Business Details
46 Years
experience
Your Trusted Childcare Partner in Wokingham
Ashridge Nursery has been providing high-quality early years education since 1980, operating as a non-profit registered charity within Wokingham. Our purpose-built facility, located on the grounds of Keep Hatch Primary School, offers a secure and stimulating environment where children develop through play-based learning. With a dedicated team of qualified professionals, we maintain a Good OFSTED rating and prioritise individualised care through our key-person system. Our curriculum fosters emotional security, creativity, and foundational academic skills while promoting healthy lifestyles through regular outdoor activities. We actively collaborate with parents and external specialists to support children with additional needs, ensuring every child reaches their full potential.As a community-focused organisation administered by a parent-led Management Committee, we continually invest in maintaining standards exceeding OFSTED requirements. Our staff's expertise in safeguarding and child development ensures a safe, nurturing space where children build confidence and social skills. Through daily interactions and structured activities, we cultivate curiosity, problem-solving abilities, and respect for others. Our commitment to quality has sustained our reputation as a trusted childcare provider for nearly four decades.
Services
Early Years Education
OFSTED Registered Childcare
Outdoor Learning Activities
Special Educational Needs Support
Parent Partnership Programmes
Details
- Year established: 1980
Highlights and features
- Established for 40 years with a Good OFSTED rating since 2022
- Dedicated SENCO and safeguarding specialists on staff
- Purpose-built facility with secure outdoor learning spaces
- Community-led charity with parent representation on management
- Curriculum promoting emotional security and academic readiness
What people say
Happy and emotionally secure
Positive attitude to learning
Excellent reputation
Secure outdoor spaces
Dedicated SEN support
Services
Early Years Education
Our play-based curriculum develops foundational skills through structured activities and free exploration. Children aged 2-5 engage in creative projects, literacy development, and physical coordination exercises. Qualified staff guide social interaction and emotional growth while preparing children for primary school transition.
Outdoor Learning
Secure outdoor spaces support physical development and environmental awareness. Children explore sensory gardens, practice motor skills on age-appropriate equipment, and engage in nature-based learning. Daily outdoor sessions promote healthy lifestyles and teamwork through structured play and discovery.
Special Educational Needs Support
Dedicated SENCO coordinates individualised support plans with parental input. Staff collaborate with external specialists to implement tailored learning strategies. Visual timetables, sensory resources, and small-group activities ensure all children participate fully in nursery life while developing at their own pace.
Parent Partnership
Regular communication channels include daily updates, termly newsletters, and formal consultations. Parents contribute to policy development through the Management Committee and participate in special events. Shared learning resources support continuity between nursery and home environments.
Safeguarding Programme
Comprehensive safeguarding protocols exceed statutory requirements. All staff complete annual training in child protection procedures. Designated leads maintain up-to-date records and coordinate with local authorities. Secure premises and verified visitor protocols ensure children's safety at all times.
People
Zoe Mitchell
Nursery Manager
Qualified nursery manager with extensive experience in early years education. Currently on maternity leave, Zoe oversees strategic operations and curriculum development while ensuring compliance with OFSTED standards.
Sam Gunter
Nursery Administration Manager
Experienced administrator managing daily operations and parental communications. Sam coordinates staff schedules, maintains records, and serves as deputy safeguarding lead while ensuring smooth administrative functions.
Meg O'Toole
Nursery Manager - Maternity Cover
Senior practitioner providing leadership during managerial absence. Specialises in special educational needs coordination and safeguarding implementation while maintaining continuity in nursery operations and staff supervision.
Jules Knight
Deputy Manager - Maternity Cover
Experienced deputy manager supporting nursery leadership. Focuses on staff mentoring, curriculum delivery, and safeguarding compliance while ensuring high-quality care during transitional periods.
Hanan Mehdi
Nursery Practitioner
Qualified early years practitioner delivering daily care and educational activities. Specialises in creative development and outdoor learning while maintaining strong relationships with children and families.
Questions
What age range do you accept?
We cater for children aged 2 to 5 years, offering tailored programmes for different developmental stages.
How do you support special educational needs?
Our SENCO coordinates individualised plans with parental input, using specialist resources and small-group activities for inclusive learning.
Are meals provided?
Children should bring packed lunches. We provide healthy snacks and encourage good hydration throughout the day.
Can parents visit the nursery?
Yes, contact our administration team to arrange visits on weekdays. We welcome prospective families to see our facilities in action.
How do you communicate with parents?
Daily verbal updates, weekly newsletters, and formal consultations ensure regular communication about your child's progress and activities.
What qualifications do staff hold?
All staff have relevant childcare qualifications with annual safeguarding training. Senior team members hold management and SEN specialist certifications.
Reviews (4)
John Beauchamp
Dec 05, 2020
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Critical:Professionalism,Quality
took months to receive plants in very poor quality. Blamed on lockdown but far inferior service when compared to other online nurseries, workign in similar circumstances.
took months to receive plants in very poor quality. Blamed on lockdown but far inferior service when compared to other online nurseries, workign in similar circumstances.
Louise Wilding
Jul 18, 2019
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We have been happy with our son at Ashridge nursery, his key worker is absolutely lovely and very helpful. They have guided us in the right direction and has helped get our little boy ready for school. Thank you to all staff there x
Laura Ashleigh
May 22, 2019
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My daughter loves going to Ashridge. The staff are so friendly and attentive. Always a lovely variety of activities going on and the stay and play sessions for the grown ups offer a great insight into the daily enjoyment had by all.
Sarah Ambrose
Jan 16, 2019
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My son has only attended for a week and already the change in him is massive. He's more confident, speaking more and clearer. He's in general more contented and happy, no longer having toileting accidents. Such a big difference in such a short space of time.
