Castle House Nursery School

Forest School in all weathers, an Activity Studio for sensory exploration and meals shared with preparatory-school children give Castle House Nursery School a recognisable character. Its setting within the grounds of Castle House Preparatory School brings outdoor learning and contact with the wider school into the nursery day. The emphasis is practical: exploring, moving, talking and trying things for themselves.

At its August 2023 inspection, Ofsted rated the nursery Good, found that children were progressing well and judged safeguarding arrangements effective. That is a dated judgement, rather than a description of today's practice. The current age range runs from 3 to 59 months.

Full-day, morning and afternoon bookings give families different attendance patterns. A minimum booking rule applies, with full days receiving priority.

Learning and Activities

The early years foundation stage provides the framework for children's learning, development and care: play and everyday experiences support learning alongside their physical and emotional needs. Castle House combines activities chosen by children with learning guided by adults. Planning follows children's interests and needs, with the nursery working alongside the educational development team in its Prep School.

During the Educational hour, children encounter French and ICT alongside phonics and forming letters. This gives the day a more directed element as well as opportunities to choose their own activities. Weekly activities include singing, dance and gym, delivered by specialist teaching staff. The combination gives language, movement and creative expression a place in the routine.

In August 2023, communication activities differed by developmental stage. Babies heard new vocabulary through adults' responses to their babbling; toddlers joined songs and enjoyed stories; older children used increasingly complex sentences to explain what they wanted. These examples show how language learning fitted into interaction throughout the day, rather than belonging only to a formal activity.

Outdoor and Community Life

Forest School involves exploring outdoors, asking questions and learning to take manageable risks under supervision. It runs in all weathers, so outdoor learning forms part of the offer across changing conditions. An all weather outdoor classroom and sensory garden add other spaces for learning outside.

The Activity Studio provides child-led sensory experiences and physical challenges indoors. Together, these spaces give children different ways to explore through movement and their senses. The setting's grounds are used as part of learning, rather than simply as somewhere to play between activities.

In August 2023, children searched for worms, frogs and newts in the forest school area, with adults encouraging care for living creatures. An indoor climbing frame and the area's slopes provided physical challenges. These were concrete opportunities to practise movement and encounter the natural world at that visit.

Settling sessions take place before a child starts, allowing time to become familiar with the nursery and the educators who will care for them. This makes the move into nursery a process with an introductory stage. The staff structure includes a nursery manager, deputy manager and room lead, alongside early years practitioners.

The famly© App gives parents a personal news feed containing observations and updates about their child's activities and development. It also handles practical messages, including session changes, absences and updated contact details. Learning information and attendance administration therefore share one communication route.

At the August 2023 inspection, Ofsted identified weaknesses in gathering parents' initial knowledge of their children and sharing individual learning next steps, and required better understanding of when significant events must be notified; a notification had been missed, although other agencies had received it and investigated, with no impact on children's safety or welfare. These findings matter alongside the positive overall judgement. Daily updates and a clear account of what a child is working towards serve different purposes.

In August 2023, children practised independence by putting on wellies, helping themselves to food and clearing their plates. Adults used gentle reminders about behaviour, while children shared resources and helped one another with puzzles. Small daily tasks gave children opportunities to do more for themselves.

Chefs prepare fresh food each day in the Prep School dining hall, where nursery children eat alongside school children and staff. Dietary needs and allergies are catered for according to the nursery's meal arrangements.

Sessions and Attendance

The address is Castle House Nursery School, Chetwynd End, Newport, Shropshire, TF10 7JE. Opening hours are 8am to 6pm, with an annual opening schedule of 50 weeks excluding bank holidays and a one-week closure between Christmas and New Year.

A full day runs from 8am to 6pm; morning attendance runs from 8am to 1pm; afternoon attendance runs from 1pm to 6pm. The minimum is three sessions, and priority goes to full-day bookings. Those conditions matter when choosing a pattern: the shorter sessions are separate booking options, but the minimum still applies.

A waiting-list arrangement applies when a place cannot be offered. Enquiries can be made through the admissions form or by telephone on 01952 567600, and the admissions team arranges visits without obligation.

Funding and Paid Extras

The nursery offers Early years free entitlement (15 hours) for three- and four-year-olds from the term following their third birthday. Parents meeting the eligibility criteria may access an additional 15 hours. Funding eligibility and the nursery's booking conditions are separate considerations.

Paid sessions are also offered. A registration charge applies, and a deposit is required when a place is confirmed; that deposit is credited against the first month's fees. Current prices come in the nursery's written quotation.

Moving On

Castle House sits within the preparatory school's grounds, and nursery staff work with its educational development team. Attendance at the nursery does not guarantee a Reception place.

• Booking priorities. The three-session minimum and preference for full days affect how morning and afternoon attendance can fit a family's week. Discuss the intended pattern when arranging an admissions visit.
• Learning conversations. In August 2023, initial parent input and communication about learning next steps needed strengthening. Use the settling discussion to explore how your knowledge of your child contributes to planning and how next steps are shared.
• The cost of extras. Funded entitlement sits alongside paid attendance and joining charges. What costs for meals, snacks and non-food consumables should the written quotation cover?
• Outdoor participation. Forest School continues in all weathers and includes supervised, manageable risks. Consider whether that emphasis matches the experiences you want for your child.

Castle House suits families looking for outdoor exploration combined with directed learning, specialist-led activities and everyday contact with a preparatory-school setting. Its full-day, morning and afternoon patterns serve different schedules, subject to the minimum attendance rule and full-day priority.

The August 2023 Good judgement supplies a positive inspection position, while the learning-communication weaknesses and notification requirement deserve equal attention. Forest School, the Activity Studio and the parent app give families concrete features to weigh. The decision turns on the fit between that nursery day, the booking conditions and the quality of conversations about an individual child.