The Old Station Nursery Mottershead Drive, Innsworth

Soft climbing resources for babies and balance beams for older children give this Innsworth nursery a concrete physical character. In December 2025, children used them to practise movement, while imaginative outdoor games brought physical activity into their play.

At its 10 December 2025 inspection, Ofsted judged achievement, behaviour and routines, welfare, curriculum and teaching, inclusion, and leadership to be at the expected standard, with safeguarding standards met. The assessment also highlighted uneven support for conversation and younger children's emotions.

The nursery has capacity for 46 children, with an accepted age range of 3 to 60 months.

The early years foundation stage sets the requirements for children's learning, development and care: education and everyday care belong together, rather than learning being confined to a separate lesson.

In December 2025, stories featured prominently, with comfortable reading spaces and frequent opportunities to share books. Staff used observations to choose activities that extended children's existing abilities. This gave learning a starting point in the individual child.

Babies explored climbing resources, while older children balanced and invented outdoor adventures. Independence also featured in ordinary routines: younger children tried feeding themselves with cutlery, and older children attempted tasks that required persistence. These were practical opportunities to exercise developing skills.

The limitation concerned adult interaction. In December 2025, less confident or experienced practitioners received uneven help with demonstrating language during play, and leaders did not always identify precisely who needed further coaching. Opportunities to extend children's conversation were consequently missed.

At the December 2025 inspection, Ofsted found that children progressed from their individual starting points and that children with special educational needs and/or disabilities benefited from support coordinated with families and outside professionals. Assessments and additional funding helped direct that support towards individual needs.

In December 2025, key persons offered familiar relationships, comfort and encouragement. Staff agreed babies' routines with parents, connecting care at nursery with care at home. Room moves involved introductory information sheets, with extra visits and professional advice where needed.

Older children received help to identify feelings and settle disagreements. Support for younger children's emotional understanding was less consistent. Information about home languages and cultures was gathered, but was not used fully to tailor help for children learning English as an additional language.

Balanced food, outdoor exercise, handwashing and personal care formed part of the December 2025 day. These routines gave children opportunities to practise looking after themselves.

The address is 54-56 Mottershead Drive, Innsworth, Gloucester, GL3 1EH. Opening hours are 7.30am to 6.30pm, Monday to Friday.

Care operates across the year, with closures for bank holidays and Christmas. Families planning regular attendance need to accommodate those breaks in their childcare arrangements.

• Conversation during play. December 2025 practice varied between practitioners, and coaching did not consistently address the gaps. During a visit, ask how staff now extend children's conversations and how leaders check this work.
• Younger children's feelings. The December 2025 next steps included more consistent help with managing emotions. Ask for a practical example of how a practitioner supports a frustrated younger child.
• Home languages. In December 2025, knowledge of children's languages and cultures was not fully translated into targeted support. Families using another language at home should discuss how it will inform their child's care and learning.

This nursery merits consideration for families seeking care across the year who value familiar adult relationships, books and active play. Its December 2025 practice combined practical independence with coordinated individual support. In December 2025, leaders were also adjusting routines and how space was used to reduce interruptions to learning. The decision points are specific: the consistency of conversation, help with younger children's emotions, the use of home-language information, and the organisation of the day.