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Chalkhouse@Earley

Ofsted: Good
(Mar 2025)
·
5.0(11 parent reviews) ·2 Elm Lane, Lower Earley, Reading, RG6 5UF · Wokingham
Number of places
44 places
Age range
0–4 yrs
Last inspected
Mar 2025
Local authority
Wokingham

About this day nursery

Chalkhouse Nursery, a family-operated establishment in Lower Earley, is dedicated to fostering a stimulating and enjoyable learning atmosphere. The nursery places a strong emphasis on active, outdoor engagement to support children's development within a nurturing, home-like setting.

They offer a diverse curriculum enriched with additional services and learning activities, ensuring that each child has a fun and engaging experience. This includes various craft activities, sensory play, physical challenges, and opportunities for independent exploration, all designed to maximise learning outcomes.

The nursery utilises the Famly app to keep parents informed of their child's progress through photos, videos, and audio, while also enabling staff to track and assess development. With experienced and well-trained team members, Chalkhouse Nursery maintains a higher-than-average staff-to-child ratio, allowing for individualised support for all children.

Their on-site chef prepares nutritious and delicious meals, with input sought from both children and parents to ensure meal appeal. The nursery caters to children aged 0-5, providing secure, stimulating, and educational environments in both their indoor rooms and outdoor gardens.

Our ethos

Chalkhouse Nursery is dedicated to fostering a stimulating and enjoyable learning atmosphere, with a strong emphasis on active, outdoor engagement. They aim to maximise learning outcomes through diverse activities like craft, sensory play, physical challenges, and independent exploration, all within a nurturing, home-like setting.

What it's like

Children settle quickly at this homely nursery, where staff and parents alike refer to the community ethos and that they feel like a big family. There is a strong focus on well-being, so that staff ensure that settling-in sessions are tailored to the individual needs of each child and their family. Children are happy and have a real sense of belonging at this nursery.

Family-ownedEmphasis on outdoor learningHigh staff-to-child ratioOn-site chefUtilises Famly app

Pricing & funding

This nursery offers full-day, morning, and afternoon sessions, with fees structured across three age brackets: under twos, two-to-three-year-olds, and preschool children. Sessions run from 7:30am to 6:00pm for full days, while half-day sessions split at 1:00pm.

Good to know

  • A registration fee is required to secure a place.
  • A deposit is required upon booking, with rates varying for full-time and part-time schedules.
  • Fees are structured across three age bands: Under 2s, 2-3s, and Preschool.
  • Sessions are offered as full days, morning sessions, or afternoon sessions.

Key facts

Opening hours

each weekday from 7.30am to 6pm, for most of the year

Age range

0-5

Established

2023

Ofsted Inspection

Ofsted rating

Last inspected 26 March 2025 · Nicky Hill

Safeguarding effective
Overall effectiveness
Good
Quality of education
Good
Behaviour and attitudes
Good
Personal development
Good
Leadership and management
Good

What it's like to attend

Children settle quickly at this homely nursery, where staff and parents alike refer to the community ethos and that they feel like a big family. There is a strong focus on well-being, so that staff ensure that settling-in sessions are tailored to the individual needs of each child and their family. Children are happy and have a real sense of belonging at this nursery.

Inspector highlights

  • Children settle quickly in a homely environment with a strong sense of belonging.
  • Staff plan interesting and fun activities, leading to good progress for children.
  • Children's behaviour is good, with older children encouraged to make good choices.
  • The management team and staff have worked hard to develop the nursery, focusing on staff training and development.
  • Strong and effective partnerships with parents, who are very complimentary about the nursery and its support.

Areas to develop

  • 1focus support for less confident staff on developing their skills and confidence further in supporting children in their self-chosen play
  • 2support staff to consider the learning environments and activities indoors and outdoors more thoroughly, so that they are consistently well resourced to support children's play and learning.
Inspection #10388575 · Source: OfstedView full Ofsted report

Inclusion & environment

How they support every child

SEND provision

The report states that settling-in sessions are tailored to the individual needs of each child and their family. Staff provide good support to children who need more help to manage their emotions.

Outdoor space

Toddlers and older children enjoy coming together to play in the garden, where they listen to stories, dig in the sandpit and climb up the slide with support from staff. Staff plan a range of activities outdoors so that children have plenty to do aside from physical play, such as developing fine motor skills using tweezers and scissors to pick up and cut cooked spaghetti, and babies splashing in soapy water.

Parent Reviews

5.0
(11)
Anna Tippett
8 months ago

I cannot recommend Chalkhouse Nursery enough. Our daughter was one of the first babies there when they opened and is now soon to leave (I write this with tears in my eyes!). Every staff member at every level - Baby Room, 2-3 Room and Pre-School Room - have been beyond fantastic. There is a real sense of community at Chalkhouse, and parents are reassured by the supportive and compassionate approach adopted by all staff. If you are looking for somewhere nurturing to send your child that is like a 'home from home', then visit Chalkhouse. We will miss everyone here greatly, a million thank yous!

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Jessica Frank
2 years ago

Chalkhouse Lower Earley is an amazing nursery, my son settled in so quickly there. He was abit upset being left to start with but the lovely staff made him and us feel so welcome that this hasn’t lasted long at all and now he runs in without a look back. He has bonds with different staff members and loves all the different activities they have going on daily. I would 100% recommend, the 2-3years room is amazing 😊

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Nicola Hancock
2 years ago

My daughter joined in February and I cannot believe how much she loves nursery but also how much she has grown and developed. Laura, Shana and the team are incredible, they treat my daughter like one of their own - they really care about her. My daughter loves going to nursery and I love getting the pictures/videos via the app on what she gets up to. Would 100% recommend!

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Alex Gilder
a year ago

Our boys absolutely love everything about Chalkhouse. They have such great relationships with their key workers, Hannah and Chloe, who are fantastic with them. They know all the children's needs, individual personalities, and it's not uncommon for our boys to not want to come home because they're busying playing!

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Murielle Jayer
3 years ago

Our daughter is so happy in this nursery. The staff have been outstanding - Lucy (the owner) is extremely passionate about childcare. Our daughter is opening her arms when she sees Chloe (her keyworker), and her day is packed with fun activities. Seeing her so happy means the world to us! I would recommend this nursery!

Read on Google

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Inspection history

Most recent inspection

26 March 2025

Good

Only one graded inspection on record — a trend chart will appear here once a second graded report is published.

View full Ofsted report

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