IntoPlay Day Nursery, The Quays

A former pub, spacious playrooms and proximity to Gloucester docks give IntoPlay Day Nursery, The Quays a recognisable setting for early childhood. The building was once the Sir Colin Campbell public house, opposite Gloucestershire College. Its outside play areas and proximity to Quays Outlet bring both outdoor play and local exploration into the nursery day.

At its June 2026 inspection, Ofsted judged behaviour and routines, and children's welfare and wellbeing, to be Strong standard; achievement, curriculum and teaching, inclusion, and leadership and governance met the Expected standard, with safeguarding standards met. These are separate judgements, rather than a single overall grade.

The nursery has capacity for 68 children aged 3 to 59 months. Its opening hours are 7.30am to 6pm, Monday to Friday, with attendance across the year rather than a term-time opening calendar.

Learning and Activities

The early years foundation stage provides the framework for children's learning, development and care. Here, that means play and everyday routines contribute to learning: conversation, movement, stories and practical tasks all have a place alongside planned activities.

In June 2026, staff planned learning around children's interests, their existing skills and what they would need for their next stage. Babies joined familiar singing activities, toddlers experimented with instruments, and older children watched wildlife clips and talked about lions. These examples give a useful picture of how activities changed with children's development, rather than everyone doing the same thing.

Practical independence also ran through the day in June 2026. Younger children used open cups and cleaned their faces; toddlers helped clear sand from around the tray; preschool children helped themselves to lunch and cleaned their teeth. These are small tasks with a clear purpose: children practise looking after themselves and contributing to shared spaces.

There were specific teaching weaknesses too. In June 2026, some activities involving groups of the youngest children lacked a sufficiently clear learning purpose. Some story arrangements also left children with a restricted view of the book and fewer chances to join in. For parents of babies and toddlers, the distinction matters: interesting resources and enthusiastic singing do not settle how effectively every group activity is organised.

Outdoor and Community Life

Proximity to Gloucester docks and Quays Outlet creates opportunities for babies and children to explore the local area on walks. Local exploration gives children something beyond the nursery's own play spaces to notice and discuss. The former public house has spacious indoor playrooms as well as outside play areas, so its character rests on both the building and its surroundings.

In June 2026, children played outside in different weather conditions and took part in movement activities during the day. Outdoor time sat alongside sensory exploration and handling tools, giving children different ways to use their bodies and investigate materials.

Relationships and Communication

In June 2026, key-person allocation took account of children's preferences and needs. Settling arrangements were adjusted to individual circumstances, and staff planned moves between rooms carefully for children who found change difficult. The practical benefit is continuity: the adult relationship and the next step in a child's day receive attention together.

Home routines mattered too. In June 2026, practitioners worked with families to keep approaches to care consistent between home and nursery, while regular conversations kept parents informed about their child's day. Staff also worked with other professionals, including social workers, where children's circumstances required that involvement.

Inclusion and Wellbeing

At the June 2026 inspection, Ofsted found that children, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), generally progressed well, and that staff identified learning gaps, adjusted support and monitored its effect. This gives parents a more concrete basis for considering inclusion than a broad promise of support: identification, individual adjustments and follow-up were all part of the assessment.

In June 2026, rooms contained spaces where children could pause, rest or manage their emotions. Visual schedules helped explain the next activity, while timers prepared children for a change. These practical cues made transitions more predictable. Staff also used words from children's home languages and activities connected with cultural festivals, bringing children's backgrounds into everyday interactions.

Sessions and Attendance

The address is 24 Llanthony Road, Gloucester, GL2 5HQ. Opening hours run from 7.30am until 6pm on weekdays. The nursery opens across the year, closing for bank holidays and one week at Christmas; families arranging work cover need to account for those breaks.

The Quays has its own enquiry route, with an online enquiry option, telephone number 01452 413131 and email manager@intoplay.co.uk. Keeping correspondence with the branch makes the arrangements specific to the children and attendance being discussed.

Getting There

The nursery occupies the former Sir Colin Campbell public house on Llanthony Road, opposite Gloucestershire College. Nearby Gloucester docks and Quays Outlet give the surrounding area its character and create opportunities for local exploration on walks.

• Activities for the youngest children. In June 2026, some group teaching lacked a clear enough purpose. On a visit, ask how practitioners adapt these activities to babies' and toddlers' individual learning needs.
• Joining in with stories. In June 2026, the arrangement of some story sessions restricted children's view and participation. Ask to see how seating, books and adult interaction now give each child a chance to contribute.
• Your attendance and funding package. The weekday opening window runs from 7.30am to 6pm, with bank-holiday and Christmas closures. When discussing a place, request a written quotation setting out bookable attendance patterns, funded entitlement, private hours, and the treatment of meals and consumables.

The Quays suits families who value local walks, outdoor play and practical independence, with a weekday opening window that can accommodate work commitments. Its former pub setting and proximity to Gloucester docks give it a clear local identity.

The June 2026 assessment gives care and routines greater weight than teaching as its strongest areas. For families with younger children, the deciding discussion should centre on the organisation of group activities and stories. Those are precise areas to explore alongside the personalised settling and everyday self-care described in June 2026.