Rocking Horse Day Nursery & Preschool
Phone: 01483 860273
Address: Wey Court, Godalming, Surrey, GU7 3JE
Nursery manager: Amanda Goacher
Opening hours: Monday - Friday Monday – Friday 7.30am – 6pm
At Rocking Horse Nursery, we’ve been proudly caring for families in Godalming for over three decades. As the longest-established nursery in the area, we’re known for our warm, welcoming atmosphere and our nurturing, home-from-home approach for children aged 3 months to 5 years.
Our experienced and passionate team are dedicated to supporting every child to grow in confidence, independence and joy – creating a space where they can safely explore the world around them and discover who they are. Every child is seen, valued and encouraged to shine in their own unique way.
We follow the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) framework to deliver a play-based curriculum that supports learning across all areas of development – from building friendships and problem-solving, to dancing in the rain and baking treats from around the world.
The nursery building is set on one level, and our main entrance is fully wheelchair accessible, allowing parents and carers of all abilities to access the nursery and its rooms with ease.
Rooms
Foals & Ponies – 3 months – 2 years
Our youngest children are cared for in a cosy, calming space designed to feel just like home. The focus is on building loving relationships and supporting the development of early communication and physical skills through sensory play, music, water trays and gentle activities.
Shetlands – 2 – 3 years
This bright and busy space is where toddlers begin to explore more independently, supported by dedicated practitioners who encourage curiosity and confidence. Activities include messy play, painting, story time, and lots of outdoor fun.
Shires – 3 years and above
In our pre-school room, children enjoy more structured learning through play as they prepare for their transition to school. From Music and Spanish sessions to art, science, and cooking, every day is filled with creativity and discovery.
Our Approach
At Rocking Horse Nursery, we believe in building strong, trusting relationships with families. We work in partnership with parents and carers to ensure that every child’s individual needs are met, and their achievements celebrated.
We support independence from an early age – encouraging children to make choices, take risks, problem-solve, and develop essential life skills through everyday routines and play.
Learning Through Life
Our team celebrate every child’s individuality and works closely with families to reflect children’s home languages and cultures, especially for those with English as an additional language. We also work alongside external professionals to support children with additional needs and follow individual support plans where required.
Our nursery welcomes all families, and we celebrate different languages and cultures through inclusive resources, storybooks, and open conversations with families.
A Taste of Nursery Life
Food is freshly prepared on-site by our dedicated chef, Nikki, who cooks for the children five days a week. All meals and snacks are healthy, balanced, and thoughtfully planned to support children’s growth and energy levels.
We cater for all allergies and dietary requirements, following clear procedures including red plates and allergy labels to ensure children are kept safe at every mealtime. Children are encouraged to serve themselves where possible and enjoy mealtimes together with their friends.
Meal Times
- Breakfast: 8.00 – 8.45am
- Lunch: 11.45am – 1.00pm
- Tea: 4.00pm
- Snacks 10am and 2pm
Parents provide nappies, while we take care of wipes, creams, and suncream.
Enrichment & Community
To give children an even richer learning experience, we run a vibrant programme of extra-curricular activities, all provided by the wonderful Sabrina at Sing’o’lingo, who has worked with us for over 12 years:
Rise and Shine Mondays – music and movement to start the week with joy and energy
Spanish Wednesdays – fun, engaging language learning through songs, play and games
Crazy Cooking Fridays – cultural cooking sessions where children prepare dishes from around the world, talk about ingredients, and even take their creations (and recipes!) home
We also love getting out and about in our local community. When staffing allows, we enjoy walks to the local park to stretch our legs and explore nature. We also invite local services like the fire brigade and police to visit us at the nursery, helping the children build confidence and feel connected to the wider world around them.
Our children enjoy visiting the neighbours to share celebrations with them, i.e. Easter, Christmas, Valentine’s and Halloween
Keeping Your Child Safe
We follow strict safeguarding procedures and have secure entry and end-of-day routines to keep children safe at all times. While we have limited parking, drop-off and pick-up are well managed with the support of our friendly team.
Stay Connected
We keep in close contact with families through regular updates via our Parent App, emails, and one-on-one chats. Parents are encouraged to be involved in their child’s learning through education evenings and events throughout the year.
Nursery Manager – Amanda Goacher
Amanda has dedicated her career to early years education. She began as a nanny for two wonderful families, and with raising her own children, moved into nursery settings. With a Degree in Management and Leadership and a BA in Early Childhood and Education, Amanda has been leading the Rocking Horse Nursery team since 2010.
She’s incredibly proud of the caring, committed team that’s helped shape the nursery into the thriving setting it is today – and when she’s not at nursery, she’s spending quality time with her grandchildren and wider family.
Come and Visit Us
With a strong local reputation, a dedicated team, and a genuine love for what we do, Rocking Horse Nursery is proud to be part of The Nursery Family.
We currently have limited availability, so we recommend getting in touch soon to arrange a visit or join our waiting list. We’d love to show you around and welcome your family to ours.
Limited parking is available on site, and there is on-road parking nearby.
Both my children have been at the nursery since they were around 6 months old. The nursery is a warm welcoming environment where they genuinely care about the children, both their wellbeing and development. Our kids have loved it. Children have plenty of time to get messy, go outside, learn about new cultures, each others and themselves.The children get to go outside wherever possible, try loads of different foods and even see chicken being born.I wish I could go
To enquire about a place or arrange a tour – Call 01403 334870