Welcome to Sir James Knott Nursery School and the Nest
This website is currently under construction. Look forward to sharing our developments over the Spring Term 2026
SENDCo- Mr Croft (Headteacher)
Headteacher's Welcome
Welcome to Sir James Knott Nursery School and The Nest
We are a Maintained Nursery School with a proud tradition of providing high-quality early education and care, alongside our birth-to-two provision, The Nest. Together, our settings offer a nurturing, inclusive and inspiring environment where every child is supported to grow, learn and flourish from their very earliest days.
At Sir James Knott Nursery School and the Nest, we believe that strong foundations matter. Our curriculum is carefully designed to meet the developmental needs of babies and young children, supporting their communication, emotional well-being, physical development and curiosity about the world. Learning is rooted in warm, responsive relationships and high-quality interactions, ensuring children feel safe, valued and confident to explore.
We are committed to inclusion and equality, and we work closely with families and professionals to ensure that every child, regardless of starting point, is supported to thrive. Partnerships with parents and carers are central to our work, and we value open communication and collaboration as children develop and progress through our settings.
Our dedicated staff team is highly skilled, reflective and passionate about early years education. As a Maintained Nursery School, we take pride in our role within the wider education system, working in partnership with other schools, services and the local community to share expertise and continuously improve practice.
We hope our website gives you a sense of who we are and what we value. Whether you are a current family, a prospective parent or a professional partner, you are very welcome, and we look forward to working together to give every child the very best start in life.
John Croft
Headteacher
Sir James Knott Nursery School and The Nest
The uniqueness of maintained nursery schools
Why choose a Maintained Nursery School?
Sir James Knott Nursery School is a Maintained Nursery School (which has been operating since 1937), a specialist type of school within the education system dedicated entirely to early years education. Maintained nursery schools are state-funded, non-profit schools, held to the same high standards of leadership, governance and accountability as primary and secondary schools.
What makes Maintained Nursery Schools unique is their combination of:
- highly qualified teachers and leaders with specialist expertise in early childhood development,
- a rich, research-informed curriculum designed specifically for children from birth to four,
- strong inclusive practice, particularly in supporting children with special educational needs and disabilities,
- and a clear focus on quality, continuity and long-term impact, rather than short-term outcomes.
As a Maintained Nursery School, we play an important role within the wider education system, working closely with families, local schools, health services and other professionals to ensure children receive the best possible start to their education. We are also committed to sharing expertise and supporting improvement across early years provision locally.
At Sir James Knott Nursery School and The Nest, this unique status enables us to place children’s learning, well-being and development at the heart of everything we do, ensuring every child is supported to achieve, belong and thrive.
The uniqueness of maintained nursery schools
Why choose a Maintained Nursery School?
The Nest – Our Birth to Two Provision
The Nest is our birth-to-two provision, designed specifically to meet the unique needs of babies and toddlers in their earliest years. At the Nest, learning and development are rooted in warm, responsive relationships, secure routines and high-quality care that supports emotional security, early communication and physical development.
Our experienced staff understand that the first two years of life are critical for brain development, attachment and well-being. The environment and curriculum at the Nest are carefully planned to support curiosity, exploration and early independence, while ensuring children feel safe, nurtured and valued.
The Nest works seamlessly alongside Sir James Knott Nursery School, providing continuity as children grow and transition. Families benefit from a shared ethos, consistent expectations and a clear pathway from birth through to nursery education, ensuring children feel a strong sense of belonging and security throughout their early years journey.