Where Little Minds Grow
Bradford's most loved nursery, nurturing your child's potential
Why Melbourne Day Nursery Stands Out
Discover the exceptional features that make us Bradford's most trusted nursery for your little ones
Flexible Hours
From 7:30am to 6:00pm daily, we adapt to your family's schedule with flexible drop-off and pick-up times.
Qualified Staff
All practitioners are DBS checked, paediatric first aid certified, and passionate about early years education.
Fresh Meals
Home-cooked nutritious meals prepared daily in our kitchen, accommodating all dietary requirements and allergies.
About Us
For over 15 years, Melbourne Day Nursery has been Bradford's trusted partner for exceptional early years care. We believe every child deserves a nurturing environment where they feel safe, valued, and inspired to explore.
Our family-run approach creates a home-away-from-home where children thrive through play, learning, and meaningful connections with caring educators who become part of your extended family.
Safety First
CCTV, secure entry, DBS staff
Inclusion
Every child celebrated
Partnership
Working with parents
Excellence
Continuous improvement
"Every child who walks through our doors becomes part of the Melbourne family. We don't just care for children – we nurture their curiosity, celebrate their uniqueness, and lay foundations for lifelong learning."
Sarah Mitchell, Nursery Director
Our Rooms
Discover nurturing spaces designed for every stage of your child's development
Busy Babies
Our warm, sensory-rich environment supports your baby's earliest milestones with soft play areas, calming sleep spaces, and dedicated key workers who build secure attachments.
- Heuristic play & sensory exploration
- Separate sleep rooms with natural lighting
- Messy play & tummy time areas
- 1:3 staff ratios
Caterpillars
Toddlers blossom through imaginative play, story time, and early independence skills in our vibrant Caterpillars room designed for curious minds.
- Role play & dress-up corner
- Creative arts & crafts station
- Potty training support
- 1:4 staff ratios
Butterflies
Pre-schoolers develop confidence and school readiness through structured learning, phonics, early maths, and social skills in our inspiring Butterflies room.
- Phonics & early literacy
- Mathematical concepts
- Computer & technology corner
- 1:8 staff ratios
Outdoor Play Area
Our secure outdoor classroom offers year-round learning through nature exploration, physical development, and fresh air adventures.
- Mud kitchen & digging area
- Climbing frames & balance beams
- Growing garden & nature trail
- All-weather outdoor learning
Ready to explore our rooms?
Book a personal tour and see why Melbourne Day Nursery feels like home for your family
Book Your VisitCurriculum
Building bright futures through the Early Years Foundation Framework, enhanced with creative experiences
Sensory & Messy Play
Hands-on exploration develops fine motor skills and cognitive understanding through playdough, water play, sand, paint and sensory trays.
Outdoor Exploration
Daily outdoor learning builds physical confidence, risk assessment skills, and environmental awareness through gardening, nature walks and outdoor investigations.
Story Time & Early Literacy
Daily stories, rhymes, mark-making and phonics sessions develop communication skills, vocabulary and early reading foundations in engaging ways.
Role Play & Expressive Arts
Creative expression through dress-up, puppet shows, music, dance and art builds imagination, confidence and emotional intelligence.
Numeracy & Problem Solving
Number recognition, counting, patterns and puzzles introduced through play-based activities that make maths meaningful and fun.
Physical Development
Gross motor skills through climbing, running and dancing. Fine motor development with threading, construction and pencil control activities.
EYFS Enhanced Framework
We follow the Early Years Foundation Stage framework while adding our special touches that make learning magical. Each child has a personal learning journey tracked through observations and parent partnerships.
- Personal, Social & Emotional Development
- Communication & Language
- Physical Development
- Literacy & Mathematics
- Understanding the World
- Expressive Arts & Design
Learning Journals
Every child has a personal learning journey captured in photos, videos and observations
Parent Partnerships
Regular updates, parent workshops and home learning activities
Nutrition
Nourishing growing minds and bodies with fresh, balanced meals prepared daily in our kitchen
Fresh, Home-Cooked Meals
Every meal is prepared fresh on-site by our qualified cook using locally-sourced ingredients. Children learn independence by serving themselves, helping with meal preparation, and understanding where food comes from.
Balanced Nutrition
All meals meet NHS Eatwell guidelines
Dietary Needs
Vegetarian, halal, dairy-free, gluten-free
Allergy Aware
Strict protocols for allergies and intolerances
Social Dining
Family-style meals build social skills
Sample Weekly Menu
Monday
Breakfast: Porridge with berries • Lunch: Chicken & vegetable pasta bake • Snack: Fruit kebabs
Tuesday
Breakfast: Wholegrain toast • Lunch: Fish fingers with sweet potato wedges • Snack: Yogurt & oatcakes
Wednesday
Breakfast: Scrambled eggs • Lunch: Vegetable curry with rice • Snack: Apple slices & cheese
Thursday
Breakfast: Cereal & milk • Lunch: Homemade pizza with salad • Snack: Banana muffins
Friday
Breakfast: Fruit smoothies • Lunch: Beef & vegetable casserole • Snack: Rice cakes & hummus
Meet the Team
Passionate educators dedicated to providing exceptional care and early years education
Sarah Mitchell
Nursery Director
15+ years experience • BA Early Childhood Studies • "Every child's smile makes my day complete"
Emma Johnson
Deputy Manager
12 years experience • NVQ Level 5 • "Creating magical learning moments every day"
Lisa Patel
Lead Practitioner
8 years experience • Early Years Teacher Status • "Nurturing curious minds through play-based learning"
Every Team Member Has
Enhanced DBS
Paediatric First Aid
Level 3+ Qualification
Safeguarding Trained
Testimonials
What parents say about Melbourne Day Nursery
Sarah J.
Mum to James (3)
"Melbourne Day Nursery has been incredible for James. He's grown so confident and loves going each morning. The staff truly care about every child."
Emma L.
Mum to Olivia (2)
"The progress Olivia has made since starting at Melbourne is remarkable. She's more confident, her speech has improved dramatically, and she talks about her friends constantly."
Rebecca M.
Mum to Noah (18 months)
"After visiting several nurseries in Bradford, Melbourne stood out immediately. The warmth and dedication of the staff is evident in everything they do. Noah settled in within days!"
