The Nursery School

Weekly forest sessions and lunch in Charlton Kings Infants' School Dining Hall give The Nursery School a day that extends beyond its own play spaces. Nature is a recurring part of the offer, through seasonal walks and an approach that connects warmth and cosiness with children's wellbeing. This is a small Charlton Kings setting for children from two years old to school age, with capacity for 28 children.

At its April 2022 inspection, Ofsted rated the nursery Good and found safeguarding effective. That dated judgement provides a useful starting point, while the practical attraction is the combination of outdoor learning, child-led play and several attendance patterns. Morning, afternoon and all-day sessions operate during term time, with breakfast and after-school clubs extending the opening window.

Learning and Activities

The early years foundation stage is the framework for children's learning, development and care: in everyday terms, play and interaction help children develop language, physical skills and understanding. Alongside it, the nursery uses its own curriculum aims, balancing activities led by adults with choices made by children. Activities respond to children's interests and stage of development, and learning builds on skills they already have. That gives adult planning a purpose while retaining space for children to pursue an idea.

Hygge in the Early Years Accreditation informs an emphasis on cosiness, warmth, nature and self-care. Its concrete expression includes weekly forest sessions and regular walks to notice seasonal changes. The routine places Forest School on Tuesday mornings, making outdoor exploration a recurring part of the nursery week rather than an occasional outing.

Circle time and stories take place in age groups. Between those shared moments, children choose activities inside and outdoors; during the morning play period, they also choose when to have their snack. Afternoon play combines children's choices with activities available from adults. For a parent comparing routines, the important distinction is that group gatherings punctuate substantial periods of play rather than filling the whole day.

Outdoor and Community Life

In April 2022, children made a wormery with collected earth, stones and worms, planted flowers for butterflies and used reference material to identify insects outside. These examples connected practical exploration with finding out more. The same visit captured children building an obstacle course from tyres, boards and crates, with older children helping younger ones across it.

Indoor activities in April 2022 included recreating a Dubai building with wooden blocks and using an atlas to explore its location. Other children made faces on dough models, while pretend play included a tea party and medical and firefighting roles. These were examples of the children's experience at that time, giving parents a concrete picture of how interests could lead into construction, conversation and imaginative play.

At the April 2022 inspection, Ofsted found that staff supported speech and language through conversation, stories and songs, worked with parents and other professionals when children needed extra help, and maintained a positive partnership with families. The detail matters: support involved identifying a child's difficulty and discussing ways forward, rather than relying on a general assurance about inclusion.

In April 2022, families could borrow books to continue language activities at home, and information about children's home lives helped shape activities. This linked nursery learning with familiar experiences outside it. Staff also recorded accidents and incidents in detail and knew how to refer concerns involving staff; these are dated safeguarding practices, rather than a claim about today's arrangements.

The current team includes an early years teacher, and staff training includes a SENCO award, paediatric first aid and sensory integration occupational therapy. Designated safeguarding lead roles are also identified. These are useful points about the team's preparation and responsibilities; they do not replace the dated safeguarding judgement.

There were two clear weaknesses in April 2022. Changes between activities needed better organisation, including help with getting ready to go outside, and staff sometimes missed children who wanted to join an activity while concentrating on others. Both matter in an otherwise busy play-based day: children need support during transitions as well as during the activity itself.

Sessions and Attendance

The address is Church Street, Charlton Kings, Cheltenham, GL53 8AP. Opening hours are 8am to 5pm, Monday to Friday, for 38 weeks during term time.

An all-day session runs from 8.45am to 3.30pm. The morning option is 8.45am to 1pm, while the afternoon runs from 11.30am to 3.30pm. Breakfast Club covers 8am to 8.45am, followed at the other end of the day by After School Club Session 1, from 3.30pm to 4.15pm, and After School Club Session 2, from 4.15pm to 5pm. These separate patterns let families distinguish the nursery session from the clubs that extend it.

Children must attend at least two nursery sessions each week; breakfast and after-school clubs do not count towards that minimum. The requirement is intended to support settling, friendships and a familiar routine. Enquiries can be made by telephone or email.

Funding and Paid Extras

Funding is accepted for two-, three- and four-year-olds, including Early Learning for 2-year olds funding, Working Parent Entitlement for 2, 3 & 4 year olds and the 3 & 4-year old universal hours. Funded education covers 38 term-time weeks and can be used between 8am and 5pm. Participation in funding does not establish an individual family's eligibility.

For funded sessions, food, non-food consumables and activity resources carry separate optional charges; families who decline those charges must supply all food, consumables and activity resources for their child. The April to September 2026 private-fee structure included meals, non-food consumables and additional activities alongside education, with consumables covering wipes, sun cream, nappy cream and nappy sacks. Current prices come in the nursery's written quotation; the fees and funding information explains the charge categories.

Lunch takes place in Charlton Kings Infants' School Dining Hall, with a choice between a hot meal and a lunchbox from home. Breakfast Club includes breakfast, and the first after-school session includes a snack.

The nursery describes Charlton Kings Early Years Collaboration as its work with Charlton Kings Infants' School and St Mary's Playgroup to coordinate local wraparound provision. This is a childcare collaboration: attending the nursery does not guarantee a school place, and families still use the local authority admissions process.

• Support between activities. In April 2022, children sometimes waited too long for help and staff missed some children seeking to join play. During a visit, ask how staff now organise transitions and draw quieter children into activities.
• The weekly commitment. At least two nursery sessions are required, excluding the clubs. Compare that minimum with the morning, afternoon or all-day pattern your family needs.
• Term-time coverage. The nursery opens for 38 weeks each year. Its breakfast and after-school clubs extend the nursery day, so families needing care through school holidays should weigh the term-time calendar carefully.
• Funded-session extras. Declining the optional food, consumable and activity charges means supplying those items yourself. Consider the practical work involved alongside the charge structure when comparing quotations.

The Nursery School suits families seeking morning or afternoon sessions as well as those wanting an all-day nursery session with clubs at either end. Weekly forest sessions, seasonal walks and child-led indoor and outdoor play give the offer a clear character. The term-time calendar and two-session minimum are central to the decision. The April 2022 Good judgement supports a positive assessment, with transition support and attention to children joining activities remaining the most useful subjects for a visit.