Day Nurseries Owned by Wishford Education Group in Gloucestershire

The care and attention shown to our son by everyone at Hatherop Castle is second to none.

Before Hatherop, Penelope attended 2 nurseries where we never felt truly confident she was safe. She often came out sad or quiet, did not want to go, and we witnessed enough issues to withdraw her from one. I thought she was too young for Hatherop, but the nursery offers the same stage of care with far greater attention. The teachers are interactive, go the extra mile and invest real time in her, whereas elsewhere staff seemed to watch the clock. By day 3 she was running into her teachers' arms, something she had never done before. She talks about school constantly and now comes home happy. The free Friday session is an excellent way to introduce children to the setting and the school dedicates more time and resource to learning and development. Above all, everyone is genuinely kind. It is a far better option than the nurseries we used, and I would recommend it without hesitation. This is the first time I've finally felt at ease when I know she is in the care of others (outside family)

This is the second child who has attended Westonbirt Nursery. Both children love the nursery, it is a nurturing environment, and the staff are happy to tailor it to your child's needs, especially when they first start. The children are ready and prepared when they arrive at reception. We love that the children have swimming lessons when they are in Peacocks, and we also love that they can spend so much time outdoors. I visited a number of nurseries and Westonbirt, with its amazing staff, is head and shoulders above the others.

The friendly teachers and the cosy environment, with outside space to learn, made the perfect place to begin a child’s learning adventure and I always had peace of mind when dropping off my two-year-old.

Both my boys attended Little Owls Nursery at Hatherop Castle School and had a wonderful time there. They adored all their teachers and enjoyed a variety of activities. They both moved up to Hatherop Castle School and Little Owls prepared them brilliantly for a smooth transition into school life.

Our son absolutely loves coming into nursery! He adores the staff and has so much fun each day. The staff are so kind and feel like family, We often hear of the headmaster coming and joining the kids with activities which my son loves, and he talks about him fondly. The indoor space is organised and exciting, the outside space includes small animals like guinea pigs. My son loves the hot lunches which always sound delicious and nutritious. My son’s confidence has grown so much and when he tells me what he’s done each day I know I’ve chosen the right setting for him!

Our daughter has been at Westonbirt Nursery for over a year now. We couldn’t imagine a better environment for her. She loves her teachers so much she keeps on asking me when they can come to her house. She’s not only happy but has thrived with her speech and confidence improving within weeks of her starting. Very very happy!

The staff at Westonbirt Nursery are what make this a kind, nurturing and child-centred environment. They know the children well. Nothing is too much trouble and we feel they care about our child like family. Staff are experienced and we feel they communicate brilliantly between other classes and management. The children are offered a mixture of activities, examples include play, stories, arts and crafts and forest school/outdoor exploration. We picked this nursery as the children are out in the fresh air every day and learning in a safe environment.

Children are taught how to keep themselves safe, but also we feel the staff keep our children safe. For example, Road safety. Yummy snacks and lunches are provided! The menus are varied and our child always comes home full of yummy food and drink. They eat better than we do! We really feel like part of the family and our child loves it there!

My daughter joined Westonbirt Nursery in 2022 and has the best time there. She has loved every minute and continues to do so. The staff are excellent, they really care for the children and form lovely bonds with them. My little girl continuously talks about all of them with so much love. I've also felt very supported by them all; they are willing to help where they can and offer advice. They are well stocked in terms of activities, toys, and crafts, have an incredible outdoor play area, and the grounds of the larger school are incredible. As an environment, it feels nourishing and fun for the children. I love that they have a swimming pool for lessons (available to all children in Little Robins and Peacocks) and invite a dance teacher in for Tappy Toes. The food is highly varied, and they are adaptable to any allergies. My only criticism (and it's small) is the tuck shop on a Friday. Some of the foods available are ultra-processed foods for kids marketed as healthy.

My children both attend the nursery and absolutely love it. The environment is quite structured which feels like they are really learning new things every day, while also being caring and personalised for the children. There is a requirement for uniform which most other pre school environments don’t seem to have, but it’s in keeping with the rest of the school and not that much hassle. While the resources and facilities at westonbirt are well beyond most others (ie a swimming pool), by far the stand out feature is the staff, they are without exception brilliant.