Gogmore Lane Nursery

Two visiting dogs and a weekly music-and-dance teacher give Gogmore Lane Nursery a recognisable character: children learn through relationships, movement and encounters with animals. Those experiences were part of daily life in February 2025, alongside learning shaped by children's home circumstances.

Ofsted rated the nursery Good at its 5 February 2025 inspection. Based at Surtech House in Chertsey, it has capacity for 34 children; children attending in February 2025 were aged from birth to four.

The early years foundation stage sets requirements for children's learning, development and care, bringing play, communication and physical development into the day. In February 2025, staff planned learning around children's existing experiences, including access to gardens and pets. Children whose home circumstances restricted those experiences could explore them at nursery.

The musical dance teacher visited weekly that February. Babies recognised the routine, settled for the opening song and took turns returning instruments. Two trained dogs also visited regularly, giving children opportunities to practise gentle behaviour and consider an animal's needs.

Mirrors and pictures of children's eyes helped children explore identity by recognising one another. Discussion of homes and families connected learning to familiar people and places. Outside play happened daily, while closely supervised exploration beneath furniture and through cupboards gave babies opportunities to practise movement and coordination.

Language teaching needed more patience. In February 2025, preschool children sometimes received another question or an answer before they had enough thinking time. More space to respond and use new vocabulary in play was the improvement priority.

At the February 2025 inspection, Ofsted found safeguarding effective, support for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities effective, and children making good progress. Key adults knew young children and their families well, supporting familiarity with routines.

In February 2025, parents and staff reviewed children's development together, and key persons helped plan the use of additional resources. Staff responsible for safeguarding and SEND worked with outside professionals and agencies to arrange support. This connected children's individual needs with practical help.

Staff also encouraged babies to feed themselves and modelled considerate behaviour, sharing and turn-taking. Leaders used feedback to develop practice and supported continuing staff learning. These were features of care at that date.

The address is Surtech House, Gogmore Lane, Chertsey, KT16 9AP. In February 2025, opening hours were 7.45am to 6pm on weekdays, across 51 weeks of the year. These describe the opening window at that time.

Funded early education was provided for children from birth to four in February 2025. That dated participation should be distinguished from an individual family's entitlement.

• Preschool conversation. The February 2025 improvement priority was giving children longer to think, answer and practise vocabulary. How has staff practice changed to allow that time?
• Attendance arrangements. The February 2025 opening window covered weekdays across 51 weeks. Which booking patterns and funded-hours arrangements would fit your family's routine now?

Gogmore Lane suits families drawn to learning that connects with children's home lives, animal encounters and music. The February 2025 account gives concrete examples of babies joining familiar activities and staff working with parents. For families approaching preschool, the priority is how practitioners now give children time to develop their own answers.