Welcome to Rosemary Nursery School
Welcome to Rosemary Nursery School, Bristol’s oldest nursery school with a proud heritage dating back to the 1920s. Nestled in the heart of St Jude’s behind Cabot Circus, we offer a unique early years experience that combines nearly a century of educational excellence with a truly special environment.
Ofsted has described us as “a very beautiful school” and “an oasis of care,” and we take great pride in our large outdoor space that serves as a hidden gem within this bustling inner-city location. This carefully nurtured garden creates wonderful opportunities for children to explore nature through gardening, forest school activities, and adventurous outdoor play.
As a term-time nursery offering 15 or 30-hour places depending on eligibility, we celebrate being part of Bristol’s diverse community and warmly welcome families from all backgrounds. Our experienced practitioners create a caring and nurturing environment where children develop independence, resilience, and confidence in their play and learning.
We believe every child deserves the very best start in life, and our dedicated team works closely with families to ensure each child settles meaningfully and reaches their full potential in our remarkable urban oasis.
Partnership with Families
Our partnership with parents is a big part of our work.
You know so much about your child.
Your support and encouragement will make a big difference to their learning.
Bristol's Educational Pioneer
As Bristol’s oldest nursery school with roots stretching back to the 1920s, Rosemary Nursery brings nearly a century of educational wisdom to early years practice. This remarkable heritage represents generations of dedicated service to Bristol families, creating a legacy of excellence that continues to evolve with contemporary understanding of how children learn and grow. Our long-standing presence in the community reflects our unwavering commitment to providing high-quality early education in the heart of the city, where experienced practitioners blend time-tested approaches with innovative teaching methods to support every child’s unique journey.
Urban Sanctuary for Nature Learning
Despite our central location behind Cabot Circus, Rosemary Nursery offers what Ofsted calls “an oasis of care” – a tranquil haven where children can connect deeply with the natural world. Our large outdoor space serves as a hidden gem within the bustling urban environment, providing rich opportunities for gardening, forest school adventures, and exploratory play. This carefully designed garden creates a perfect contrast to city life, allowing children to experience the wonder of growing plants, discovering wildlife, and engaging in meaningful outdoor learning that nurtures their curiosity and environmental awareness.
Celebrating Community Diversity
Rosemary Nursery proudly embraces its position within Bristol’s vibrant, diverse community, welcoming families from many different cultural backgrounds with warmth and respect. This inclusive approach enriches every child’s learning experience, exposing them to various languages, traditions, and perspectives that broaden their understanding of the world. Our commitment to working in partnership with parents recognises that families are children’s first educators, and their involvement makes a significant difference to learning outcomes. Together, we create a nurturing environment where every child feels valued, supported, and encouraged to reach their full potential.
Nursery Places
Funded Places Available
We offer 15-hour free places for funded 2-year-olds, 15-hour funded places for 2-year-old children of working parents and 15 or (eligible) 30-hours for 3-year-olds.
Core Sessions (15 Hours)
Monday to Friday: 8:30am to 11:30am
OR
Monday to Friday: 12:30pm to 3:30pm
OR
2½ days – Monday, Tuesday 8:30am to 3:30pm and Wednesday 8:30am to 11:30am
OR
2½ days – Wednesday 12:30pm to 3:30pm and Thursday, Friday 8:30am to 3:30pm *
30-Hour Sessions (for eligible working parents)
Monday to Thursday: 8:30am to 3:30pm and Friday 8:30am to 11:30am
Paying Places
The above sessions are also available as paid places. Our fee is £8.00 per hour. We do not offer ad hoc sessions or alternative session times. Places are allocated in line with our admissions policy.
We do not offer an After-School Club at Rosemary Nursery School.
* We will only invoice parents who incur a charge for their child’s sessions – Paying daycare and after-school club
Free and Funded Childcare
Good news! There are lots of options for free and funded childcare at Bristol’s nursery schools. Every family’s situation is different, so explore the options on the Bristol Nursery Schools website to see what applies to you.
What Parents Are Saying
It’s a wonderful little nursery school which has served the good people of this deprived city centre area for a generation.
We have moved to the other side of Bristol but still want to send [my child] to Rosemary as she loves it so much!
It feels like family here. I know my child will be looked after like he’s at home.
News
SEND Parent Event on the 16th of March 2026
Together for SEND 2026 returns to Bristol, bringing families, schools, and professionals together for a day of learning, connection, and inspiration. This event tackles the real challenges faced by those supporting children with special educational needs and...
Rosemary Class 1 Explores Goldilocks Through Role Play and Cooking
This week we have continued to deepen our understanding of our core book "Goldilocks and the Three Bears." The children have been role playing the characters, using different voices and movements as we use our Helicopter Stories as a vehicle for this dramatic...
Best Start in Life: Family Survey
Bristol will have a new Best Start in Life Plan from 1st April 2026. This plan is about making sure every baby, child, and family gets the right support from pregnancy to age five. Family Hubs, midwives, health visitors, speech and language...
Rosemary Class 1 Explores Junk Modelling, Goldilocks and Wind Power
This week we have been led by the children's exploration with junk modelling and made a workshop in our undercover outside space. The children have been able to plan and create their own designs, developing problem-solving skills and creative thinking whilst...
Rosemary Class 2 Explores Goldilocks and Physical Play
We have been reading our core book "Goldilocks and the Three Bears" and exploring some props to tell the story, bringing the narrative to life through hands-on storytelling. This approach helps children understand sequence, character, and narrative structure whilst...
Rosemary Class 1 Goes Space-Mad with Whatever Next
This week the children have continued to be inspired by our core book "Whatever Next" by Jill Murphy, with Baby Bear's space adventure capturing their imaginations. They have drawn the moon, stars and planets, as well as rockets and astronauts, using different...
Rosemary Nursery School Team
- All
- Admin and Premises Team (Rosemary)
- Early Years Practitioners (Rosemary)
- Leadership Team (Rosemary)
- Senior Leadership Team
Mrs Rachel Barnwell
Jacqui Macfarlane
Jo Chambers
Kate Ticehurst
Mrs Lucy Freeman
Maria Melo
Nicky Brinkworth
Rosie Armistead
Sam Trace
Carly
Claudia
Dawn
Jaki
Jane
Khadija
Jasmine
Sucaado
Magda Bozek
Anneli
John
Register Your Interest
Discover the nurturing environment at Central Bristol Nursery Schools. Request a tour or contact us for more information to learn how we can support your child’s early education journey.