The Old Fire Station Nursery

A converted fire station, a garden bordered by fields and weekly adventures around Englefield give The Old Fire Station Nursery a clear outdoor character. Children explore woodland, hunt for bugs and go pond dipping at the Market Garden. The village is part of their learning, rather than simply the nursery's address.

There is capacity for 26 children, with care for ages six months to five years. At its December 2023 inspection, Ofsted rated the nursery Good, found safeguarding effective and recognised good progress alongside support tailored to children needing extra help. The important qualification concerned behaviour: clearer expectations were needed to help children listen and remain engaged.

Morning, afternoon and all-day attendance provide different ways to use the nursery. Its appeal goes beyond the length of the day: outdoor exploration sits alongside creative play, relationships and practical independence.

Learning and Activities

EYFS shapes education and care around individual development, relationships and experiences suited to each child. Here, that means learning through play, with children choosing activities as well as taking part in sessions led by adults. It is the shared early-years framework; the local outdoor programme gives this nursery its own character.

The first hour after opening is devoted to children's choices. Practitioners join their play and observe what interests them, while craft and messy activities happen daily. This gives children time to pursue an idea rather than moving immediately through a tightly directed timetable.

Inside, playhouses and an imagination station support pretend play, while a Maths area, maps and construction blocks provide other starting points. Weekly activities include yoga, cooking, nature exploration, rhymes, songs and stories. The mix gives children opportunities to move, make things and communicate, alongside outdoor discovery.

School Readiness centres on confidence, taking turns and expressing thoughts and feelings. These are practical foundations for joining a group and communicating needs, rather than school preparation reduced to academic tasks. Indoor and outdoor play both contribute to that approach.

In December 2023, younger children practised feeding themselves, while older children explored quantities and addition through making a snowman with pompoms. Books and fairy tales also had a clear place in the day. These examples show how everyday activities can bring independence, language and early mathematics together.

Outdoor and Community Life

A single-storey converted fire station provides the indoor base; outside, children have a secure garden surrounded by fields. Outdoor play continues across the seasons, so the garden is a regular part of the day rather than an occasional extra.

Weekly village exploration includes building dens in woodland, searching the fields for bugs and pond dipping at the Market Garden. A nursery minibus also supports visits to farms, libraries and parks. Village exploration takes place weekly.

Friday Woodland Learning brings children together with the Reception class at Englefield Primary School. It combines outdoor activity with contact with older children, giving the school relationship a concrete place in nursery life.

Holiday Club uses themed adventures, including pirates, superheroes and space travel, and encourages dressing as favourite characters. In December 2023, cultural learning included making lanterns for Diwali, alongside visits to local theatres for performances aimed at young children. These experiences extended conversation beyond familiar routines.

Relationships and Communication

Snack time brings children into smaller groups with their key person. Conversation, manners and the relationship with that adult are part of the activity, giving a routine moment a useful social purpose. Children have space to talk as well as eat.

In December 2023, children formed close relationships with staff and shared news about their families. Daily activities and development updates were passed to parents, with suggestions for continuing learning at home. That communication connected nursery experiences with family life, rather than leaving learning at the nursery door.

Inclusion and Wellbeing

At the December 2023 inspection, Ofsted found that managers identified children needing additional support and worked with families and other professionals, but also identified inconsistent behaviour management, with excessive noise at meals and adult-led activities distracting some children. This matters for families whose children find busy group situations difficult: the concern was about clear expectations and conditions for listening.

Lunches are home-cooked using fresh ingredients. Afterwards, children spend quiet time with books, followed by relaxation with music and a story; this creates a slower period within an otherwise active day.

Sessions and Attendance

The address is The Old Firestation, The Street, Reading, RG7 5ES, in Englefield. Opening hours are 8am to 6pm, Monday to Friday, and the nursery operates for 51 weeks, closing for Christmas week.

Morning sessions run from 8am to 1pm; afternoon sessions run from 1pm to 6pm, both Monday to Friday. Children can also attend all day. These patterns support families needing one part of the day as well as those arranging care across the opening window.

The nursery remains open through school holidays and runs Holiday Club during those periods. Contact is through its enquiry form or telephone, and tours can be booked. The contact number is 07707 802095.

Funding and Paid Extras

In December 2023, the nursery received funding for free early education for children aged two, three and four. That is a dated participation fact, rather than a promise of an individual child's entitlement or booking arrangement.

Moving on to School

The nursery describes a close relationship with Englefield Primary School, and Friday Woodland Learning provides a regular shared activity. Attendance at the nursery does not guarantee a school place: families still apply through the local authority admissions process. The shared activities give children familiarity with the school's Reception class.

• Calm during group activities. In December 2023, noise and inconsistent behaviour expectations interrupted some children's attention at meals and adult-led activities. A visit is a useful opportunity to explore how staff now manage these parts of the day.
• Outdoor participation. Weekly woodland exploration and pond dipping at the Market Garden make outdoor activity central to the offer. Discuss how these outings work for your child's age and support needs.
• The whole cost of attendance. Morning, afternoon and all-day patterns give families different choices. Request a written quotation covering your chosen pattern, current funded arrangements, food and non-food consumables.
• Christmas cover. The nursery closes for Christmas week despite operating through other school holidays. Families needing care then will need another arrangement.

The Old Fire Station Nursery suits families looking for morning or afternoon sessions, as well as all-day attendance, with frequent outdoor activity built into the experience. The secure garden, Market Garden outings and Friday Woodland Learning make the offer recognisable and practical.

The December 2023 Good judgement provides a positive inspection position, tempered by a specific concern about behaviour expectations and noise. For families drawn to village exploration and a school-readiness approach centred on confidence and communication, there is a clear proposition to assess.