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Nursery at Gayhurst 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 If you spot anything outdated or inaccurate, please let us know.
Bug houses, weather choices and a forest area give Gayhurst’s early years a practical character. Children learn through conversation, shared play and movement, with adults helping them become more independent. The nursery belongs to the school’s Pre Prep in Gerrards Cross and takes children from age three. It sets out 25 nursery places.
A new nursery building has wheelchair access both inside and outside, according to the accessibility audit. That is a useful physical detail for families considering mobility needs, alongside the individual support arrangements described below.
The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) combines adult-planned learning with play. At Gayhurst, this includes early phonics for reading and writing, alongside teaching that develops speech and listening. In the ISI inspection of 6 to 8 May 2026, early-years teaching was judged skilful in responding to children’s questions and extending their vocabulary. For a young child, that means their ideas become opportunities to practise explaining, asking and choosing.
Independence takes a concrete form. Children consider suitable clothing for outdoor play in different weather, making small decisions that connect classroom learning with everyday care. Shared projects also give social learning a purpose: gathering natural materials for bug houses requires children to cooperate, take turns and share equipment.
The forest area and school grounds provide space for physical exploration, alongside PE taught by specialists. Activities develop balance, coordination and strength through running, climbing and lifting. This gives movement a place within learning, rather than treating it simply as a break from it.
A nursery teacher and nursery assistant sit within the wider early-years team. Children use an illustrated emotions display to recognise their feelings and learn ways to manage them. Gaps in children’s learning are identified promptly in the early years, with support targeted to those gaps. These are practical foundations for children who need help expressing themselves or keeping pace with learning.
Stay & Play sessions let nursery families become familiar with the setting. Food is part of the nursery session too: lunch is freshly prepared, and nursery children receive a plant-based snack during the morning. Meals and snacks are included in fees, reducing the separate arrangements parents need to make.
For additional needs, provision depends on assessment, consultation and the school’s staffing and resources. Some individual assistance may bring charges for parents. Families should weigh that condition alongside the learning support team’s contact with parents through meetings and telephone conversations.
Safeguarding oversight explicitly includes early years, and staff working with these children have paediatric first-aid training. The May 2026 inspection also identified inconsistent implementation of the behaviour policy across the school and recommended more consistent expectations; this was a school-wide concern, rather than a nursery-specific finding.
Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Gayhurst handles admissions directly: entry depends on space and the Head’s decision, while allocation takes account of registration order, sibling preference and the entry activity session. Keep the Reception admissions decision separate from choosing the nursery and discuss progression with the admissions team.
The nursery attendance pattern builds towards longer days. Five mornings are the minimum in the autumn and winter terms; the summer minimum adds one afternoon. This introduces a longer session before the move into full-time schooling, but it should not be read as an admissions entitlement.
Morning sessions run from 09:00 to 13:00, including lunch; full days finish at 15:00. Families can add between one and five afternoons to the five-morning pattern. Optional care before the session runs from 08:00 to 08:40. Full-day bookings include optional after-school care from 15:00 to 17:15; Supper Club extends collection to 18:00 for an additional charge.
Funding. Gayhurst does not accept the government’s 15- or 30-hour childcare schemes. It accepts Tax Free Childcare and Child Care Vouchers, so the distinction matters when planning payment. Contact the school for current charges.
Tours can be requested online and take place on weekday mornings. For nursery enquiries, contact admissions@gayhurstschool.co.uk or telephone 01753 882690.
Nursery entry starts at age three, and the admissions policy provides for 25 places.
Mornings run from 09:00 to 13:00 and full days from 09:00 to 15:00. The minimum is five mornings in autumn and winter, increasing to five mornings and one afternoon in summer.
Yes. Fees include meals and snacks, with freshly prepared lunch and a plant-based mid-morning snack for nursery children.
Gayhurst does not accept the government’s 15- or 30-hour childcare schemes. It accepts Tax Free Childcare and Child Care Vouchers.
No. Entry remains subject to availability and the Head’s discretion. The school describes registration order, sibling preference and consideration of the activity session when allocating places.
