Queen's College Nursery Review

Babies and older children share a school setting at Queen’s College: in April 2025, the nursery catered for children from birth to four. It occupies the same Taunton site as the prep and senior schools, south of the town centre. That places the nursery within a larger educational setting, while its day and care needs remain distinct from those of school-age pupils.

The age span is the defining practical detail here. Care for a baby and learning for a child approaching school age require different routines; families should consider which stage of nursery provision they are choosing, rather than treating the whole age group as one experience.

Safeguarding operates across the College. Staff throughout its different parts receive training to recognise concerns and respond, and families can contact the Safeguarding Team directly. This gives parents a route for raising a concern alongside their everyday contact with staff.

Thrive@Queen’s brings together the College’s health and wellbeing provision. Its learning support includes strategies for children with different learning needs, with an emphasis extending from early years onwards. The programme also includes a Health Centre providing medical support for all pupils. These are College-wide arrangements, rather than a description of an individual nursery room.

Parents are included through wellbeing updates, information evenings and opportunities to give feedback. The College also provides access to the online Wellbeing Hub, with resources for parents. For families, the useful distinction is between support for their own child and advice they can use at home: both sit within the wider care arrangements.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must apply separately for Reception through the normal admissions process; choosing the nursery should not be treated as securing the next stage.

At Queen’s College, the normal starting point for an application is a discussion with the Admissions team, followed by registration. Keep the Reception application separate from the decision about nursery care, even when the intention is to remain at the same school.

Eligible children can use Somerset County Council’s Early Years Funding towards fees, up to a maximum of 30 hours a week. Queen’s College claims the funding on families’ behalf. Eligibility matters: the maximum is not an automatic entitlement for every child.

Tax Free childcare vouchers can contribute towards wraparound care, with core education and meals excluded. Families should therefore distinguish funded provision, additional care and meals when considering the arrangement. Contact the school for current charges.

The nursery enquiry route is the Prep Admissions team at prepadmissions@queenscollege.org.uk. Individual family tours can be booked for a normal school day through a calendar that lets families select a date and time. A visit offers a practical starting point for considering this shared campus setting.