Molesey Day Nursery

Ninety acres of Imber Court parkland give Molesey Day Nursery an unusually substantial setting for early childhood. Its enclosed garden, babies’ outdoor area and access to an on-site swimming pool make outdoor activity more than a break between indoor tasks. There is space for digging, climbing, growing and investigating, with the surrounding grounds extending what children can explore.

The nursery cares for children from 3 months to 5 years and has capacity for 66 children. Its address is Esher House, within Imber Court Sports Club Grounds in Esher. At its July 2021 inspection, Ofsted rated it Good and found safeguarding effective, with children making good progress and developing secure relationships with staff.

Daily outdoor learning, a key person backed by a buddy, and Tapestry digital learning and care journals shape the current offer. Regular whole days are complemented by short-notice extra half days, subject to availability.

Rooms and Ages

Three rooms organise the nursery day: Under 2’s Room, Toddler Room and Preschool Room. Each has a room leader role, so the structure gives families an identifiable point of responsibility as children move through the nursery. Babies also have outdoor space of their own, allowing their exploration to take place separately from the larger garden.

In June 2026, younger children explored gritty paint, sandy play dough and garden herb scents; toddlers used the water tray and drew on paper covering the floor. The materials invite comparison and conversation.

July 2026 preschool activities included moving logs and blocks in wheelbarrows for den building, investigating shadows and talking in the tree house. These give children practical reasons to cooperate and test ideas.

Learning and Activities

The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) sets learning, development and care standards, with children learning through play. Each key person plans around the child’s interests and development, sharing observations with parents.

The nursery has completed the NDNA Maths Champion Programme, training practitioners in early mathematics, reviewing practice, planning improvements and tracking progress. This supports how staff approach mathematical opportunities in everyday play.

Specialist yoga and music classes are included in fees. Swimming lessons use the pool on the Imber Court site, giving families another activity within the nursery’s surroundings. The curriculum information also connects learning with parental contributions, so interests and experiences from home can inform what happens during the day.

Outdoor and Community Life

Outdoor learning happens in both parts of the day. An outdoor classroom and Forest School environment support nature-based exploration, including constructing shelters from fabric and logs, investigating wildlife and using found materials creatively. Forest School adds opportunities to make decisions and tackle practical challenges in an outdoor setting alongside the EYFS.

The garden supports growing as well as movement. In July 2026, preschool children picked produce including blackcurrants and green beans, then prepared and tasted their harvest. That joins the process of growing food to the experience of eating it. June activities also took younger children around the Imber Court grounds to investigate flowers and smells.

Cold or wet weather does not automatically move the day indoors: woodland shelter and tarpaulins help protect outdoor play. Families supply wellington boots and suitable warm accessories, while specialist waterproof clothing may be provided for Forest School. This is a meaningful practical consideration for children who enjoy outdoor activity throughout the year.

Relationships and Communication

Every child is allocated a key person and a buddy key person on starting. The main practitioner plans experiences and shares observations, while the buddy provides another familiar relationship. For families managing separation, this gives settling a clear structure built around people the child comes to know.

Tapestry combines learning journals with care diaries, letting parents follow meals, sleep and toileting during the day. Handovers provide a further opportunity for conversation, and parent evenings take place every six months. The combination matters: routine information can be checked digitally, leaving conversations available for a child’s interests, development or changing needs.

Staff receive first aid, safeguarding and food hygiene training, alongside continuing professional development.

Inclusion and Wellbeing

In July 2021, staff needed to represent attending children’s cultural backgrounds more fully and use conversations during play more consistently to develop language. Some adults watched activities without extending the discussion or introducing vocabulary. Families should weigh those specific findings alongside the Good judgement.

Meals are cooked at the nursery on a three-week menu cycle, with babies progressing from blended or mashed food to chopped food in discussion with their families. The allergy process gathers each child’s requirements on joining, and dishes are adapted for individual dietary needs.

Surrey County Council’s Eat Well Start Well award recognises the food provision, complemented by children growing and tasting produce.

Moving to school receives practical attention. Children hear stories about starting school, explore school-themed role play and are encouraged to discuss their feelings about the change. July 2026 school leavers also received a book about starting school at their graduation, giving families something concrete to continue the conversation at home.

Sessions and Attendance

The nursery operates across 51 weeks, with regular attendance requiring at least two days each week. The normal booking window is 8am to 6pm, and an earlier 7.30am start is offered as an extra. Half days are not a regular booking option.

Additional sessions include half days from 8am to 1pm or 1pm to 6pm, and extra whole days. These are offered at short notice, subject to availability. That distinction matters: an occasional shorter session is different from an ongoing half-day arrangement.

Christmas closure runs from 23 December 2026 to 1 January 2027, with reopening on 4 January 2027. Families can make enquiries by telephone or through the contact form. Online registration is free and places a child on the waiting list; visits are arranged when a suitable place matches the family’s requirements.

Getting There

The address is Esher House, 1 Imber Court Sports Club Grounds, Ember Lane, Esher, KT10 8EG. Private parking is directly outside the nursery, with a rear overflow car park used when designated nursery spaces fill during events.

Funding and Paid Extras

Universal 15 hours funding is offered for three-year-olds from the term following their third birthday, alongside the Working Parents Entitlement for eligible children from nine months. Funded hours depend on the relevant eligibility conditions. The nursery also accepts tax-free childcare payments and workplace nursery payments through Enjoy Benefits.

Fees include meals and drinks at the relevant attendance times, plus yoga and music classes. Nappies, wipes and sun lotion are included too; parents supply formula milk for babies. Requested additional chargeable classes are optional, so their cost is separate from the included activities.

Current prices come in the nursery’s written quotation. The fees information distinguishes regular attendance from extra sessions, which is useful when comparing an ongoing booking with occasional additions.

• Regular days versus occasional halves. The minimum attendance is two days each week, and half days are offered only as extras rather than regular bookings. Does that combination fit your childcare week?
• Visits follow a matching place. Free registration leads to the waiting list, and a visit is arranged when a suitable place matches your requirements. Families who want to see the nursery before committing to a choice need to factor that sequence into their planning.
• Conversation and cultural representation. The July 2021 improvement points concerned language-building interactions and children’s own cultural backgrounds. On a visit, ask how practitioners extend play through conversation and bring families’ cultures into daily experiences.
• Outdoor participation and individual needs. Children spend time outside throughout the year, and allergy information is collected on joining. Discuss suitable clothing, your child’s participation needs and current allergy arrangements during the visit; request a written funding quotation covering the intended attendance pattern.

Molesey’s strongest practical asset is the connection between its garden, the Imber Court grounds and activities such as growing food, Forest School and swimming. The key person and buddy arrangement, supported by Tapestry, gives parents a clear way to follow both learning and daily care.

It suits families seeking regular whole-day attendance across the year, including those needing an earlier start, and those who may add occasional morning or afternoon half days. It is a less straightforward fit for a family whose core requirement is a regular half-day booking. The Good judgement from July 2021 provides a positive starting point, but its specific improvement points make staff conversation and cultural representation useful subjects for a visit.