Finlay Nursery

In September 2025, water play, pedal tricycles and outdoor learning gave Finlay Nursery a practical, active character. Based at Finlay Childrens Centre in Gloucester, it has capacity for 34 children aged 48 to 59 months. That is the whole nursery's capacity, rather than a group size.

At its September 2025 inspection, Ofsted rated the nursery Good and found safeguarding effective. The strongest examples of daily life combined physical exploration with conversation: children explained their water-play ideas, counted fruit and experimented with making marks.

The early years foundation stage sets the framework for children's learning, development and care, bringing play, communication and physical development into the day. In September 2025, activities were adapted around children's interests and existing skills, while predictable routines helped them understand what would happen next.

Outdoor experiences supplied concrete reasons to talk and think. In September 2025, children moved water between containers to make a duck pond, used brushes to draw in foam and practised steering pedal tricycles. These activities gave movement and language a shared purpose.

Weekly forest-school sessions, led by a specialist teacher in September 2025, introduced outdoor learning and safe risk-taking. Visiting health professionals also explained the body and how exercise affects the heart. Daily songs and stories included choosing songs through picture cards, although group activities needed more opportunities for children to move and participate.

At the September 2025 inspection, Ofsted found that support for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities included individual learning plans, visual prompts and collaboration with speech and language professionals. These were specific mechanisms for adapting learning and helping children understand and interact.

In September 2025, parents received updates through conversations and digital channels, with opportunities to join stay-and-play sessions and pre-school graduation celebrations. A charity toddle in the park brought families into a shared activity. Snack-time conversations explored where apples come from, alongside counting fruit and comparing amounts.

Behaviour was a less consistent element of care. In September 2025, staff explained safety rules, but follow-through varied when children tested boundaries. Mixed responses sometimes affected cooperation and participation.

The address is Finlay Childrens Centre, Tredworth Road, Gloucester, GL4 6TL. Attendance follows term time, with closure during school holidays; opening hours are 8.30am to 3.30pm, Monday to Friday.

In September 2025, the nursery provided funded early education for children aged two, three and four. That is a dated account of funding participation rather than a promise of an individual funded place.

• Term-time attendance. School-holiday closures make this a fit for families whose childcare plans follow the school calendar.
• Behaviour and participation. September 2025 improvement priorities concerned consistent boundaries and more interactive group activities. A visit can explore how staff now handle both.
• Funding arrangements. How would funded hours and any additional charges work for your proposed attendance?

Finlay suits families seeking term-time childcare. Practical play, outdoor experiences, individual support and communication with parents were strengths in September 2025, alongside clear areas for further work on behaviour and group participation. The holiday calendar is a central part of the decision.