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Nursery at Gorse Ride Infants' 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 If you spot anything outdated or inaccurate, please let us know.
Minibeasts outdoors and drama in the classroom give Gorse Ride Nursery its character: children investigate, talk and learn through experience. The nursery occupies a purpose-built unit at Gorse Ride Infants' School in Finchampstead. It accepts children aged three up to five, normally starting in the term after their third birthday, subject to session availability. Capacity is 30 per session. Confirm the starting date with the School Office, as the admissions page also mentions joining from the third birthday.
A teacher and a qualified nursery practitioner form the nursery team. This combines teaching with practical early years care. Ofsted graded the school's early years provision Good at its inspection on 20 and 21 May 2025; that judgement covers early years within the school, rather than a separately inspected nursery.
Children's interests help shape the learning. The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) approach combines activities directed by adults with play children choose themselves. In parent terms, there is room to follow a child's curiosity alongside planned teaching. Exploration uses the senses, with opportunities to make discoveries and practise skills through experience.
Drama, investigation and practical exploration take place both inside the classroom and outside. In May 2025, early years children observed small creatures in the outdoor area, showing both interest and care. That is a concrete example of learning through close attention to the world around them, rather than relying only on adult explanations.
Language gets deliberate attention. Adults extend children's vocabulary through conversation and questions, helping them express what they notice and think. Read Write Inc. is the named phonics scheme used across early years. The nursery's emphasis on talk gives families a useful picture of how communication develops alongside play.
Writing guidance. The May 2025 inspection identified a school-wide weakness in correcting the formation of letters and numbers, allowing some mistakes to recur. This was not presented as a nursery-specific finding, but it is a relevant point for parents considering how early writing skills are supported.
Parents contribute from the start. Staff share progress, respond to observations from home and give families guidance about supporting development. Early years stay-and-play sessions also bring parents into children's learning; attendance was high in May 2025. These provide a practical connection between home and the activities children experience at school.
For additional needs, the schools' inclusion arrangements use an Individual Provision Plan (IPP). The class teacher and Inclusion Manager review it each term, and parents receive a copy. Targets and support strategies make the intended help concrete, while reviews give families a regular opportunity to discuss progress.
Harrison Catering Services prepares the schools' meals on site using fresh ingredients. Vegetables, salads and fruit feature in the daily choices. Early years children ate in the school hall alongside older pupils in May 2025, with the older children modelling positive behaviour. Food therefore sits within the wider school routine as well as the nursery day.
Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate Reception application through the normal school admissions process, using Wokingham Borough Council's route. The nursery application goes directly to the school; the Reception application is a separate decision and process.
Treat that distinction as part of planning ahead. Familiarity with the nursery and its staff should not be mistaken for an allocated school place: submit the separate application by the deadline for your child's entry year.
Term-time provision has several booking patterns. The 30-hour option runs Monday to Friday, from 8.45am until 2.45pm; an extended option finishes at 3.15pm. Families using 15 hours can choose five mornings, 8.45am to 11.45am, or either half of the week: Monday and Tuesday plus Wednesday morning, or Wednesday afternoon plus Thursday and Friday.
Children qualify for 15 funded hours from the term after their third birthday. Working parents may qualify for another 15 hours. Funded provision has no additional top-up fee, while the extended session is charged separately. Contact the school for current charges.
Nursery applications are handled by the School Office on 0118 973 4880. Visits can be arranged by emailing admin@gorserideschools.co.uk. For the before-school club, nursery children start at 8am and receive breakfast. Vehicle access is restricted around school opening and closing, so plan collection and drop-off around the gate closures: 8.30am to 9am and 3pm to 3.30pm.
The nursery accepts children aged three up to five, normally starting in the term after their third birthday, subject to session availability. Confirm the starting date with the School Office. The nursery can admit 30 children per session.
Options include 30 hours across five days, an extended finish, five funded mornings, or 15 hours grouped into the first or second half of the week. The nursery operates in term time.
No. Families need to apply separately through Wokingham Borough Council's school admissions process by the deadline for their entry year.
The schools' inclusion arrangements use an Individual Provision Plan, reviewed each term by the class teacher and Inclusion Manager, with a copy shared with parents.
Email admin@gorserideschools.co.uk to arrange a visit. Nursery applications are made directly to the school through the School Office.
