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Nursery at Maidenhead Nursery 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 If you spot anything outdated or inaccurate, please let us know.
Three connected rooms, a fenced pond and an allotment give Maidenhead’s nursery provision a character of its own. There is space for movement, growing and discovery alongside indoor play. The nursery advertises sessions for children aged two to four, with up to 50 attending each session.
Early Years Teachers work alongside Nursery Nurses. Maidenhead also belongs to the federation with Cookham and The Lawns Nursery Schools, which shares resources and staff expertise. The focus here is the nursery years themselves: learning through children’s interests, with communication and independence threaded through the day.
Children’s interests help shape the Early Years Foundation Stage curriculum. In practical terms, learning brings together language, early mathematical ideas and managing feelings through play and adult guidance. In May 2024, children built stories with toys and pictures, adding detail as each child contributed. Adults read aloud twice daily, giving stories a regular place in the routine and helping children develop their vocabulary and imagination.
Outside, climbing and balance equipment occupies the front playground. Behind the building is grassed space with a pond enclosed by fencing; an allotment sits beside the nursery. These distinct areas give children opportunities for physical play and exploring the natural world.
The May 2024 inspection described children looking after chickens, gathering eggs and helping clean their accommodation. Medical visitors introduced the work of doctors and paramedics, including checking a pulse. A visiting mobile zoo brought snakes and lizards into children’s learning. These experiences give responsibility and unfamiliar ideas something concrete to attach to.
Communication support also forms part of everyday learning. Makaton introduces two or three signs each week, while Let’s Connect and Attention Autism use engaging visual activities to practise watching, joining in and taking turns. Lego Therapy pairs children for a shared building task, with one giving directions and the other assembling the model.
Settling begins with getting to know the child. Children are offered a nursery visit with a parent before term begins. Home visits are arranged for the first day(s) of term, giving families time to discuss development, preferences and dislikes with their child’s key people. Children receive individual start dates rather than all beginning together. This gives the first days a gradual shape.
Within the first six weeks, staff observe children through play, discuss their needs with parents and send settling sheets home. A Learning Journey brings together experiences from home and nursery, then goes home with the child when they leave. Families therefore contribute to the picture of their child’s development.
For children with SEND, support involves the Key Person, SENCo and wider team, with outside professionals where appropriate. Individual play plans break learning into smaller steps and are reviewed with parents. Communication boards help children express choices; Intensive Interaction supports early social communication. At the May 2024 inspection, children used Calm Corners to discuss worries with staff. Ofsted found safeguarding effective at the inspection on 21 May 2024.
Reception admission is separate. Attending nursery does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate application through the normal Reception admissions process and meet its deadline. Treat choosing nursery and applying for the next school as two distinct decisions.
Morning sessions run from 8.45am to 11.45am; afternoons run from 11.45am to 2.45pm. The application form also offers two patterns covering two and a half days: Monday and Tuesday with Wednesday morning, or Wednesday afternoon with Thursday and Friday. There is a 30-hour funding option too.
Funding categories include universal 15-hour provision for three-year-olds, working-family 30-hour funding for eligible two- and three-year-olds, and 15-hour RBWM funding for two-year-olds with a letter. Self-funded applications are also accepted. Refer to the school for current charges.
Use the General Enquiry form, email maidenheadnursery@eyfed.org.uk or call 01628 623551. Visits before applying can be arranged through the office. Applications go to the office with a birth certificate, and staff can help families complete the form in English.
The nursery advertises sessions for children aged two to four, with up to 50 children per session.
Morning sessions are 8.45am to 11.45am. Afternoon sessions are 11.45am to 2.45pm.
Home visits allow families to discuss their child with staff. Children can visit with a parent before term starts, and new children have individual start dates.
The Key Person, SENCo and staff team support children, involving external professionals where appropriate. Individual play plans use small steps and are reviewed with parents.
No. Reception requires a separate application through the normal admissions process by its deadline.
