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Hickory Dickorys Day Nursery

Ofsted: Good
(Sept 2025)
·
4.0(7 parent reviews) ·19 Cambray Place, Cheltenham, GL50 1JS · Gloucestershire
Number of places
40 places
Age range
0–4 yrs
Last inspected
Sept 2025
Local authority
Gloucestershire

About this day nursery

Hickory Dickorys Day Nursery, established in 1999, offers high-quality childcare and early education within a nurturing and stimulating environment. Located in a large Regency building in central Cheltenham, the nursery provides a welcoming and fun setting for children to develop.

The team at Hickory Dickorys is dedicated to fostering happy, confident, and active learners, focusing on individual progress and a thirst for knowledge. The nursery believes in a collaborative approach with parents to ensure each child's positive development.

They emphasise safeguarding children and continuously assess their progress, including supporting those with additional needs. The curriculum follows the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) statutory guidance, aiming to provide a holistic and ambitious learning experience across seven areas of learning, tailored to each age group.

The nursery also promotes cultural capital by offering a diverse and balanced curriculum that celebrates different perspectives. The dedicated and experienced team, many qualified to degree level, ensures a professional and knowledgeable atmosphere, with ongoing training and self-assessment to maintain high standards of care.

Our ethos

The nursery follows the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) statutory guidance, aiming to provide a holistic and ambitious learning experience. They are committed to fostering happy, confident, and active learners through a collaborative approach with parents and by promoting cultural capital with a diverse and balanced curriculum.

What it's like

Children arrive at the nursery happy and are greeted by a familiar, friendly staff team. They settle quickly and are eager to play and learn, benefiting from a broad and balanced curriculum. Staff plan carefully to support progress in all areas of learning.

Nurturing environmentEYFS curriculumExperienced staffHomely settingCentral Cheltenham location

Pricing & funding

Fees are structured by age bands for hours exceeding funded entitlements, alongside standard sessions. Voluntary consumable packages covering food and hygiene supplies are available for funded sessions. Invoices are billed monthly in advance.

Funding accepted

15 hours — universal (3–4 yrs)30 hours — working parents (3–4 yrs)Tax-Free Childcare

Good to know

  • Registration fee is required to secure a place, but waived for fully funded places.
  • A minimum of four weeks' notice is required to alter or cancel booked sessions.
  • Fees are payable monthly in advance on the 1st of each month via TFC, BACS, or cash.
  • No fees apply when the nursery is closed for bank holidays and one week at Christmas.
  • Full fees apply for all other absences.
  • Voluntary consumable packages covering food and hygiene products can be opted out of.

Key facts

Session types

Morning session (8:15am - 1:15pm), Afternoon session (1:00pm - 6:00pm), Full day (8:15am - 6:00pm), Earlybird breakfast club

Food

Food and non-food consumable package available for funded sessions, otherwise parents provide their own. Earlybird breakfast club offered.

Opening hours

Earlybird breakfast club 8:00 - 8:15 am, standard sessions from 8:15 am to 6:00 pm.

Age range

Babysuite (Under 2 years), Toddler Group (2-3 years), Pre-School (3-5 years)

Term time / All Year

All Year

Ofsted Inspection

Ofsted rating for Hickory Dickorys Day Nursery

Last inspected 24 September 2025

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 arrive at the nursery happy and are greeted by a familiar, friendly staff team. They settle quickly and are eager to play and learn, benefiting from a broad and balanced curriculum. Staff plan carefully to support progress in all areas of learning.

Inspector highlights

  • Children arrive happy and are greeted by a familiar, friendly staff team.
  • Children benefit from a broad and balanced curriculum carefully planned by staff.
  • Leaders enrich opportunities in the curriculum, recognising gaps and addressing these.
  • Children enjoy a wide range of healthy and balanced meals and snacks.
  • Partnerships with parents are a strength of the nursery.

Areas to develop

  • 1support staff to set more precise learning intentions to focus their interactions more effectively and help children make the best possible progress
  • 2embed the use of inclusive strategies to fully promote children's confidence and progress in communication and language.
Inspection #10407945 · Source: OfstedView full Ofsted report

What parents say

Verbatim quotes recorded in the Ofsted inspection

they feel listened to and included in their child's learning journey.

Inclusion & environment

How they support every child

SEND provision

The nursery has a range of inclusive strategies to support children's communication and language skills, such as visual aids, sign language, and key words in children's home languages. However, staff do not always use these consistently, and they are not fully embedded in everyday practice to fully promote children's confidence and progress in communication and language development.

Outdoor space

Leaders enrich opportunities in the curriculum by acknowledging their smaller outdoor space. They make provision for staff to take children on outings into the community and have used donations to install a climbing wall to promote children's physical development, strength and resilience.

Parent Reviews of Hickory Dickorys Day Nursery

4.0
(7)
ben Craig
2 years ago

Unsure about the below reviews so can’t comment. That said, and having previously taken our boys to one of the most prestigious nurseries in cheltenham, I can safely say this is a fabulous nursery. The staff are excellent, and very attentive. We have a 2 year old and a 10 month old, the staff have forged such wonderful bonds. Don’t be put off by the layout, it’s a wonderful place and I’d highly recommend my friends and family.

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Imogen
6 years ago

both my daughters have gone to Hickory Dickorys Since they were nine months old. I cannot say enough good things! It’s a such a warm and friendly place and both my girls have loved their time here. They do wonderful activities with the children and really prepare them for school but the children can always have a cuddle if they want one. Lovely staff and a lovely setting

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Georgia Russell
6 years ago

My son attended this nursery for about 7 weeks before I took him out. It’s a very awkward building and the rooms aren’t very big and there is not much out door space. Firstly they will not physically open the doors until 8:15am which made it tight for me to get to work on time. Secondly they do not provide breakfast, so I provided my own for the nursery to give him, which they said was fine. However on his last day they gave me the remaining wheatabix and there was still half a packet left which means he was not given breakfast for more than half the days he attended which I am very upset about. I was also not that impressed with the facilities or staff especially for the price, as they’re currently one of the most expensive nursery’s in Cheltenham.

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Sarah-Jane Bailey
6 years ago

Our son Nathan (3.5 yrs) spent the summer with the fabulous staff at Hickory Dickory and loved it. He was always telling us about the friends he made and the what they learned. We thought the online Tapestry system was great for providing daily updates. We can not thank you enough for taking such good care of him. You shall all be missed.

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Eunice Eng
2 years ago

This is my baby first nursery . They are absolutely good care and response quickly to all my queries. Helpful always. 6 stars should Thank again Hickory Dickorys

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Reviews from Google for Hickory Dickorys Day Nursery. See all on Google Maps

Inspection history

Date: June 2014

  • September 2025Good
  • January 2020Good
  • June 2014Outstanding

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