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.
It feels like family here. I know my child will be looked after like he’s at home.
My son loves the garden. We live in a flat and don’t have any outside space but the garden at nursery is amazing. It’s great to know that he can run and play in a safe space.
News
Rosemary Class 2 Celebrates Diwali and Diversity
This week, we have been learning about and celebrating Diwali by reading the story of Rama and Sita and making clay Diya lamps. This hands-on experience has helped children understand the significance of the Festival of Lights whilst developing their fine motor...
Rosemary Class 1 Explores Shark in the Park
This week we have been focusing on our core book "Shark in the Park" by Nick Sharratt, which we will continue to look at next week to learn about the rhythm and rhyme as well as the basic story structure. This repeated reading approach helps children become...
Rosemary Class 2 Explores Mud Kitchen and Black History Month
This week, Class 2 has been using different natural materials to make food in the mud kitchen, developing creativity and imaginative play whilst exploring textures and combining natural resources in inventive ways. We have been reading our new core book, "Shark in...
Rosemary Class 2 Explores Phonics, Numicon and Harvesting
This week, Class 2 has been continuing to read our core book "Walking Through the Jungle," deepening our engagement with the story and its rhythmic language. We have been identifying environmental sounds as part of our Letters and Sounds phonics work, helping...
Rosemary Class 1 Enjoys Autumn Harvest and Garden Exploration
This week in Class 1, we have been busy in the garden harvesting tiny potatoes and eating the last of the raspberries, enjoying the fruits of our gardening efforts whilst learning about where food comes from. The children have been watching the carrots grow bigger,...
Rosemary Class 2 Investigates Tree Sap and Autumn Discoveries
Last week, Class 2 investigated some tree sap that we found in our garden, exploring why it occurs and developing children's curiosity about the natural world. This activity encouraged them to ask questions about what they observed. We have been exploring colour...
Rosemary Nursery School Team
- All
- Admin and Premises Team (Rosemary)
- Early Years Practitioners (Rosemary)
- Leadership Team (Rosemary)
- Senior Leadership Team
Rachel Barnwell
Jacqui Macfarlane
Jo Chambers
Kate Ticehurst
Lucy Freeman
Maria Melo
Nicky Brinkworth
Rosie Armistead
Sam Trace
Carly
Claudia
Dawn
Jaki
Jane
Khadija
Jasmine
Sucaado
Magda Bozek
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.