Pembroke Park Nursery

Play dough, coloured rice and balancing stilts featured in children's days at Pembroke Park Nursery in March 2026. This Crawley setting has capacity for 58 children aged 6 to 59 months, but its inspection findings make the organisation of care and learning the central consideration for families.

At its 4 March 2026 inspection, Ofsted judged inclusion to meet the expected standard and safeguarding standards to be met, while achievement, behaviour and routines, welfare and wellbeing, curriculum and teaching, and leadership and governance needed attention. The most immediate concern was mealtime supervision: staff were present, but their positioning meant they could miss a child beginning to choke.

The early years foundation stage sets the requirements for children's learning, development and care. In everyday terms, activities should help children build skills and knowledge through their play and interactions.

In March 2026, stories about emergency services, dancing with pom-poms and outdoor sand play gave children different ways to participate. Balancing stilts provided opportunities to practise coordination; counting children before outdoor play introduced early mathematics.

The weakness was what children learned next. In March 2026, activities did not consistently extend language or knowledge, and adults sometimes undertook cutting and name-writing tasks that children needed to practise themselves. Themes about community helpers did not translate into purposeful teaching across developmental areas. Staff understanding of intended learning was uneven, limiting the value of otherwise engaging activities.

At the March 2026 inspection, Ofsted found that staff knew children's individual needs, supported children with SEND effectively and helped those facing learning barriers, including children learning English as an additional language, develop communication skills. Leaders sought parental information, worked with external professionals and adapted staff responsibilities to support inclusion.

In March 2026, children practised self-care by managing tissues and finding their own water bottles. Staff helped them share resources and resolve disagreements, while families contributed information about traditions and celebrations.

Mealtimes exposed a different picture. In March 2026, handwashing, serving snacks and pouring drinks drew staff away from sitting with children as eating began. Leaders had adjusted the routine, but implementation remained inconsistent and they had not recognised the full supervision problem. This was a safety concern, rather than simply a slow transition between activities.

The address is Nokes Court, Commonwealth Drive, Crawley, RH10 1AN. Opening hours are 7.30am to 6pm, Monday to Friday, across the year, with closures for bank holidays and one week at Christmas.

The March 2026 actions required better supervision during eating by 25 March 2026, alongside a more challenging, age-appropriate curriculum and clearer implementation by 4 May 2026. These are the dated requirements families should use when discussing changes to daily practice.

• Supervision while eating. March 2026 findings identified a risk of staff missing choking. Ask how practitioners now position themselves from the moment children begin eating.
• Learning children do themselves. Adults sometimes completed cutting and name-writing tasks in March 2026. During a visit, ask for examples of how children practise these skills and how staff extend their language.
• Attendance arrangements. The opening window runs from 7.30am to 6pm across the working week. Which booking pattern would fit your child's routine?

Pembroke Park merits careful consideration from families whose schedules fit its weekday opening window, especially those seeking support for additional needs. The March 2026 inclusion findings carry weight. So do the concerns: supervision during eating and the purpose of teaching require concrete attention. Positive relationships should be weighed alongside those practical weaknesses.