Cumnor House School Nursery Review

Woodpeckers Forest School and morning swimming give Cumnor Nursery a day that reaches beyond classroom play. For children aged 2 to 5, the practical attraction is equally clear: childcare runs from 7am to 7pm, five days a week, with a choice between 34 weeks during school terms and 50 weeks across the year.

This is Cumnor House School’s own nursery in Danehill. At the October 2025 inspection, it comprised three Nursery classes. Families can choose a pattern around school holidays or a longer working year, while children take part in specialist activities within their nursery attendance.

Stories do real teaching work here. The ISI inspection of 14 to 16 October 2025 found that Nursery children drew on familiar stories to explore vocabulary and that adults demonstrated responses before encouraging children to contribute. That gives a hesitant speaker a starting point. Counting also happens within everyday activities, using pictures in books, letters and the children gathered in a group.

The early years foundation stage brings together language, number skills, physical development and learning to get along with others. Across Cumnor’s early years, supermarket play introduces simple transactions, while an office play area uses keyboards and mobile phones to explore adult roles. Children also vote on which story to hear, giving them practice in making choices together.

Movement has substantial space in the day. Early years children swim, take PE and use a playground designed to develop coordination. Balance beams, climbing frames and monkey bars provide different physical challenges. Morning specialist sessions can include music, drama, sport, Dance & Movement and Woodpeckers Forest School; these are included when scheduled during a child’s booked attendance.

A free taster session before starting gives children an introduction to nursery routines. It is arranged in advance and runs between 08:00 and 13:00. In October 2025, early years staff adapted planning around children’s changing interests and needs, and parents received regular updates. Circle time gave children opportunities to explain their feelings and hear others’ views; reassuring conversations with adults supported their security.

Everyday routines also build independence: children hang up their coats and take their shoes off for sleep. Early years staffing maintained an appropriate adult-to-child ratio, and staff had paediatric first-aid training.

Food suits different lengths of attendance. Breakfast, lunch and supper are cooked on site, with up to three hot meals possible in a day. Sandwiches and fruit are available between 16:00 and 17:00. Kitchen staff adjust provision for allergies and dietary requirements. Daily rates include meals, snacks, nappies, wipes and sun cream, although breakfast and supper can attract extra charges according to the booking.

Safeguarding follow-up. In October 2025, suitable safeguarding measures covered early years children, but leaders did not consistently seek local-authority advice promptly about concerns potentially requiring referral. Families should weigh that specific concern alongside the care arrangements.

Attending the nursery does not guarantee a Reception place. Families should confirm their Reception arrangements with the school, including whether a place has been reserved under the combined joining contract.

Cumnor has a combined nursery-and-main-school joining arrangement involving a reserved Reception place. This is a contractual arrangement to consider separately from nursery attendance: the deposit is forfeited if the child does not take up that reserved place. An offer through the school’s admissions process remains subject to availability.

Bookings are made before term begins, with at least two sessions each week. Extra one-off attendance depends on space. Booking flexibility. Missed sessions cannot be exchanged, and absence through illness or holidays is normally chargeable. All-year-round families may agree one holiday break of up to two weeks each academic year with at least one full month’s notice. Changes to regular bookings require one full month’s written notice by the last day of the month and remain subject to session availability; leaving requires three full months.

Funded hours apply only after noon. Universal entitlement can cover up to 15 hours weekly, within 12:00–15:00; eligible working-family entitlement can cover up to 30, within 12:00–18:00. Term-time funding covers Cumnor’s 34 weeks. Across 50 weeks, the stated stretched maxima are 11 and 22.5 hours weekly respectively, allocated to booked sessions where possible; funding shortfalls attract additional charges.

Funded-hours-only afternoon places depend on vacancies after nursery admission priorities, with at most one such session daily and a termly review. Bank holidays and planned INSET days bring closures. Email nursery@cumnor.co.uk for enquiries and additional sessions, and obtain current charges from the school.