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Nursery at Shere CofE Aided Infant 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 If you spot anything outdated or inaccurate, please let us know.
Counting bears through song gives a concrete picture of early learning at Shere: words, actions and numbers come together in play. Fox Cubs Forest Nursery is the nursery provision at Shere CofE Aided Infant School on Gomshall Lane, with provision for two-year-olds within the school.
Early years provision received a Good judgement at the Ofsted inspection on 1, 22 and 23 October 2024. That judgement covers the school's early years provision; it is not a separate nursery rating. Children were already managing routines from Nursery, giving their learning a predictable framework.
Language runs through everyday activity. In October 2024, adults combined songs and counting with storytelling, using objects and pictures to make new vocabulary easier to remember. The Goldilocks song brought this together: children counted the bears and named them while joining in with movements. Learning was something they could say and do.
The early years foundation stage here includes developing communication, concentration and the ability to learn alongside others. In October 2024, children paid attention during stories and shared materials in play. They sustained their interest and showed curiosity. These are useful foundations for taking part in a group, listening to another child's idea and following an activity through.
Shere calls its teaching approaches the natural pedagogies. Games, dialogue and nature sit alongside play and storytelling, making hands-on activity part of how children learn. Across the school, quiet spaces and gardens accompany classrooms. These give the setting different kinds of space for activity and quieter moments, rather than a single classroom setting for everything.
Every Fox Cubs child has a key person: a nursery practitioner responsible for a group of children and for supporting their families as they settle. After a place is confirmed, staff contact parents about settling in and discuss additional requirements. This creates an opportunity to explain a child's needs before nursery life begins.
Support for special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) includes a federation SENCO, with access to speech and language therapy and occupational therapy through work with Surrey County Council and the NHS. In October 2024, children's additional needs were recognised promptly, with individual support where needed so they could learn with their peers.
Lunch affects the session choice. Morning children leave before it starts; afternoon children begin at noon in time for lunch. Families choosing between the two patterns therefore need to account for where lunchtime falls in their child's day.
Attending the nursery does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate Reception application through Surrey County Council by the normal admissions deadline. The school's governing body is its admissions authority. Treat the nursery choice and the Reception application as separate decisions, even when the preferred school is the same.
Morning sessions run from 9am to noon, while afternoons run from noon to 3pm. Early Birds allows an 8.40am drop-off, and Breakfast Club starts at 8am for children from the term after their third birthday. Both earlier options require advance booking and carry an additional charge; contact the school for current charges.
Universal funding for three- and four-year-olds is arranged as 15 hours weekly across 38 weeks, beginning the term after the third birthday. Parents complete an attendance declaration each term for the school office to claim it. For eligible 30-hour funding, families apply online and provide their eligibility code to the school.
Closure days. Nursery closures do not always coincide with school training days because of funded-session limits. Check the nursery calendar when planning childcare.
Early writing and attendance. In October 2024, some pupils across the school, including some with SEND, struggled with letter formation, grammar and punctuation, limiting the quality of their writing. Staff were asked to provide more opportunities to practise early writing skills. Improving attendance for a few pupils was also a priority. These concerns were not presented as nursery-only findings, but they are relevant context for families considering the school setting.
For enquiries or a visit, call 01483 202198 or email info@shere.surrey.sch.uk. Visits include an opportunity to discuss your child's needs.
No. A separate Reception application is required through Surrey County Council, by the normal admissions deadline.
Morning sessions run from 9am to noon. Afternoon sessions run from noon to 3pm and begin in time for lunch.
Early Birds starts at 8.40am. Breakfast Club starts at 8am and is accessible from the term after a child's third birthday. Both require advance booking and an additional charge.
Each child has a key person to support them and their family. After confirming a place, staff contact parents about settling in and discuss additional needs or questions.
Call the school office on 01483 202198 to arrange a visit and discuss your child's needs.
