Puddles Nursery
GoodBirth to 8+Open for decades
A day nursery in Cheltenham for children from birth to 8+, open 08:00 to 18:00, 5 days a week. They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask. Rated Good by Ofsted in January 2024. Open since 2006, with 38 places.
What you might pay
This setting does not publish its fees, and no national dataset holds them. This is what childcare costs across the council, as a starting point for the call.
What childcare usually costs in Gloucestershire
This is not this setting's price. It is the median hourly fee across all providers in Gloucestershire from the Department for Education's 2025 provider survey. No national data holds what an individual nursery charges, so ring and ask.
Places, hours and the day
Who they take, when they are open, and what a day there includes.
Where it is
GL51 7SUWhat the inspector found
One grade is one visit. A run of them tells you whether it has been good for years or has only just got there.
Ofsted inspector, 26 January 2024 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Children are eager to start their learning as they arrive at this welcoming nursery.
They separate well from parents and carers, and staff welcome them warmly. They share a good handover about how their child has been. Staff have high expectations for the children to achieve and develop resilience to 'have a go'. Staff devise a rich curriculum tailored to each child's needs and abilities. There is a clear emphasis on the prime areas of learning with the younger children to make sure they have secure foundations on which to build their lifelong learning. Older children show great excitement as they go on a 'bear hunt' in the garden, and staff adapt the story of 'We're Going on a Bear Hunt' to fit their surroundings. For example, they come across a large pile of 'rustling leaves' and a 'wobbly bridge'
that they have to negotiate. Babies enjoy exploring wooden puzzles as staff name the different animals. Toddlers explore how to look after their teeth. They use a toothbrush to clean the model teeth and then practise with a new toothbrush on their own teeth. This helps children to learn about good oral health.
What Ofsted told them to improve
To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should:
- support staff who work with younger children to be consistent and use every opportunity to maximise their learning.
- 26 January 2024Good
- 5 April 2018Good
- 3 March 2015Good
Rated Good or Outstanding at 3 of the last 3 graded inspections.
Still missing for Puddles Nursery
- What it costs
- Funded hours
- Youngest age taken
- Meals
- Nappies
- Waiting list
No dataset holds any of this. Two parents telling us the same thing puts it on the page for whoever looks next.
What to ask them
None of this is in any national dataset and this setting has not published it, which is exactly why it is worth asking.
- What does it cost, all in? What is on top: meals, nappies, late pick-up, and what happens if you are late.
- Can I use my funded hours here? Whether they stretch them over the year, and the minimum days you have to book.
- Is there a place for my child's age? Baby rooms fill first and waiting lists are common.
- Who would my child's key person be? And how long have the staff been there. No dataset holds this and it matters more than anything above.
- Can I visit at a busy time? Mid-morning on a weekday tells you far more than an empty room after hours.
Day nurseries within a couple of miles
This one is first. Tick it and one or two others to see them side by side.