Rocking Horse Nursery
OutstandingBirth to 8+Open for decades
A day nursery in Newbury for children from birth to 8+, open 8am to 6pm. They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask. Rated Outstanding by Ofsted in July 2024. Open since 1992, with 160 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 West Berkshire
This is not this setting's price. It is the median hourly fee across all providers in West Berkshire 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
RG14 7NZWhat 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, 17 July 2024 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Children arrive at nursery full of joy to start their day. Staff nurture children in a way that makes them feel loved and cared for. Children sign themselves in when they arrive. For example, they place a mini figure of themselves next to their key person's figure. They have a sense of belonging in a place where they feel very safe and secure.
Children are happy, energetic and eager to explore the environment that staff have prepared. They flourish as they explore, investigate and create during play. For example, children use binoculars to investigate in the garden, moving through long bamboo to look for fairies and treasure, laughing excitedly as they do so. Indoors, staff teach children how to measure ingredients when baking. Children carefully tip flour into a bowl as they strengthen hand-eye coordination and fine motor skills.
Babies sing with staff enthusiastically. They know the actions and excitedly clap, signalling for more at the end of the song. Children learn and progress quickly through a highly ambitious curriculum.
- 17 July 2024Outstanding
- 22 August 2018Good
- 27 April 2016Good
Rated Good or Outstanding at 3 of the last 3 graded inspections.
Still missing for Rocking Horse 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.