Our Den Day Nursery & Pre-School at Hillside

Babies and younger toddlers define Our Den’s character, despite the Pre-School in its name. Set within the grounds of Hillside Primary School in Lower Earley, this standalone setting cares for children from 3 months to 3 years. Its offer centres on early relationships, play indoors and outdoors, and keeping parents connected to the small details of their child’s day.

At its 17 November 2023 inspection, Ofsted concluded that the provision met requirements, but no early years children were present, so the visit did not assess the quality of provision or its impact on children. That distinction matters. The outcome establishes compliance at that visit, rather than a judgement based on watching children learn and receive care.

Attendance follows the school-term calendar: the nursery operates for 38 weeks, with Standard Day and Full Day bookings. This is a practical fit for families whose childcare needs follow term dates, with a choice of finishing times rather than one fixed day.

Learning and Activities

The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) provides the statutory basis for children’s learning, development and care. In everyday terms, activities and play support their next developmental steps alongside their care routines. The group-wide use of Development Matters guides planning, while regular progress conversations give parents a part in understanding what their child is working towards.

Boogie Mites adds regular music and movement activities as a group-wide programme. It gives children another way to join in and express themselves through movement and sound. The useful detail is the recurring opportunity to participate; it is not a promise of a particular developmental outcome.

Resources are positioned at children’s height indoors and outside as part of the group-wide approach. Books, toys and equipment are within reach, supporting children in choosing what interests them. That makes independent exploration a concrete part of the environment rather than simply an educational slogan.

Outdoor and Community Life

Outdoor learning also forms part of the group-wide offer, with examples including searching for bugs, measuring trees and building tents. These bring exploration and making into outdoor play. They are examples of activities, rather than a timetable of weekly sessions or a claim that every child undertakes each one.

In November 2023, leaders discussed using the garden to help children develop physical control and endurance. They also described plans to encourage self-care and healthy habits, including looking after teeth. These were intentions discussed during a visit without children present, so they should be understood as the planned approach at that date.

Relationships receive practical attention during settling. The group-wide care approach includes physical comfort, shared reading and time talking or playing with staff. For a baby or toddler adjusting to unfamiliar adults, these are recognisable ways of building a relationship while gradually exploring more of the setting.

Famly, the group-wide system for sharing observations and daily care information, gives parents access to learning notes alongside information about eating and sleeping. Regular meetings add a conversation to those updates. The combination helps parents connect day-to-day routines with longer-term development, rather than relying on a single end-of-day account.

At the November 2023 inspection, Ofsted found that leaders understood safeguarding responsibilities, had procedures for reporting concerns and checking staff suitability, and had appropriate SEND support procedures involving outside professionals, including local authority advisers. These findings concerned leaders’ knowledge and arrangements at the visit; they were not an assessment of support being delivered to children that day.

Food is prepared each day by cooks working on site, with menus incorporating fruit, vegetables and recipes from different cuisines. The nursery’s dietary policy is to accommodate most allergies and dietary requirements by adapting dishes.

Sessions and Attendance

The address is Hillside Primary School, Rushey Way, Lower Earley, Reading, RG6 4HQ. Opening hours are 8am to 5.30pm, Monday to Friday, during term time. The nursery operates for 38 weeks and closes outside standard term dates, so families need a separate plan for school holidays.

Two core bookings are offered across a choice of three, four or five days each week: Standard Day runs from 8am to 4pm, and Full Day from 8am to 5.30pm. Funded session options also include 9am to 3pm, 9am to 1pm and 1pm to 4pm. The different finishing times matter for working arrangements and for families seeking a shorter session.

Interest can be registered through a short form, and the nursery can be contacted on 0118 327 1312 or at ourden@completechildcare.co.uk. Its position within Hillside Primary School’s grounds does not guarantee a Reception place; families still use the local authority admissions process.

Getting There

Free parking is at Chalfont park, and the nursery is close to main bus routes serving Reading. This provides a parking option outside the nursery grounds and a public transport connection for families travelling into town.

Funding and Paid Extras

The nursery offers 15-hour and 30-hour funding arrangements, subject to individual entitlement, and eligible parents can access up to 30 hours for children from 9 months old. Funding is delivered over 38 weeks, with a maximum of six funded hours per day between 9am and 3pm; additional hours are paid wrap-around care.

Meals, activities and non-food consumables are included in the charge for paid wrap-around hours. During funded sessions, there is no charge for the entitlement itself, while a voluntary contribution is requested for lunch and snacks. Funded hours, additional paid attendance and the voluntary contribution are separate parts of the bill.

The group-wide administration offer includes no administration fee and no large financial deposit. Current prices come in the nursery’s written quotation.

• Term-time calendar. Our Den operates for 38 weeks and closes outside standard term dates. Match those dates against work commitments and holiday childcare before choosing an attendance pattern.
• A visit with children present. The November 2023 assessment took place without early years children attending. During a visit, ask how babies settle, how their rest is organised and how staff support play across the age range.
• Funded-session timing. The funding guide places funded hours between 9am and 3pm but also includes a 1pm to 4pm funded session. Ask how that afternoon booking is allocated between funded and paid hours in your quotation.
• Allergy arrangements. The dietary policy allows adaptations for most requirements. Discuss your child’s particular allergy and confirm current food preparation and serving arrangements before attendance.

Our Den suits families seeking term-time care for babies and younger toddlers, whether through a Standard Day, the later-finishing Full Day or shorter funded sessions. Music and movement, accessible resources and Famly updates give the offer useful substance. The important qualification is the November 2023 compliance outcome: it did not assess children’s experiences in practice.