A good nursery will give your child a great start in life, and Gloucestershire is home to an exceptional range of quality options. Browse some of the best in the county in the Gloucestershire nurseries guide, handpicked by SoGlos.
From private day nurseries to nurseries and pre-prep at independent schools, find the perfect place for your son or daughter to flourish.
Be sure to book a tour to see the facilities and meet the staff first hand, and plan ahead – spaces can be at a premium and snapped up months, even years, in advance.
Cheltenham nurseries
The Richard Pate School Nursery
About the nursery
Located next to the main school, on its Leckhampton campus, The Richard Pate School Nursery is dedicated to delivering a high standard of early years care and education to children aged three and over.
With a specialist teaching programme that considers each child’s individual needs – including those with additional educational requirements – the nursery is a safe and inclusive space that is stimulating, inspiring and nurturing.
Guided by the principles of the Early Years Foundation Stage curriculum, The Richard Pate School Nursery teaches independence through positive relationships and emphasises the importance of learning and development, while providing an enabling environment, with teaching and dedicated support from qualified adults.
The nursery supports its pupils across personal, social and emotional learning, as well as physical development, communication and language – teaching in the four specific areas of literacy; mathematics; understanding the world; and expressive arts and design, to help prepare little ones for school and the wider world.
Age range
From three (from the term after the third birthday) to four-years-old.
Sessions available
The Richard Pate School Nursery offers morning sessions, from 8.30am to 12.30pm, with children attending five mornings a week.
Full day sessions start at 8.30am and end at 3.30pm, with parents able to opt for three, four or five full days a week.
Breakfast Club and after school care are also available from 7.45am until 5.30pm. Breakfast and a light tea are included for all children.
SoGlos loves
Play is prioritised as a great way for little ones to learn – with plenty of opportunities for fun, supported by the teaching staff. Children are encouraged to discover their environments, with lots to explore both inside and amongst the school’s vast grounds.
Fees
Per term, five mornings per week costs £1,390; three full days a week costs £1,761; four full days a week costs £2,279; and five full days a week costs £2,935.
Breakfast Club costs £5 per session and after school care costs £9 per session.
Address
Southern Road, Leckhampton, Cheltenham, GL53 9RP
Telephone
(01242) 522086
admissions@richardpate.co.uk
Website
Social media
Visit instagram.com/richardpate_school and
facebook.com/richardpateschool
Cheltenham Prep's Nursery School
About the nursery
Cheltenham Prep School has invested almost £3 million on the purpose-designed nursery school on its campus, which opened its doors to the very first pupils in September 2022 with Mrs Rebecca Davis at its helm.
Nestled amongst the trees, it promises a first-class introduction to the world of learning, with indoor and outdoor spaces, alongside wellbeing and mindfulness sessions led by expert early years-trained staff.
Age range
Children can join at
the start of the term in which they are going to turn three.
Sessions available
The nursery school
day runs from 8.30am to 3.30pm with wraparound care available from 8am through to 6pm in the evening. Parents can choose
between two and five days each week.
SoGlos loves
Every
week, children take
part in French and music sessions with subject specialist teachers.
They are also able to make use of the prep school’s extensive
sports facilities in their P.E. lessons.
Fees
Fees for the new nursery
are set at £3,100 a term.
Address
Thirlestaine Road, Cheltenham, GL53 7AB.
Telephone
(01242) 265639
prepadmissions@cheltenhamcollege.org
Website
Social media
Visit facebook.com/CheltCollege and instagram.com/CheltCollege
Cotswolds nurseries
Rendcomb College
About the nursery
Cirencester’s Rendcomb College offers a calm, friendly and welcoming environment for children as part of its Early Years Foundation Stage nursery and reception classes. Providing a quality pre-school education, the College offers an unrivalled environment for learning and outdoor activities, with the nursery classes set within 230 acres of parkland to provide children with ample space to play, explore and learn.
The knowledgeable staff take pride in helping children to develop in their early years, with a broad educational programme and a carefully planned curriculum, ensuring a smooth transition from nursery to reception. The in-house catering team provides nutritious and well-balanced hot meals and snacks, with a designated dining area for nursery-age children.
Age range
From two to five, with children accepted in the term they turn three.
Sessions available
Children can arrive from 8.10am, with morning sessions from 9am to 12pm, while afternoon sessions run from 12.45pm to 3.30pm, with the option for full or half days to include lunch. There is also an early morning club from 7.45am and after-school care until 6pm.
SoGlos loves
In addition to everyday nursery-based activities, children benefit from regular sessions in the Forest School with its well-established approach to learning through outdoor settings offering the chance to take part in practical activities to experience numeracy, literacy, science and more.
Fees
Morning and afternoon sessions are £31.50 each, while a full day is £60.50.
Address
Rendcomb College, Cirencester, GL7 7HA
Telephone
(01285) 832306
info@rendcombcollege.org.uk
Website
rendcombcollege.org.uk/nursery
Social media
See facebook.com/Rendcombcollege, instagram.com/rendcombcollege, or twitter.com/RendcombCollege
Nurseries beyond the border
MSJ Minis at Malvern St James Girls' School
About the nursery
Launching at Malvern St James Girls' School in September 2022, MSJ Minis is a brand-new nursery that offers an inspiring and nurturing space for girls to start their education.
Providing a bespoke learning environment for the school's nursery and reception pupils, MSJ Minis has its own purpose-built spaces, with special areas for role play, creative mark making and free play.
Learning is integrated seamlessly into the day through fun and engaging activities, with each girl benefiting from personalised support on their Early Years Foundation Stage learning journey from MSJ's specialist teachers. Small class sizes and a high teacher-to-pupil ratio mean that every pupil is given the attention and support they need to thrive.
Outdoor education is just as important at MSJ Minis, with regular sessions in the on-site woodland school where little ones can play in the mud kitchen, plus regular days out and visits to parks. And with over 30 after school activities to try, the nursery benefits from access to the senior school's state-of-the-art facilities, including a multi-sports centre and heated swimming pool.
Age range
From three to four, with children accepted from the September following their third birthday.
Sessions available
MSJ offers 'school day' sessions from 8am to 3.30pm. There is also an afternoon session from 3.30pm to 6pm, with children able to attend 'full day' sessions from 8am to 6pm.
Wraparound care is available until 6pm each day, with children able to stay for additional time, billed at MSJ Mini's hourly rate.
SoGlos loves
Building the foundations of its pupils' academic journeys in a supportive, all-girls setting, MSJ Minis is a fantastic option for parents seeking a single-sex education for their daughter. In an environment that's free from stereotypes and limitations, pupils are encouraged to explore their personal interests and be themselves, learning how to be more independent and have the confidence to take measured risks and embrace the opportunities that come their way.
Fees
MSJ Minis accepts Nursery Education Funding between 8am and 3.30pm, with all provision after 3.30pm charged at its daily rate of £4.72 per hour.
With all parents entitled to at least 15 hours of government-funded childcare, children can attend two 'school days' a week for free — with some parents entitled to 30 hours, and therefore able to attend four 'school days' a week.
There is also a charge of £3 per day to cover a hot lunch and all snacks.
Address
15 Avenue Road, Great Malvern, Worcestershire, WR14 3BA
Telephone
(01684) 584625
admissions@malvernstjames.co.uk
Website
malvernstjames.co.uk/msj-minis
Social media
See facebook.com/MalvernStJames, instagram.com/malvernstjames or twitter.com/MalvernStJames
