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
meet our staff
At Sir James Knott Nursery School and the Nest, our staff are at the heart of everything we do.
Our team is made up of dedicated, caring and highly skilled professionals who are passionate about supporting young children during their earliest and most important years. From qualified teachers and early years practitioners to support staff and leaders, every member of our team plays a vital role in creating a safe, nurturing and inspiring environment.
We believe that strong relationships matter. Our staff take time to get to know every child as an individual, building trusting relationships that help children feel secure, confident and ready to learn. Warm, responsive interactions underpin our practice across both the Nursery School and the Nest.
Staff regularly engage in high-quality professional development, ensuring that practice is evidence-informed and responsive to children’s needs. We are proud of our inclusive approach and our expertise in supporting children with additional needs, working closely with families and other professionals.
When you meet our team, you will see a shared commitment to helping every child achieve, belong and thrive.
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.
Ofsted
We were last inspected on 14th June 2022. We were informed that the school continues to be good.
To access a copy of our short inspection report, please click on the document below
"Sir James Knott Memorial Nursery School is a welcoming place to learn. Parents and carers value this school. It is a caring and safe place where staff commit to children's learning and well-being. All staff focus on helping every child to flourish and achieve well.
Children settle into school quickly because they are well supported by adults. They enjoy spending time in the exciting outdoor area, where they make potions with eucalyptus leaves and climb in their boat and sing. They make tea together and explore new things. Each activity that teachers set up for children has a reason for being there.
Children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) have their needs met well. With additional teaching support, they access the same learning opportunities as their friends. Parents praise how much staff keep in touch with them and involve them in everything they do for their children".
Our governing body
The Governing Body of Sir James Knott Nursery School and the Nest plays a vital role in ensuring the school provides high-quality early education and care for all children.
As a Maintained Nursery School, our governors work in close partnership with the Headteacher and senior leaders to provide strategic leadership, support and challenge. The governing body is responsible for setting the school’s strategic direction, holding leaders to account for educational standards and safeguarding, and ensuring the effective use of resources so that children receive the best possible start in life.
Governors bring a wide range of skills, experience and perspectives, including education, finance, safeguarding and community engagement. This enables them to ask informed questions, offer constructive challenge and support continuous improvement across both the Nursery School and The Nest.
Safeguarding is a key priority for the governing body. Governors ensure that robust policies, procedures and safer recruitment practices are in place and that the school meets all statutory requirements to keep children safe. They regularly review safeguarding arrangements and work closely with leaders to ensure a strong culture of vigilance and care.
The governing body is also committed to promoting inclusion, equality and well-being for children, families and staff. Governors monitor progress against the School Development Plan and ensure that the school’s vision and values are reflected in daily practice.
Through regular meetings, visits and engagement with school leaders, the governing body supports Sir James Knott Nursery School and the Nest to continue to achieve, belong and thrive.