Cirencester Rocks

Nurseries in and around Cirencester

Choosing to send your child to nursery is a big step and can be an emotional decision. Nursery can play a huge and exciting part in your child’s development but picking the right one for your little one can feel like an overwhelming decision, particularly for new parents.

The right nursery will be child-focused and provide a safe, clean and fun environment for your little one to thrive. Nursery is great for social skills and relationship building as well as providing that essential care for working parents.

When thinking about nurseries here are some key considerations you might want to think about

  • Location, how close is it to home and work? Can you park?
  • Opening times, will they fit with your work schedule? Some nurseries are term-time only.
  • The setting, some children will suit a smaller setting while others will be fine in larger environments, how many children are in each group? What is the age range for each group? Is there a quiet space for the children to sleep?
  • Outside space, how much space do they have and what outdoor play equipment is there?
  • Resources, are there a variety of toys to play with and do the children look happy and cared for.
  • Food, do they provide food? If so, does it meet your expectations?

We are so lucky in Cirencester to have a large choice of nurseries, we have pulled together a summary of some of the best local childcare settings to help with choosing which ones to go and look at for your child. Including two new nurseries for Cirencester due to open in September 2021.


Key Steps Day Nursery is Cirencester’s newest independent and family-owned nursery.

In the heart of Cirencester on Ashcroft road, Key Steps Day Nursery provides a home from home environment where all children feel comfortable and secure from the moment they arrive.

Our large spacious rooms give children the opportunities to entirely submerge themselves in a world of exploration, experimentation, and discovery. Whilst the purposeful outdoor environments give children space to express themselves whilst nurturing the vegetables and flowers.

Working with renowned early years experts, our nutritional menus offer an array of different tastes and textures and will ensure all children are set up and full of energy for a fun action-packed day.

Your child’s safety is paramount to everyone at Key Steps Day Nursery. All staff have paediatric first aid and we are proud to be taking part in Millie’s Mark. This is a special endorsement for childcare providers that go above and beyond minimum requirements by having 100% of staff trained in paediatric first aid.

With over 50 years of experience, our graduate lead team are always happy to support you and your family, whilst our passionate and knowledgeable staff team will ensure children are happy and fully engaged in a range of exciting experiences whilst at nursery.

We would love to welcome you and your family to our nursery and discuss how we can support you, so please book a visit today. You can also keep up to date with the fun we are having through our Facebook or Instagram.

Location: 25 Ashcroft Road, Cirencester, GL7 1QZ

Opening times: Monday to Friday 7:30 am-6:30 pm

Sessions: We offer full, sessional and flexible sessions

Contact details: Julie Rees – Nursery Manager.

Email: info@keystepsdaynursery.co.uk

Tel: 01285 283131

Website: http://www.keystepsdaynursery.co.uk




Tiny Tots Nursery @ Rugrats and Halfpints - opening in September!

At Tiny Tots, we strive to offer outstanding care for every child.

Our setting is a welcoming environment for children, and we offer four separate rooms which will offer progressive learning as they advance through the rooms.

We believe that a strong, committed staff team is one of the foundations needed to provide the most love, understanding, fun and variety of learning experiences for your child. Our staff will make all the difference to your child’s development and experience of nursery life. We envisage the Tiny Tots team working as a happy family, working together in a happy, pleasant and well-maintained setting and supported by a highly qualified and responsive management team.

The second foundation is ensuring that we also have a highly qualified team with all practitioners holding either level 3 certification or are training for this qualification.

We are just on the outskirts of Cirencester, (less than 5 minutes drive from the town centre), we have ample free parking for safe drop off and pick up. And a newly created covered outdoor garden area.

The children will have access to the sensory and soft play facilities within the highly acclaimed Rugrats and Half Pints activity centre. Regular outings to the local English Heritage amphitheatre and forest site, (less than 5 minutes walk) will also feature.

Location: Meadow Road, Cirencester, GL7 1YA.

Opening Times/Days: Monday to Friday from 8am-6pm.

Booking: Please get in touch to book an appointment for a tour or a chat, whenever it is convenient with Bonny, the Manager.

Email: nursery@rugratsandhalfpints.com

Tel: 01285 885 419

Website: https://www.rugratsandhalfpints.com/nursery




Acorns Nursery School

Acorns is a day nursery, situated in the heart of Cirencester.

We occupy two beautiful, historical houses with large, light and airy rooms.

We also have a separate Coach House for our youngest babies, and amazing garden spaces, in which we spend a lot of our day.

The children and their well-being are at the very heart of everything we do. Our focus is on developing strong, loving relationships so that we can help build healthy brains.

For childcare for children aged 4-11 years, take a look at our Mighty Oaks breakfast, after school and holiday clubs which are held at various locations across Cirencester.

www.mightyoaksclubs.com

Location: 10 Park St, Cirencester. GL7 2BN.

Opening times/ days: Monday to Friday from 8am – 5.45pm.

Booking details: enquiries@acornscirencester.com

Tel: 01285 655 505

Website: www.acornscirencester.com


Busy Bees at Chesterton Primary School

Busy Bees prides itself on providing a range of fun and challenging activities linked to all 7 areas of the early years foundation stage while celebrating the whole child and their many individual achievements. As a setting, we place a strong emphasis on the prime areas of development including social and emotional, communication and language as well as physical development and recognise that children who are happy, secure and confident will continue to be lifelong learners.

Staff value the characteristics of effective learning and encourage children to be creative, problem solve and take risks both indoors and outdoors in our large garden area and Forest School.

  • A large outside area including a wildlife area
  • Onsite parking
  • 10% discount for siblings

Location: Chesterton Primary School Apsley Road Cirencester Glos GL7 1SS.

Opening times/ days: 8.00 am until 5.45 pm.Term time nursery rooms (Nursery 2’s, Rising 3’s and Preschool)

Sessions available: 8.30 am-12.30 pm, 12.30-3.30pm or 8.30-3.30pm – extended day until 5.45 pm and early drop off from 8.00 am with breakfast included.

May Half Term Holiday Club 1st -4th June 8.00-4.00pm

Booking: Contact the main school office or by email
Email: busybeesadmin@chesterton.gloucs.sch.uk or admin@chesterton.gloucs.sch.uk
Tel: 01285 654796

Website: https://www.chestertonprimary.net/
Facebook: Chesterton Primary School




Sunflowers at St Peter's Pre School Playgroup

We are an independent family-run Pre School setting for children aged 18 months – 5 years set in central Cirencester with huge indoor and outdoor space next to St Peters Catholic Church in St Peters Road.

The Sunflowers team have over 100 years of childcare experience and have been working together since 2008. We are registered for 30 children per session 4 days a week.

Sunflowers is a child-led environment where children learn the social skills that they will need for the rest of their lives. We encourage our children to believe in themselves and to have positive self-esteem and confidence, so when they start school they look forward with their head held high.

We have strong links with all the primary schools in the local area and usually transition into 8 different primary schools every year.

We also run 2 stay and play sessions, Tuesday and Friday mornings for families with young children from 1 week old to 4 years – everyone is welcome, a great place for making friends and letting your children experience a safe and loving environment to grow and develop, hot drinks and chocolate biscuits for all grown-ups and biscuit time for the children.

Location: St Peters Church Hall St Peters Road Cirencester GL7 1RE.

Opening times/ days of the week:

We are open for 38 weeks of the year, following Gloucestershire Term times.
Monday – Thursday:
8.30-2.30 for Sunflowers Play Group
Tuesday: 9.30-11 for Stay and Play
Friday: 9.30-11.30 for Stay and Play


Booking details: email lisa@mckie.co.uk in the first instance

Contact details: Lisa McKie 07817 362029 lisa@mckie.co.uk

Website: http://www.sunflowersatstpeters.co.uk/


Tiggers Cirencester

Tiggers Nurseries is a private day nursery. Our vision is to help lay the foundations for full, enriched and happy start to our children’s early education.

We strive to provide the children with long life skills that they need in order to thrive throughout their lives, giving them a sense of belonging while encouraging self-independence, confidence and the ability to spread kindness.

As educators, we play a significant part in providing a magical learning environment where children can become inquisitive, deep thinking engineers of the future.

Incorporating curiosity, awe and wonder into our nursery life will help the children to become more adventurous, explore happiness and enjoyment within a nurturing environment.

Location: 64 Victoria Road, Cirencester, GL7 1ES

Opening times: Monday to Friday 7:30 am-6:00 pm

Booking: Contact Jade Mustoe – Nursery Manager Tiggers.cirencester@gmail.com

Tel: 01285 654 000

Website: www.tiggersnurseries.com

Facebook here and Instagram here

Did you know that Tigger's also has a Nursery in Tetbury?

Location: The Cedars Quercus Road, Tetbury GL8 8GX

Opening hours/days: Monday to Friday 7:30am-6:00pm

Contact: Josie Baxter – Nursery Manager Tiggers.tetbury@gmail.com

Tel: 01666 503142

Website: www.tiggersnurseries.com

YouTube tour: Welcome to Tigger's@Tetbury

Facebook: here and Instagram here


Looking to escape the children for an evening?

ELF Sitters are an experienced team of local childcare professionals who provide evening babysitters in your home.

Head over to their website to find out more. You can also find them on Facebook.

We were delighted to welcome ELF Sitters to the Party Directory recently, as they also provide childcare services/ creche hire at parties, weddings and other events. Head over to the Party Directory to find out more.

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