My Ohana Cheltenham Nursery

Open-plan rooms, direct access to an all-weather outdoor area and a minibus for trips give My Ohana Cheltenham Nursery a clear character: space to explore, both on its Gloucestershire College campus and beyond it. Preschool children have a weekly outdoor learning programme. The physical layout makes outdoor activity part of the setting’s everyday possibilities, rather than something dependent on an occasional outing.

At the January 2026 inspection, Ofsted judged achievement, behaviour and routines, welfare and wellbeing, curriculum and teaching, inclusion, and leadership and governance to be Strong standard, with safeguarding standards met. Those are area judgements, rather than an overall grade. The useful detail lies in ordinary moments: children taking responsibility for snacks, using story props and learning how to manage familiar routines.

There are 52 places in total, with an accepted age range of 3 to 60 months. Full-day, morning and afternoon attendance patterns serve different family routines, subject to a minimum weekly booking.

Learning and Activities

The early years foundation stage provides the framework for children’s learning, development and care: play, communication and everyday routines are opportunities to learn. Alongside it, My Ohana’s group-wide curriculum allows planned activities to change direction in response to children’s interests. At Cheltenham, observation of children’s development also shapes the activities staff plan. For parents, that means a child’s interests can influence what happens next, while essential skills remain part of the day.

In January 2026, toddlers practised words describing position and joined counting songs, while staff drew attention to the sounds within words. Preschool children used coins to obtain fruit at snack time. This gave counting a practical purpose: numbers helped them complete a familiar task, rather than remaining an isolated group activity.

Storytelling supplied another route into language. In January 2026, children handled props while recounting familiar stories and explained how they recognised the characters. Adults used questions to extend the conversation. Children therefore had opportunities to describe, remember and explain, as well as listen.

In January 2026, independence developed through age-appropriate tasks: babies reached their water cups, toddlers followed visual prompts and preschool children took responsibility at mealtimes.

Outdoor and Community Life

Ground-floor rooms lead directly to a large outdoor learning area with partial cover. That arrangement gives children room to move between indoor activities and outdoor exploration throughout the year. A nearby park adds another setting for outdoor learning, while access to the onsite minibus supports regular trips further afield.

Outdoor Learning is one of My Ohana’s group-wide enrichment programmes, bringing learning into outdoor settings; Cheltenham’s preschool children take part in an outdoor learning programme each week. Trips have included historical landmarks and a local farm, where children saw animals and picked fruit. Those experiences connect nursery activities with places and processes children can encounter beyond the campus.

In January 2026, outings also took children to a care home nearby and the local library, extending their experiences beyond the nursery group.

Outdoor equipment also supplied practical problems to solve. In January 2026, staff encouraged children to consider whether a wet slide was safe to use, then offered a towel to help them address the problem. Safety was discussed through a real situation children could understand. Younger children and those needing extra help received adapted expectations.

Relationships and Communication

In January 2026, babies had close relationships with their key persons, and familiar songs helped them move between activities. Resources were placed within children’s reach, including sensory materials and familiar objects. For a baby, this combined a recognisable adult relationship with opportunities to explore independently.

ParentZone, Cheltenham’s communication app, lets families and staff exchange messages about their child, keeping parents connected during the nursery day.

In January 2026, tidy-up songs helped mark changes in activity, and children received wristbands recognising helpful behaviour, including sharing. A daily helper role gave children a specific responsibility. These routines made expectations visible through actions children could recognise and repeat.

Inclusion and Wellbeing

At its January 2026 inspection, Ofsted found that support for children with additional needs was effective, with staff identifying emerging needs, reviewing adaptations and working closely with families and external professionals. The detail matters more than a general promise of inclusion: support was adjusted as children’s needs changed.

In January 2026, toddlers needing help with communication or physical development used visual prompts and predictable routines, supported by guidance from outside professionals. During group activities, small sensory objects and story props helped some children maintain attention. Sitting near a practitioner was another adaptation. The aim was participation in the shared activity, with support fitted around the child.

A sensory room provided a quieter space in January 2026, using lighting that could be adjusted and sensory resources to help children settle their emotions. This was a concrete option for children who needed a pause from busier activities. Adults also used reassurance and discussion to help children understand their feelings.

Preparation for school included local school visits and role-play in January 2026. Everyday self-care contributed too: preschool children handled their cutlery, served vegetables and put coats away after outdoor play. These examples connect transition work with the practical routines children will need in their next setting.

Sessions and Attendance

The nursery is at Gloscat, Cheltenham Campus, Princess Elizabeth Way, Cheltenham, GL51 7SJ, within Gloucestershire College. Opening hours are 8am to 5.30pm, Monday to Friday, across 51 weeks of the year. Closures include the period between Christmas and New Year, bank holidays and public holidays.

Families can select full-day, morning or afternoon attendance on weekdays, with a minimum of two days or four sessions each week. This requires a regular weekly commitment.

Enquiries can be made through the Cheltenham enquiry form or by telephone on 01242 532016. Tours can be booked. A buggy store provides somewhere to leave a pushchair during the nursery day.

Funding and Paid Extras

Funded childcare is offered to eligible families, with hours stretched across 51 weeks rather than concentrated into term time. The branch’s registration options include 2-year funding and 3-year universal funding. Private childcare is also offered, so funding and privately paid attendance need to be considered separately when planning a booking.

Meals are included in the fee, alongside the activity programme. Caterers supply seasonal menus which rotate regularly and introduce dishes from different parts of the world; the nursery’s food policy accommodates allergies, dietary restrictions and cultural or religious preferences.

Joining involves a non-refundable registration charge and a deposit deducted from the final invoice. Payment can be made by direct debit or tax-free childcare. Current prices come in the nursery’s written quotation; the fees information explains the joining charges and what the fee includes.

• A regular weekly commitment. The minimum is two days or four sessions per week, and closing time is 5.30pm. At a tour, discuss how the morning, afternoon or full-day pattern would fit your family’s routine.
• Funding and the complete quotation. Funded hours are stretched across 51 weeks, while meals are included in the fee. Ask for a written breakdown covering your funded hours, additional private attendance, food and non-food consumables.
• Support beyond participation. The January 2026 next steps asked leaders to sustain improvement and deepen the impact on children facing barriers, including disadvantage and SEND. Families needing additional support should discuss how individual goals are agreed and reviewed.
• Dietary needs. Seasonal catered menus accommodate dietary restrictions and allergies under the nursery’s food policy. Allergy-affected families should confirm the current arrangements for their child before joining.

My Ohana Cheltenham Nursery suits families seeking regular morning or afternoon sessions as well as full-day attendance, with outdoor learning an important part of the choice. Direct outdoor access, weekly preschool outdoor learning and minibus trips give the setting substance beyond a curriculum description.

The January 2026 examples add a useful picture of daily life: counting through snack transactions, telling stories with props and practising self-care in manageable steps. ParentZone provides a practical connection with home. The decision rests on whether the weekly minimum, closing time and stretched funding arrangement fit the family, alongside how the nursery would support the individual child.