Kingsmead Day Nursery, Winchester

Children’s wellbeing is supported in different ways throughout the nursery day. Our reading nook provides a quieter space to enjoy a book, the sensory room offers a dedicated space for sensory exploration and a change of pace, while the garden gives children plenty of room to move, dig and enjoy active play outdoors.

Keeping families involved is an important part of nursery life at Kingsmead. Through regular conversations, progress updates and the GrandirUK App, families can stay connected with their child’s experiences, learning and development.

Family events throughout the year create further opportunities for parents, carers and children to spend time together at the nursery, helping to build connections between the people who are part of the Kingsmead community.

Children at Kingsmead enjoy a varied mix of experiences throughout the week. Zoo Lab brings animals into the nursery for hands-on opportunities to discover more about the natural world, alongside dance and drama, tennis sessions, Debutots, Disco Dough and yoga.

Our central Winchester location also gives children regular opportunities to explore beyond the nursery, with walks by the river, trips to the market, visits to the local library and afternoons at Winchester City Museum.

Our playrooms are light, airy and thoughtfully equipped, with age-appropriate resources for each stage of development. Arranged across two floors, the nursery gives different age groups spaces designed around their needs.

Babies and younger toddlers are upstairs in a spacious environment with plenty of opportunities for sensory play and exploration. Older toddlers and preschool children are downstairs, with spaces that encourage growing independence, social interaction and the skills that help prepare them for school. Free-flow access leads directly from these rooms into the garden.

The nursery also has a sensory room and library, providing dedicated spaces for sensory exploration, stories and quieter, more focused activities.

Outdoor space

Our purpose-built garden is a big part of nursery life at Kingsmead, with a large canopy helping children make use of the outdoor space throughout the year.

The garden includes a bike track, vegetable garden, dedicated baby area, reading nook, mud kitchen, wooden playhouse, pirate ship, construction zone, mark-making areas, theatre zone and outdoor classroom. With so many different areas to explore, children can choose between active play, creativity, imaginative games, quieter activities and hands-on exploration.

Growing vegetables is a particular part of our outdoor experience, giving children opportunities to plant and care for produce, observe how it changes over time and eventually discover more about where food comes from.

The quality of care at Kingsmead can be found in the small, everyday things: a familiar face at the door, consistent routines and time taken to understand what each child needs.

Settling-in sessions give children time to become familiar with the nursery, their new routines and the people who will be caring for them. They also give families time to get to know our team, ask questions and feel more prepared for their child’s first day.

Our child-centred curriculum is shaped around children’s interests, drawing inspiration from Montessori, Reggio Emilia and play-based approaches.

Children have opportunities to explore literacy, maths, art, music, drama and movement, giving them different ways to express their ideas, develop new skills and follow their curiosity. By responding to individual interests and stages of development, our team help make learning meaningful and personal to each child.

We believe children’s own interests are a valuable starting point for learning. At Kingsmead, we draw inspiration from Montessori and Reggio Emilia alongside play-based approaches, giving children time and opportunities to explore what captures their curiosity.

An interest in building, music or something entirely different can shape where learning goes next, with our team providing experiences and resources that help children explore their ideas further. Our central Winchester location extends those opportunities beyond the nursery, with the river, market and museum becoming part of children’s experiences in the city around them.

For families with more than one child, having siblings at Kingsmead means one drop-off and pick-up, while each child can enjoy a space suited to their own age and stage.

Babies and younger toddlers are upstairs, while older toddlers and preschool children are downstairs. Although they have their own spaces and experiences, the shared garden gives brothers and sisters opportunities to see each other and share parts of their nursery day.

Sibling places are subject to availability, but where we have space in the appropriate rooms, we will always look at the options for welcoming brothers and sisters together.

Led by Nursery Manager Katherine, our experienced team at Kingsmead take time to understand each child as an individual, recognising that their needs, interests and development will be different.

Ongoing professional development helps the team keep their knowledge and training up to date, including in safeguarding, paediatric first aid and special educational needs. This expertise supports the individual care and attention children receive throughout their time at nursery.