South Hills Nursery Calne

Indoor and outdoor learning areas on the Marden Vale Primary School site give South Hills Nursery Calne its practical identity: a setting for children aged two to five, with planning shaped around individual learning needs. There are 45 places in total. That is a whole-nursery figure, rather than a group size.

At its 12 October 2021 inspection, Ofsted judged the nursery Good overall, with Outstanding personal development, and found safeguarding effective. The strongest examples from that period concern relationships, perseverance and helping children learn alongside one another. Those findings belong to that visit, rather than describing a fresh assessment of today's provision.

The nursery operates during term time, with weekday opening hours of 9am to 3pm. For families organising childcare around school terms, that calendar is a central part of the decision.

Designated learning spaces both outdoors and inside give children places to explore. Staff adapt routines and planning to individual children's learning requirements, so the organisation of the day responds to the children attending rather than treating their needs as interchangeable. The physical provision and individual planning are useful features to weigh together.

The early years foundation stage provides the framework for children's learning, development and care. In everyday language, this means learning through play alongside support for communication, relationships and growing independence; it is the baseline framework, rather than a special programme unique to Calne.

In October 2021, a bug-search activity became an opportunity to develop vocabulary and understand equipment. Staff explained how binoculars differed from a magnifying glass, and children used binoculars to search for birds. The example connects exploration with language: children were learning what the tools did as well as the words for them.

Another October 2021 activity involved releasing plastic animals from ice with tools. Children tried their ideas, persisted and took pleasure in succeeding. Small-group play also gave children opportunities to practise sharing and waiting for a turn. These are concrete examples of learning that includes both solving a problem and managing relationships.

There were limits to the teaching observed in October 2021. Some organised activities stopped short of extending learning, while activities for the youngest children did not consistently hold their attention. The improvement priorities were to develop planned activities further and target staff development more closely at adapting experiences for those younger children. This matters especially for families choosing a first nursery place for a two-year-old.

At the October 2021 inspection, Ofsted found that cooperation with professionals supported children with special educational needs and/or disabilities and disadvantaged children to make very good progress. Support involved working beyond the nursery team, rather than relying solely on what practitioners could provide themselves.

Relationships were also a clear part of daily life in October 2021. Staff built bonds with children early and encouraged them when a task became difficult. Praise recognised individual achievements, linking adult encouragement to something a child had actually attempted or accomplished.

Home learning had a practical form that October: resource packs gave parents activities and materials to use with their children. Electronic communication also shared information about development. Together, these approaches connected nursery experiences with home life, giving parents something to do as well as information to read.

The nursery works with local agencies, and in March 2026 received an endorsement from Dingley's Promise for its inclusion work. That recognition is a useful additional detail for families considering support needs; the practical question remains how support would be organised for their own child.

The address is Marden Vale C Of E Academy, William Street, Calne, SN11 9BD. The nursery occupies the school site, making the relationship between nursery attendance and later school admission an important distinction: attending here does not guarantee a Reception place, and families still use the local authority admissions process.

Opening hours are 9am to 3pm, Monday to Friday, during term time, with closure during school holidays. The calendar therefore matters as much as the daily finish time when planning care around work and family commitments.

Enquiries can go directly to the Calne team on 01249 816987. In October 2021, the nursery received funding for early education for two-, three- and four-year-olds; this is a dated account of participation, rather than a promise of eligibility for any individual family.

• Learning for the youngest children. The October 2021 improvement priorities included making activities more engaging for younger children. On a visit, ask how practitioners now adapt an activity when a two-year-old loses interest.
• Term-time calendar. The nursery closes during school holidays and finishes at 3pm on weekdays. Consider whether that pattern fits your household's commitments across the year.
• Individual support. Local-agency cooperation and the Dingley's Promise endorsement give inclusion a concrete context here. Ask how support for your child's needs would be planned and reviewed.

South Hills Nursery Calne suits families seeking term-time early education for children aged two to five, with indoor and outdoor learning spaces on a primary-school site. Its October 2021 strengths centred on relationships and personal development, while the teaching priorities give parents a specific point to explore for younger children. The school-term calendar and afternoon finish are decisive practical considerations.