Keeley's Nursery Horsham

A sizeable garden and an extra hall give Keeley's Nursery Horsham room for both outdoor exploration and larger activities indoors. The setting on Chichester Terrace takes children from three months to five years and has 100 places in total. Space is part of its appeal, but the more useful question is how staff turn children's interests into learning.

At its September 2024 inspection, Ofsted judged the nursery Good and found safeguarding effective, with positive findings about children's communication and language development. The practical examples are revealing: adults supplied words for the noises children made with metal containers and helped them connect conversations with earlier experiences. Learning grew out of something children were already doing.

The current opening window is 8am to 6pm, Monday to Friday. That gives families a clear starting point for assessing whether the nursery fits their working day.

Learning and Activities

The early years foundation stage sets the requirements for children's learning, development and care: here, play, conversation and physical exploration provide concrete examples of how those requirements can shape a child's day. Keeley's Horsham is transitioning to the group's Curiosity Approach, an approach centred on children's curiosity and exploration. This sits alongside the statutory framework.

In September 2024, children could choose activities independently, including books. Staff used their knowledge of individual interests and development to plan support. Babies were encouraged to look into mirrors while lying on their tummies, giving them a reason to practise movements that develop physical strength. For parents of younger children, that is a useful example of an ordinary resource being used with a developmental purpose.

Conversation was another teaching tool. During September 2024, adults responded to children's experiments with metal cups and pots by describing the sounds, then extended discussions through connections with things children already knew. This made language part of play rather than a separate exercise. Children had opportunities to explain their ideas and respond to an adult's contribution.

Outdoor and Community Life

The bright, open interior includes an extra hall space for activities needing more room, alongside a sizeable garden. These give the setting different spaces for quieter exploration and larger movements, rather than requiring everything to happen in one room.

In September 2024, children tackled planks and large tyres with staff supervision. Adults assessed hazards and intervened when support was needed, allowing children to experience manageable challenges. A sensory room was also in use at that time. The physical experiences were varied, with opportunities to explore movement as well as different environments.

Relationships and Communication

In September 2024, staff knew the interests and developmental stages of their key children. Their responses to distress were prompt, with comfort and physical reassurance when children became upset. Adults also sought children's permission before helping them, giving everyday care a respectful tone.

Communication between colleagues supported the day-to-day organisation of care. During September 2024, staff told one another when taking children into another area, including the garden or sensory room. Room leaders held daily discussions with their teams about children's learning and support. These were practical arrangements for keeping adults informed about what was happening around them.

Parent communication was receiving attention too. In September 2024, leaders were training staff to make collection-time handovers more informative. For families, the value lies in understanding what a child has experienced that day, rather than receiving only a brief general update.

Inclusion and Wellbeing

A special educational needs coordinator contributed to the September 2024 inspection discussion about support for children with additional needs. This establishes a coordinating role at that time, rather than a general promise about the support any individual child will receive.

Behaviour support also relied on explanation. During September 2024, staff discussed expectations before children changed activities and acknowledged occasions when children followed the nursery's rules independently. That gave children specific examples of what was expected, with reminders before a transition rather than only correction afterwards.

Sessions and Attendance

Keeley's Nursery Horsham is at Chichester Terrace, Horsham, West Sussex, RH12 1DB. It opens from 8am to 6pm on weekdays, with extended hours offered for discussion. The usual opening window matters for families whose workday begins early or ends late, so the attendance agreement deserves close attention.

Visits can be arranged by telephone, and enquiries can also be made through the contact form. These provide a route to discuss a child's start and the attendance arrangement a family needs.

Getting There

Horsham Rail Station is within five minutes walking distance of the nursery. That proximity is useful for families combining nursery attendance with a rail commute.

Funding and Paid Extras

In September 2024, the nursery received funding for early education for children aged two, three and four. Families should obtain current prices in a written quotation from the nursery, with the proposed attendance arrangement set out clearly.

• Teaching interactions. At the September 2024 inspection, Ofsted identified missed opportunities to extend children's learning and asked leaders to strengthen the consistency of staff interactions. On a visit, ask how practitioners now develop an activity when a child shows interest or asks a question.
• The working-day fit. The standard opening window is 8am to 6pm on weekdays, with extended hours discussed separately. Ask which attendance arrangement can be agreed for your family's routine.
• Daily handovers. Staff training in September 2024 addressed the information parents received at collection. Ask what a typical handover now covers and how your own observations feed into your child's care.

Keeley's Horsham suits families seeking care from infancy through the preschool years, especially those who value a garden, additional indoor activity space and proximity to the railway station. Its September 2024 practice included thoughtful examples of language development, physical exploration and responsive care.

The balance rests on teaching consistency. Children had engaging opportunities, but adults did not always make enough of them. For a parent choosing this setting, the strongest visit discussion would connect those examples with how staff extend learning today, alongside an attendance agreement that fits the family's day.