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Nursery at The Rissington School
Last reviewed: October 2026 · Inspection data and key information above update regularly, however, this review below is refreshed bi-annually and may not reflect recent changes. Contact the nursery directly to confirm current arrangements. If you spot anything outdated or inaccurate, please let us know.
Weather words, shape play and a separate pre-school area give Chipmunks its own character within The Rissington School. Based at Upper Rissington, it caters for children aged 3–4, normally starting in the term after their third birthday. Children have their own learning space while remaining part of the school.
An Early Years Leader heads the provision. Ofsted graded early years provision Good at the November 2023 inspection; that judgement covers the school's early years rather than a separately inspected nursery.
Language has a practical place in children's play. In November 2023, staff used books, singing and rhymes to extend vocabulary and children's curiosity about their surroundings. Pre-school children were learning descriptive language through talking about the weather. Everyday observations became opportunities to practise new words.
Mathematics also moves into play: children in early years used activities involving shapes to put their learning into practice. These are concrete examples of the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) in action, connecting children's learning with experiences and activities.
Attendance can combine mornings, afternoons and full days. The school recommends at least three sessions each week so children can build relationships and take part in the learning experiences across the week. This recommendation matters when choosing a pattern: the arrangement is intended to give children continuity as well as flexibility for parents.
Each child has a designated key person. Families share the child's familiar routines, preferences and ways of finding comfort with that adult, giving staff practical starting points for care. Comfort objects from home are permitted when needed, with the expectation that they stay in children's bags until wanted. Calm, quiet spaces offer somewhere to withdraw when a child feels overwhelmed.
Lunch can be a school meal, charged separately, or a packed lunch supplied from home. Chipmunks has a lunch break from 12:00 to 13:00, so food forms a defined part of the day for children staying through lunchtime.
Toileting needs deserve discussion before starting. The school expects children to be toilet trained, with exceptions for medical needs discussed with staff and covered by a Medical Care Plan, or SEND affecting toilet training. A meeting can establish an Intimate Care Plan or My Plan where appropriate. The pre-school building has an accessible toilet used for intimate care; two staff members are involved, with the supporting adult nearby and able to see the staff member providing care if outside the room. This gives families a concrete care arrangement to discuss alongside their child's needs.
Attending Chipmunks does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate application through Gloucestershire Local Authority, which decides admission. Treat the nursery booking and the Reception application as two distinct tasks.
Transition activities support familiarity rather than admission entitlement. After a school place has been allocated, summer-term sessions introduce children to their new classroom and teachers. In the June 2025 transition arrangements, Chipmunks children could join Reception transition sessions and then return to pre-school.
Site allocation. A place at The Rissington School does not automatically entitle a child to a particular site. Families choosing Chipmunks for its Upper Rissington location should keep that distinction in mind when planning the move into school.
Chipmunks operates during term time. Morning sessions run from 09:00 to 12:00 and afternoons from 12:00 to 15:00; full-day provision runs from 09:00 to 15:00, subject to availability. Wraparound care can be booked.
The booking commitment is for 15 funded hours, although children may initially attend fewer. Eligible families can use 30-hour funding and must register and supply their funding code. If eligibility ends, funding returns to 15 hours after the grace period unless parents pay for additional sessions. Extra hours are charged; special events and trips may attract voluntary contributions, while ordinary non-food consumables normally carry no charge. Contact the school for current charges.
Enquiries go to the school office on 01451 820857. Visits can be arranged by telephone, and pre-school booking forms are returned to admin@greatrissington.gloucs.sch.uk.
Children normally start in the term after their third birthday. Occasionally, earlier starts, such as in the term in which a child turns three, may be considered individually, depending on places, waiting-list numbers, readiness and staffing.
Yes. Morning sessions are 09:00–12:00, afternoons are 12:00–15:00, and full days are 09:00–15:00, depending on availability.
A designated key person learns about your child's routines and comfort strategies. Familiar objects can be brought from home when needed, and calm spaces are available for children feeling overwhelmed.
Families can choose a separately charged school lunch or bring a packed lunch from home.
No. Reception requires a separate application through Gloucestershire Local Authority, which makes the admission decision.
