cleanliness

Safeguarding

Value for Money

Current Review Score: 10.0 (9.950)

Overview of Review Score

The Review Score of 10 (9.950) out of 10 for The Early Years Academy Derby 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 32 Reviews in the last 24 months.

  • b) The score for the number of positive Reviews is 5.0 out of 5 from 32 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 4.950 for The Early Years Academy Derby is calculated as follows: ( (363 Excellents x 5) + (19 Goods x 4) ) ÷ 382 Ratings = 4.95

  • 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 5 Points relating to the number of positive Reviews for The Early Years Academy Derby is based on 32 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 + 0.125 + 0.125 + 0.1 + 0.1 + 0.1 + 0.1 + 0.1 = 4

    • 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 104 number of registered child places is 20.8, which has been reached with 32 Positive reviews. Points = 1

  • 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)

Loading...

Loading

Loading
Loading

Loading

Loading

Loading

Loading

Loading events

Loading

Meet the Team (1)

Margaret

Margaret Bellamy

Job Title: Nursery Manager

Joined: 2023

Maggie is a dedicated and experienced early years professional with 17 years in childcare and 14 years in nursery management. She has a passion for delivering outstanding outcomes for children, families, and staff, ensuring high-quality provision and continuous improvement. Since joining The Early Years Academy 15 months ago, she has embraced its ethos while bringing fresh, innovative ideas to enhance learning, sustainability, and staff development.