Cygnets Nursery

A sheltered Messy Kitchen, outdoor play through the seasons and a key-person toy that comes home each term give Cygnets Nursery its character. Based at Dawson Hall in Shepperton, it takes children aged 2 to 5 and has 35 places in total. This is a preschool setting, with play and preparation for school shaping its offer.

At its September 2024 inspection, Ofsted rated Cygnets Good, found safeguarding effective and praised the support for children with special educational needs and disabilities. The practical detail behind that judgement matters: staff gathered information from families before children started, used songs and stories to develop language, and planned activities around children's next steps.

Attendance can be arranged as mornings, afternoons or all-day sessions during term time. The mix gives families several ways to build nursery into the week, rather than a single attendance pattern.

Learning and Activities

The Early Years Foundation Stage Curriculum connects learning with play: children choose activities as well as taking part in experiences planned by staff. At Cygnets, both forms of play contribute to language, physical development and social confidence. Children have opportunities to follow an interest and to try something introduced by an adult.

In September 2024, communication had a clear place in the day. Staff described what children were doing in language suited to their age, read with groups both outside and indoors, and combined singing with movement. Through action songs, children practised listening, identifying body parts and responding physically. These were concrete ways to practise listening and speaking together.

Physical learning also took different forms at that time. Dough gave children opportunities to squeeze and press with their hands, while balance bikes exercised larger movements and balance. Staff helped children secure their helmets, linking an enjoyable activity with practical safety habits.

In September 2024, routines frequently interrupted children's play without warning, sometimes preventing deeper engagement. Staff monitored development and planned what children needed next, but the timing of routines could limit sustained exploration. Sustained time for exploration matters alongside the activities themselves.

Outdoor and Community Life

The outside area is used throughout the year. Gazebos shelter the Messy Kitchen and Sand pit from rain and sunshine, giving these activities some protection from the weather. Outdoor play therefore has a practical place in the offer, rather than depending entirely on clear skies.

These two spaces also give families a more concrete picture of the setting than a general promise of outdoor learning. Messy play and sand play have dedicated areas, with shelter over both. Their value lies in the opportunities children have to return to hands-on activities across the seasons.

Relationships and Communication

Each child is allocated a key person who takes responsibility for observations, records, assessment and planning within their group. Children spend time with that adult and their group companions, while also working with other staff. Families therefore have an identified practitioner following their child's learning, rather than responsibility resting only with the team collectively.

A cuddly toy belongs to each key-worker group and goes home with each child once a term. It provides a tangible link between home and nursery and gives the group relationship something children can share with their family.

In September 2024, staff used information from parents to help children settle and held daily conversations with families. Those exchanges helped them understand children's circumstances and shape activities around individual needs. Parents also received support with preparation for the next stage of education.

Inclusion and Wellbeing

The staff structure includes a Special Educational Needs Coordinator and a deputy, alongside designated safeguarding lead and deputy roles. A behaviour management lead is also identified. These responsibilities give families identified roles to turn to when discussing additional support or concerns.

In September 2024, children practised health habits through everyday activities. A fruit bar encouraged handwashing and the use of tongs, while planned toothbrushing activities introduced oral care. Staff also shared ideas for healthy lunch boxes with parents. These examples made health something children could practise themselves.

Sessions and Attendance

Cygnets operates for 38 weeks each year, providing term-time care. Morning sessions run from 8am to 1pm, Monday to Friday, and include the lunchtime period. Afternoon sessions start at 12.30pm after lunch, finishing at 3.30pm on Friday.

All-day sessions start at 8am Monday to Friday and finish at 3.30pm on Friday. Breakfast takes place between 8am and 8.20am for morning and all-day attendance. The earlier Friday finish is worth building into weekly collection arrangements.

Attendance patterns can be adapted where possible to children's and families' needs. Enquiries can be made by telephone, email or the contact form, and visits can be arranged directly with the nursery.

Getting There

The address is Dawson Hall, Russell Road, Shepperton, TW17 9HB. Families use the Cricket club car park and continue on foot along the shingle drive; cars cannot use that drive, and parking by the hall is reserved for staff.

Funding and Paid Extras

Funded childcare includes Early Education for 2 year olds (FEET), offering eligible children up to 15 hours from the term after their second birthday, and Universal Funding for three-year-olds from the applicable following term. Eligible Working Familes funding offers up to 30 hours subject to eligibility; Cygnets itself accepts children from age 2, and its term-time operation determines the attendance calendar.

Private hours beyond funding are charged separately, as are snacks, including on funded attendance. Voluntary contributions towards activity materials and consumables cover items such as books, gardening supplies and cooking ingredients. Current prices come in the nursery's written quotation.

Leaving or reducing sessions requires at least six weeks' written notice, with fees or funding continuing to that date. Funded withdrawal also carries a full-term notice provision because transferring funding during a term requires Surrey County Council agreement. Families should understand that distinction before committing to a pattern.

• Time to finish an activity. September 2024 findings highlighted play being interrupted by changes in the routine. During a visit, ask how staff now give children warning and protect longer periods of exploration.
• Term-time planning. The 38-week calendar and earlier Friday finish need to fit family working arrangements. Compare the nursery's term dates with any older child's school calendar.
• Lunch and contributions. Morning attendance spans lunch, afternoon attendance starts afterwards, and snacks carry a separate charge. Ask what lunch arrangements apply to your chosen pattern and how the voluntary materials contributions work.
• Notice before changing attendance. The terms distinguish six weeks' notice for leaving or reducing sessions from the full-term funded withdrawal provision. Establish which applies to the pattern you intend to book.

Cygnets suits families seeking preschool education through morning, afternoon or all-day attendance within a term-time calendar. Its sheltered outdoor activity areas and key-person arrangements give the offer a clear shape, while September 2024 observations provide useful detail about language activities, health habits and communication with families.

The main educational consideration is uninterrupted play. Lunch arrangements and funding terms also matter to the family's chosen sessions.