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Nursery at Gloucester 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 If you spot anything outdated or inaccurate, please let us know.
A woodwork bench, garden number hunts and children pouring their own milk give Gloucester Nursery School a practical character. Learning involves doing things for yourself. This purpose-built nursery school in Camborne Close, Northampton, offers part-time and full-time provision for children aged 2, 3 and 4, before they move to primary school. It operates during term time.
The nursery is the school itself, rather than a department within a primary school. Its main nursery rooms are complemented by Nurture Nest, a provision for children with complex needs who require a different learning environment. That distinction matters when considering which space would suit your child.
The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) brings together communication, physical skills, relationships and early learning about numbers, books and the world. Here, those areas take practical forms: children search the garden for numbers, sort doll clothes by size and give meaning to the marks they make in pictures. Activities connect early learning with familiar objects and experiences.
Physical learning includes hammering at the woodwork bench, balancing on a plank and steering a bike around other children. Pouring milk, washing hands and managing coats make independence part of ordinary routines. At the inspection on 10 and 11 June 2025, children were encouraged to be active in spacious outdoor areas. Stories and songs recurred through the day; children were asked to predict story events and relate them to their own experiences. Activities also included litter collection and trips to the library and shop, bringing local life into their learning.
Language has a named programme. NELI runs for 20 weeks using story books, with every child in G3 taking part; some also attend a daily small-group session. Staff use pictures, signs and communication boards to support expression. Communication Friendly Status was awarded in 2025 following additional staff training.
There is an important qualification. At the inspection on 10 and 11 June 2025, Ofsted found that vocabulary planning did not consistently give staff enough clarity about which words to teach and revisit. Some children consequently made less progress in language than they could. The structured language activities are useful detail, but they should not be read as proof that this concern has been resolved.
At the inspection on 10 and 11 June 2025, care included nutritious snacks, growing fruit and vegetables and teaching children toothbrushing. These gave healthy habits a practical place in the day. Clear routines helped children understand expectations, while sand timers made waiting for equipment easier to grasp. Staff also used a puppet to explore emotions and respectful behaviour.
Support for special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) was a strength in June 2025. Needs were recognised promptly, and children requiring substantial support received learning tailored to them. Nurture Nest provides an adapted curriculum and higher staffing ratios for children whose complex needs make the large, busy main rooms unsuitable. Speech and Language Therapists and Occupational Therapists work with the nursery, alongside parents.
Support for disadvantaged children. In June 2025, staff knowledge about which children needed this help, and how to provide it, was inconsistent. Some children's learning gaps therefore persisted more than they should. This is a material consideration alongside the strength in SEND provision. Safeguarding arrangements were effective at that inspection.
Attendance at Gloucester Nursery School does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate application for Reception through the normal admissions route and meet the relevant deadline. Treat choosing the nursery and securing a primary-school place as separate decisions.
At the inspection on 10 and 11 June 2025, staff encouraged children to attempt tasks independently and persevere when they struggled. Children were well prepared for their next educational stage. That preparation concerns children's skills, rather than an admissions advantage.
Morning sessions run from 8.30am to 11.30am. Afternoon sessions are also offered, and the all-day session for a 30-hour place runs from 8.30am to 2.30pm. Fully funded places are offered to children entitled to either 15 or 30 hours, with eligibility checking through Childcare Choices.
For enquiries, telephone 01604 762251 or email head@gloucester.northants-ecl.gov.uk. An online registration form allows families to express interest in provision for two-year-olds, three-year-olds or both.
It offers nursery provision for children aged 2, 3 and 4 before they move to primary school.
No. Families must apply separately for Reception through the normal admissions process.
Morning sessions run from 8.30am to 11.30am. The all-day session for a 30-hour place runs from 8.30am to 2.30pm.
Nurture Nest offers an adapted curriculum and higher staffing ratios for children whose needs make the large main nursery rooms unsuitable. The nursery also works with Speech and Language Therapists and Occupational Therapists.
Yes. Fully funded places are offered for children entitled to 15 or 30 hours. Eligibility can be checked through Childcare Choices.
