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The Nursery School Charlwood

Ofsted: Good
(Mar 2025)
·Charlwood Road, Lowfield Heath, Crawley, RH11 0QA · West Sussex
Number of places
110 places
Age range
0–4 yrs
Last inspected
Mar 2025
Local authority
West Sussex

About this day nursery

5 acres of gardens and woodland. The property thoughtfully preserves its original architectural charm, such as period windows, fireplaces, and a Horsham stone roof, while also benefiting from a comprehensive refurbishment to meet modern standards.

This unique environment fosters a warm and welcoming atmosphere, aiming to be a true "home from home" for children. The day nursery is well-equipped with facilities designed to enhance learning and play, including an all-weather rear garden for consistent outdoor engagement, a dedicated sensory garden for exploration, and an onsite forest school that encourages a deep connection with nature.

Parents will also appreciate the convenience of onsite parking and a dedicated parents' lounge. The Nursery School Charlwood provides a comprehensive early years education, offering enriching activities and a nurturing environment for children to thrive.

Our ethos

The Nursery School Charlwood aims to be a 'home from home' for children, fostering a deep connection with nature through its onsite forest school and extensive gardens and woodland. They provide a comprehensive early years education in a warm, welcoming, and well-equipped environment.

What it's like

Leaders share the intentions for learning effectively, which are clearly understood and implemented by staff. The curriculum is well sequenced, secure and embedded through staff's good practice and interactions with children. This contributes to children making the progress that they are capable of.

Forest SchoolRestored 17th Century HouseAll-weather Garden

Pricing & funding

Fees are structured around full day, morning, or afternoon sessions. Parents must register their child and pay a deposit to secure a place, with a minimum weekly session commitment required.

Funding accepted

15 hours — universal (3–4 yrs)30 hours — working parents (3–4 yrs)

Good to know

  • A minimum attendance of 4 sessions per week is required.
  • A registration fee is required.
  • A refundable deposit is charged upon registration.

Key facts

Opening hours

7:30am - 6pm, 51 weeks a year (excluding inset days and bank holidays). The nursery closes for one week between Christmas and New Year.

Session types

Full Day, Morning Session, Afternoon Session

Age range

Children aged one and above

Registered with Ofsted

2022

Ofsted Inspection

Ofsted rating for The Nursery School Charlwood

Last inspected 10 March 2025

Overall effectiveness
Good

What it's like to attend

Leaders share the intentions for learning effectively, which are clearly understood and implemented by staff. The curriculum is well sequenced, secure and embedded through staff's good practice and interactions with children. This contributes to children making the progress that they are capable of.

Inspector highlights

  • The strong leadership team makes continual and well-targeted improvements and supports staff development.
  • Staff know the children well and use a clear system to understand children's interests and plan for their next steps.
  • Staff effectively demonstrate new skills to children, who then copy them and receive praise, extending their development.
  • The support for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities is highly successful, with prompt identification of gaps and individualised planning.
  • Children learn about similarities and differences, and staff celebrate and embrace different languages.

Areas to develop

  • 1explore alternative methods to share information with parents on ways in which they can further support their children's learning at home.
Inspection #10389995 · Source: OfstedView full Ofsted report

Inclusion & environment

How they support every child

SEND provision

The support for those children with special educational needs and/or disabilities is highly successful. Staff promptly identify any potential gaps in children's learning and use individualised planning for children that identify targets successfully. Staff receive effective support from leaders to put effective tools and strategies in place, enabling them to provide the best opportunities for children.

Outdoor space

Children access activities in the forest school area and go on trips that staff base on children's current interests to extend their learning experiences. Parents share their delight in their children's experiences while at the setting, such as the regular outings and the outdoor forest school.

Inspection history

Date: March 2025

  • April 2025Good
  • March 2025Good

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This listing has been compiled from official Ofsted records, the nursery's own website, details provided directly by the nursery where available, and other trusted public sources. We regularly review and update listings to keep the information as accurate as possible. Learn more