Sandhurst Nursery School

Nature and children's own interests give Sandhurst Nursery School its character. Forest School brings learning into the natural world, while the Curiosity Approach gives children time to investigate what interests them. These are practical priorities for families who want exploration to shape early education, rather than a day built around sitting still.

At its 21 March 2024 inspection, Ofsted rated the nursery Good overall. The most useful detail beneath that judgement is the combination of hands-on learning, attention to communication and emotional support, alongside a clear improvement point about responding more promptly to quieter children.

Sandhurst has capacity for 42 children aged two to five, at 14 The Oaks, Owlsmoor Road. Its standard year runs for 38 weeks during term time. Flexible funded sessions normally have a three-hour minimum, making the length of the child's day an important part of the choice.

Learning and Activities

The early years foundation stage sets the framework for children's learning, development and care: play supports language, physical development and learning about the world. Forest School and the Curiosity Approach sit alongside that framework. The former emphasises exploration of nature; the latter follows children's interests and gives them space to question, experiment and solve problems. Neither replaces the framework's requirements.

In March 2024, learning used children's interests as a starting point for practical activities. One example involved cutting citrus fruit, extracting its juice and adding bicarbonate of soda to produce fizz. The purpose went beyond an entertaining experiment: the hand movements supported the control children would later need for pencils. It is a useful example of early learning with a clear developmental purpose.

Teaching in that period also involved listening to children's ideas and helping them work with adults. Sharing and turn-taking received encouragement, with gentle guidance when children struggled. The important qualification is that quieter children sometimes waited longer for help to join games or return to activities. A child who hangs back needs an adult to notice, rather than simply an interesting activity nearby.

Outdoor and Community Life

In March 2024, the large indoor space connected readily with outdoor learning. Children climbed trees, played with sand and used bicycles and trikes, giving physical development several different outlets. Outdoor play was part of the daily routine at that time, rather than an occasional addition.

Safety was also part of those experiences. Children understood that the slide should be used individually, that digging needed care and that running in the garden meant watching for obstacles. These examples put everyday judgement into familiar play situations. The current emphasis on nature through Forest School makes outdoor exploration a central consideration for families choosing Sandhurst.

Relationships and Communication

In March 2024, family books and photographs of important people and animals helped staff talk with children about life beyond nursery and offer reassurance. They gave children something personal to share, rather than requiring them to explain everything through words alone. Parents also received information about activities, achievements and development.

The emotions area provided another way into conversation. Children could choose a bottle containing coloured items corresponding to a Colour Monster feeling, then discuss that feeling with an adult. This connected an abstract idea, recognising an emotion, with an object a child could select. For a child still developing the words to describe distress or excitement, that is a concrete starting point.

Inclusion and Wellbeing

At the March 2024 inspection, Ofsted found safeguarding effective and support for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities good, with developmental information, parents' contributions and professional advice used to arrange additional help. That is a dated assessment of practice, rather than a guarantee about any individual child's experience.

Current support roles include a special educational needs coordinator and a safeguarding lead within the manager's responsibilities, alongside a speech and language lead. These roles give families identifiable areas of responsibility when discussing communication or additional needs. Staff language skills include Lithuanian, Polish, Russian and English; these have helped communication with children and parents whose first language is not English.

In March 2024, communication was a deliberate priority: adults listened carefully, maintained eye contact and were learning to accompany speech with signs. Children also practised washing their hands before eating and understood the connection with germs. The care described was woven into ordinary interaction and routines.

Sessions and Attendance

The address is 14 The Oaks, Owlsmoor Road, Sandhurst, Berkshire, GU47 0SD. Opening hours are 8am to 3pm on Mondays and Fridays, and 8am to 4pm on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays; weekends are closed. These hours can change according to families' needs. The standard attendance year is term time, covering 38 weeks.

Funded bookings can use those weekday opening windows. Standard funded sessions should last at least three hours, up to a maximum of eight hours in a day. The standard morning attendance boundaries are drop-off by 10am and collection from noon. These are attendance boundaries, rather than fixed session start and end times; families can discuss different arrangements if they do not fit their needs.

Enquiries can be made by telephone on 01344 761414 or through the nursery's message form. Visits can also be arranged by telephone or message.

Funding and Paid Extras

Funded childcare and privately paid hours are offered. Term-time funding includes provision for eligible two-year-olds, the 15-hour entitlement for three- and four-year-olds, and an additional 15 hours for eligible three- and four-year-olds. Eligibility conditions apply to the additional entitlement and to two-year-old funding; the nursery's participation does not establish a particular family's eligibility.

Unfunded hours are charged separately from the funded entitlement. Current prices come in the nursery's written quotation. The funding and fees page sets out the hourly charging structure, so families combining funded and paid attendance should distinguish the two when reviewing their booking.

• Quieter children. In March 2024, some children who were unsure or withdrew from activities needed faster adult support. During a visit, ask how staff notice a child hanging back and help them participate.
• Term-time planning. The standard year covers 38 weeks, and Monday and Friday opening ends at 3pm. Compare those arrangements with the childcare cover your family needs across the week and school holidays.
• The complete quotation. Standard funded sessions have a three-hour minimum and private hours are charged separately. Ask for a written breakdown covering your proposed hours, meals and non-food consumables before committing.

Sandhurst suits families seeking term-time childcare for children aged two to five, with flexible session lengths and learning shaped by nature and children's interests. Forest School and the Curiosity Approach give its current educational offer a clear direction; the March 2024 examples add substance through practical experimentation and emotional communication.

The central consideration is how that approach works for your child. A confident explorer and a child who needs encouragement to join in may need different adult responses. The quieter-child improvement point deserves attention, while the attendance windows make the practical fit just as important as the educational one.