The onsite nursery at Bridgwater and Somerset College has been named as one of the top 20 nurseries in the whole of the South West by a leading national guide.

Mama Bear’s Day Nursery & Pre-School, which can be found on Wellington Road in Taunton, has been rated by parents and places in the top 20 nurseries in South West England, out of 1,099.

Leading day nurseries review site daynurseries.co.uk has awarded the top 20 with special awards based on the league table, which was compiled using reviews from parents and carers of children using the facilities.

The Mama Bear’s group, which runs 23 nursery settings across Somerset, Devon and Bristol, was also named in the Top 20 groups in the UK by the guide.

Davina Ludlow, chair of daynurseries.co.uk, said:

“We would like to congratulate Mama Bear’s Day Nursery in Taunton on being a top nursery in South West England as rated by parents! It is such an achievement to be chosen as one of the best nurseries by the families and carers of the children that attend the setting.

“Reviews of the top 20 nurseries show how these settings both stimulate and nurture children, boosting their social and emotional wellbeing and helping shape their development. We wanted to recognise the nurseries that play a vital role in educating and caring for children.”

Mama Bear’s is a family-run group owned by husband and wife Tony and Bev Driffield. Bev, who is an experienced early education practitioner, said:

“We are extremely proud to be named in these lists, not only individually for our Taunton nursery but for the group as a whole.

“Daynurseries.co.uk is a prestigious nursery guide, which is trusted by parents and so their recommendation means a lot.

“We work really hard to ensure we provide the highest standards of care and early years education at all of our settings across the South West and achievements like this shows that we are doing something right.

“Thank you to all the families who took the time to write such heartwarming reviews. We look forward to continuing to provide local families with affordable and quality childcare.”

Mama Bear’s nursery in Taunton caters for 53 children between the ages of three months and five years. With 11 staff, the nursery is open Monday-Friday from 7.30am until 7pm.

Nursery Manager Kerry Sturmey, said:

“Our Taunton setting is purpose-built and benefits from well-resourced rooms, free-flow access to a walled garden and on-site drop off and collection parking.

“We provide pre-school education as well as promoting good health and nutrition with a seasonal menu produced by our nursery cook.

“Although independently run we have strong links with the local college, including with many students who are parents.”

Mama Bear’s Day Nursery is a family run childcare organisation which was established in 2002 with the aim of making high-quality, affordable childcare available to families living, working or studying in the South West.

The Day Nurseries aim to provide children with their first vital level of education to give them a head-start when they start at primary school.

For more information or to register visit www.mamabear.co.uk or call Kerry Sturmey on 01823 276261.