Kingsholm Church of England Primary School Nursery Review

A playhouse, mud pit and willow space give Kingsholm Nursery’s day a clear character: children can move between their base room and outdoor play, following their interests. Children aged two to four attend this nursery at Kingsholm Church of England Primary School in Gloucester, managed by the school’s governing body.

The nursery occupies a separate building on the school site. Its accommodation is on one floor, with accessible rooms, so the physical setting matters for families considering mobility needs. At the inspection on 25 and 26 February 2025, Ofsted graded the school’s early years provision Good. That judgement covers early years across the school.

Play shapes the learning. The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) follows children’s interests and needs here, with activities available indoors and outside. Children choose between spaces rather than spending the whole session in one room.

Construction can mean blocks, cars or a miniature railway; creative work includes paint and modelling with reused materials. In the home corner, dressing up and pretending to care for a baby turn familiar experiences into play. The quieter area gives children somewhere to share a story or tackle a puzzle. These choices bring making, talking and imaginative play into the same session.

Outside, the growing area sits alongside space for bikes and ball play, a playhouse and muddy woodland and willow areas. Nursery children also use the library, wildlife and vegetable gardens, and the hall for movement activities. OPAL (Outdoor, Play and Learning) equipment adds another option for physical play.

Language receives deliberate attention. In February 2025, storytelling, singing and rhymes supported children whose communication skills needed development, including children learning English. Children also practised mathematical vocabulary through number and shape activities. The early years children, including those aged two, played cooperatively: learning to communicate happens alongside learning to share play.

Settling begins with a session where parent and child can play together. A home visit is offered subject to staffing, involving two staff members; the child’s keyworker joins where possible. Staff work with families to adjust the settling process to individual needs where they can. That gives parents a part in shaping the start.

Snacks are provided in both morning and afternoon sessions, with an optional contribution. Milk and water are free. Lunch carries a separate charge, so families choosing a full day need to account for that alongside any non-funded hours.

SEND support connects the nursery with the school’s inclusion team and SEND coordinator. Parents can raise concerns, and the school aims to identify additional needs early and involve families in decisions. The nursery’s single-level layout is a concrete part of its accessibility. Child protection training covers all staff, with refresher training and updates; safeguarding leads hold advanced practitioner qualifications.

Attending Kingsholm Nursery does not guarantee a Reception place or confer nursery attendance priority. Families must make a separate application to Gloucestershire County Council, online or using a paper form. Reception allocation considers the specified care and Armed Forces categories, siblings and distance from home, rather than nursery attendance.

Familiarity is a separate benefit. During the summer term of Pre-School, nursery children can use the Reception classrooms. Transition arrangements include several school visits, with the final visit taking place in the child’s future classroom with their new teacher. Those experiences help children become familiar with people and rooms; they do not change the admission decision.

Morning sessions run from 9:00am to noon, and afternoons from 12:30pm to 3:30pm. Children aged three and four can attend a full day from 9:00am to 3:30pm. The minimum attendance is two sessions of three hours each week.

Booking means choosing an agreed pattern. Funded and paid sessions can be combined, but agreed days and times apply throughout the funding cycle, up to 14 weeks. Funding applications follow September, January and April cycles. Non-funded hours are charged separately; contact the nursery for current charges. Requests to reduce paid sessions require at least four weeks’ notice, while increases require at least two weeks and depend on approval and availability.

For nursery enquiries, call 01452 530777 or email EYFSadmissions@KINGSHOLM.GLOUCS.SCH.UK. An initial request form starts the nursery application process. In the term before a child becomes eligible, families are offered a visit and the start of an induction plan.