Clarence House Grantham

A converted house, extensive gardens and separate outdoor spaces for different ages give Clarence House Grantham its character. The mud kitchen invites messy exploration, while a sensory garden brings insects and bird feeders into children's day. Outdoor space is a substantial part of the offer here.

At its October 2022 inspection, Ofsted rated the nursery Good and found safeguarding effective, with targeted plans supporting children with special educational needs and/or disabilities. In October 2022, two areas needed improvement: participation by quieter preschool children during group activities and teaching younger children why nutritious food is good for them. Those findings deserve attention alongside the grade.

The nursery accepts children from three months to five years and has 60 places in total. Full-day bookings, hourly care and funded-only patterns give families several ways to arrange attendance.

Learning and Activities

The early years foundation stage sets the requirements for children's learning, development and care. In everyday terms, this brings learning into play, conversation, physical activity and growing independence rather than treating education as a separate part of the day.

In October 2022, babies explored dough and spaghetti through touch, younger children practised filling and emptying containers with water, and preschool children used rice in pretend baking. These examples show different ages working with materials in different ways: sensory exploration for babies, coordination for younger children and imaginative play for preschoolers.

Children's interests also shaped activities in October 2022. Leaves prompted drawing and listening to the sound they made when crushed underfoot. Books were another thread: babies explored lift-the-flap pages, and children borrowed books for reading at home. That connected nursery experiences with time spent with parents.

Included activities comprise Superstar Sports and Little Bakers, alongside Sensory Science. Gardener Green Fingers and School Readiness are also part of the nursery's ordinary provision. They add named activities alongside the day-to-day play, rather than requiring a separate activity purchase.

Outdoor and Community Life

Different garden areas give outdoor play more than one setting. A separate pre-school garden has a large climbing frame, creating a place for older children to practise physical skills, while all-weather areas extend the options for outdoor use.

The sensory garden sits at the front of the nursery. Children investigate mini-beasts and make bird feeders there; the mud kitchen provides another practical way to explore materials. These are concrete reasons to consider this branch if outdoor experiences matter to your family.

In October 2022, everyday independence was practised through small tasks: younger children worked on coat zips and helped themselves at snack time, while preschool children used cutlery at lunch. These are useful preparations for managing more of the day themselves.

At the October 2022 inspection, Ofsted found that staff worked with parents and other professionals on individual support plans, while additional funding helped some children maintain continuity through extra holiday sessions. This gives the inclusion judgement practical substance: support involved both planning around individual needs and decisions about attendance.

Communication and confidence were less even in the October 2022 findings. Songs, conversation and questions created opportunities to speak, but quieter preschool children sometimes needed help that staff did not recognise quickly enough during organised group activities. For a child who hangs back, participation matters as much as the activity itself.

Meals are prepared each day, and food is included in sessions. In October 2022, children talked about favourite fruit, but staff needed to help younger children learn why healthy food is good for them. Providing nutritious food and explaining its value are separate tasks.

Sessions and Attendance

Clarence House Grantham is at 70 Barrowby Gate, Grantham, NG31 7LT. Opening hours are 7.30am to 6pm, Monday to Friday; the nursery operates across the year, closing on bank holidays and for one week between Christmas and New Year.

The standard full-day session runs from 8.30am to 5.30pm, and a full-week booking comprises five such days. Other care is booked by the hour. Monthly charges follow the sessions actually booked, with no charge for the Christmas closure week. Opening hours are therefore broader than the standard full-day booking.

Funded-only examples include 9am to noon mornings and 1pm to 4pm afternoons, alongside 9am to 3pm term-time days. Stretched examples include 9.30am to 3pm and 8.45am to 4pm, with other shorter patterns also offered. These are example arrangements rather than a single fixed timetable for every funded child.

An enquiry or callback request provides the contact route, and show-arounds can be booked.

Funding and Paid Extras

Eligible families can use 15 or 30 hours funding. Term-time funded-only patterns are offered, or entitlement can be stretched across 51 weeks: the nursery gives 11 hours a week for the 15-hour entitlement and 22 hours for the 30-hour entitlement. Funded hours can be used on weekdays within the opening window, up to a stated maximum of 10 hours daily; additional attendance is paid for separately.

Meals and snacks are included in paid sessions and supplied without a food charge during funded sessions. Funded-only attendance carries no top-up or compulsory extras, and is exempt from the registration charge, administration charge and deposit.

For other attendance, a non-refundable registration charge and a refundable deposit apply, with an administration charge on the first chargeable invoice each month. A holding fee can be chosen when the intended start is more than two months after registration; its treatment depends on whether the child starts as agreed and whether attendance is funded-only. Current prices come in the nursery's written quotation.

Getting There

The nursery is close to the A52, with parking for collection and drop-off. This gives drivers a practical reason to consider the address alongside the session pattern.

Preschool children move on to schools around Grantham and Barrowby. School Readiness is an included activity.

• Quieter preschool children. The October 2022 findings identified uneven support for participation in group activities. During a visit, discuss how staff now help a child who prefers to watch before joining in.
• Activities and everyday supplies. Included activities comprise School Readiness and Little Bakers, alongside Superstar Sports. Sensory Science and Gardener Green Fingers are included too. Ask what these activities involve and which non-food consumables families need to supply or pay for.
• Funding pattern. Term-time and stretched arrangements distribute entitlement differently, and funded use has a daily limit of 10 hours. Match the proposed pattern to your working week before agreeing the booking.

Clarence House Grantham suits families seeking either standard full-day attendance or shorter morning and afternoon funded sessions, with hourly care adding another option. Its converted-house setting and varied gardens are the clearest reasons to choose this particular nursery.

The October 2022 Good judgement provides a positive inspection position, balanced by specific concerns about quieter children's participation and explanations of healthy eating. For families who value outdoor exploration and included food, there is a concrete offer to weigh against those findings.