Little Oaks Day Nursery

A hospital-site nursery with garden insect hunts and visits from Gizmo, a therapy dog, gives Little Oaks Day Nursery a recognisable character. Those activities featured in March 2025, alongside practical play and community involvement. The setting is at Gloucester Royal Hospital in Gloucester and has capacity for 45 children, accepting ages from three months to five years.

At its March 2025 inspection, Ofsted rated the nursery Good and found safeguarding effective. The useful detail lies beneath that judgement: children had opportunities to explore, practise everyday tasks and build relationships, with two specific improvements required around access to activities and time to speak.

The early years foundation stage is the statutory framework for children's learning, development and care: here, its everyday expression in March 2025 included stories, physical exploration and learning through play.

Babies practised crawling on slopes and pulling up against furniture, with staff helping early walkers balance. Older children experimented by mixing sand with water and worked through puzzles using their knowledge of pictures and colours. These were concrete opportunities to try ideas and practise movement.

In March 2025, the garden provided stepping stones and insect searches with magnifying glasses. Books, rhymes and songs featured in the routine, including actions and props during group singing. Babies went on local walks; older children delivered food-bank donations and joined rugby activities. Regular visits from Gizmo, a therapy dog, added contact with animals to the nursery's social experiences.

At the March 2025 inspection, Ofsted found that staff used parents' knowledge of their children, termly assessments and advice from the inclusion team to tailor support and help children progress. For families, that links discussion at home with decisions about what a child needs next.

In March 2025, staff helped babies take early steps, while older children practised dressing for outdoor play. Parents and visiting professionals also contributed sessions about healthy living and tooth brushing, bringing practical health topics into children's learning.

The address is Gloucestershire Royal NHS Trust, Gloucester Royal Hospital, Great Western Road, Gloucester, GL1 3NN. Opening hours are 7am to 6pm, Monday to Friday, throughout the year except bank holidays.

In March 2025, the nursery cared for children of Gloucestershire NHS Trust employees and received government early education funding for children from nine months to four years. The employee connection is an important part of understanding whom this hospital-site provision served at that time.

• Access to play. In March 2025, crowding around the sand tray and workbench sometimes prevented older children from using them easily. During a visit, look at how those activities are organised now.
• Time to speak. In March 2025, adults sometimes dominated group conversations, leaving children too little thinking and speaking time. This matters for children who need longer to formulate an answer.
• Hospital employment connection. The March 2025 provision served Gloucestershire NHS Trust employees. Before pursuing a place, ask whether your family's employment circumstances meet the joining criteria.

Little Oaks suits families seeking a nursery on the hospital site, with weekday opening that starts early and continues into the evening. Its March 2025 activities combined physical exploration, garden play and community participation. The strongest decision points are the hospital employment connection and how the nursery has addressed access to busy activities and children's speaking time.