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The Rocking Horse Day Nursery

Ofsted: Good
(May 2025)
·
4.8(10 parent reviews) ·The Kingsway Centre, Kennard Rise, Bristol, BS15 8AF · Bristol
Number of places
57 places
Age range
0–4 yrs
Last inspected
May 2025
Local authority
Bristol

About this day nursery

The Rocking Horse Day Nursery, established in 1987, is a cherished family-run establishment in Bristol, dedicated to providing a nurturing and secure environment for children aged 6 weeks to rising 5 years old. This independent 57-place day nursery and pre-school prides itself on fostering a warm, caring atmosphere where staff collaborate closely with parents to enhance each child's development.

Embracing the High/Scope practice, the nursery encourages children to actively engage with their surroundings and construct their own learning experiences. The nursery is structured into five distinct groups across three rooms, each overseen by a dedicated leader and keyworkers, ensuring personalised attention.

The facility places a high value on consistent staffing, believing it provides a sense of stability for both children and their families. Their philosophy emphasises that staff members are not only caring and nurturing but also fun-loving, always prioritising the child's interests in every activity.

Our ethos

The Rocking Horse Day Nursery embraces the High/Scope practice, encouraging children to actively construct their own learning experiences. They value consistent staffing for stability and prioritise a fun-loving, nurturing approach focused on the child's interests.

What it's like

Staff are caring and nurturing, supporting children to make good progress in their learning and development. Children benefit from lots of opportunities to develop their physical skills, particularly outside. Staff implement an ambitious curriculum to help prepare children for their next stages in learning.

Family-run nurseryHigh/Scope practiceDedicated keyworker systemOutdoor play focus

Pricing & funding

Funding accepted

15 hours — working parents (9 months–2 yrs)15 hours — eligible 2-year-olds15 hours — universal (3–4 yrs)30 hours — working parents (3–4 yrs)
Pricing on request

This nursery doesn't publish its fees online. Contact them directly for an up-to-date price list and availability.

Key facts

Opening hours

Monday to Friday from 7.30am to 6pm, except for bank holidays

Age range

6 weeks to rising 5 years

Session types

Flexible sessions

Ofsted Inspection

Ofsted rating for The Rocking Horse Day Nursery

Last inspected 20 May 2025 · Chris Langdon-Casey

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

Staff are caring and nurturing, supporting children to make good progress in their learning and development. Children benefit from lots of opportunities to develop their physical skills, particularly outside. Staff implement an ambitious curriculum to help prepare children for their next stages in learning.

Inspector highlights

  • Staff support children to make good progress in their learning and development.
  • Staff have high expectations for children's learning and behaviour.
  • Children benefit from lots of opportunities to develop their physical skills, particularly outside.
  • Staff manage mealtimes in the setting well, keeping them calm and providing chances to enhance children's skills.
  • The setting demonstrates a strong culture of reflection and continuous improvement.

Areas to develop

  • 1provide more targeted challenges during activities that extend children's learning even further.
Inspection #10399115 · Source: OfstedView full Ofsted report

What parents say

Verbatim quotes recorded in the Ofsted inspection

Families expressed confidence in the ability to approach staff, reflecting a nurturing and approachable environment.

Transitions are viewed positively, particularly the move to school. Families shared how well prepared and emotionally ready their child was.

Inclusion & environment

How they support every child

SEND provision

Staff provide families with children who may initially struggle when starting with additional strategies to meet their individual needs.

Outdoor space

Children enjoy plenty of fresh air and exercise to keep them fit and healthy. Children benefit from lots of opportunities to develop their physical skills, particularly outside. For example, each age group has their own specific outdoor space that is age- and stage-appropriate.

Parent Reviews of The Rocking Horse Day Nursery

4.8
(10)
Adriana Swain
2 months ago

My daughter has been going here for 6 months and I’m so impressed with all the staff here. They are all so attentive and care so much about the kids. They’ve also been really proactive with meeting the specific needs of my toddler and have made me feel so supported as a new mother. They’re just the best.

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Charlotte Branch
8 years ago

Our daughter has been going to Rocking Horse since she was 11 months old and she is now excited to be moving up into the preschool group. All of the staff are wonderful and the new location is amazing. It has a huge amount of indoor and outdoor space which has obviously been very lovingly planned and executed to ensure that the children have the best possible environment to play, learn and thrive in. We are so pleased we chose to become part of the Rocking Horse family and cannot recommend them highly enough.

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Laura Williams
8 years ago

It's a tough decision choosing somewhere to leave your baby/toddler but Rocking Horse made this easy. The experienced, friendly and nurturing staff make this nursery a home from home and I've watched my son (and his friends) thrive here. Could not recommend it more!

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Kely George
8 years ago

Both my children 9 and 4 have attended and my 4 year old still does since the age of 9 months old. This nursery is amazing it's like home from home the staff are so caring and encourage ur child in every way they can. The inside and outdoor space they have is amazing and the fact ur child can choose when.old enough to play inside or out come rain or shine the children are out there. The staff turnover is amazing the same carer's have been there for 10+ years and some have Been there from the very first day and this says an awfull lot on how the nursery is. They are friendly caring and welcome u with open arms I can't recommend this nursery enough and will miss it terribly when my 4 year old leaves in 3 weeks. This nursery has Been a huge part of my children growing up from an early age and I can't thank them enough. X

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Joshua Lawson
5 years ago

So glad we chose Rocking horse! Our little one was very wary and nervous stating but the guys here planned a really gentle induction and have been so attentive. She's loving it there now, even gets excited to go see the ladies working there. Her language has also come on leaps and bounds since starting!

Read on Google

Reviews from Google for The Rocking Horse Day Nursery. See all on Google Maps

Inspection history

Date: November 2019

  • May 2025Good
  • November 2019Good

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