Now taking enquiries for baby, toddler and pre-school places Tilehurst, Reading · Monday–Friday · 8am–6pm
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About Dickory Docks

Family-run in Tilehurst since 1997.

A long-established early years setting built around relationships, purposeful learning, inclusion and a close connection with families.

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Dickory Docks nursery entrance and parents' notice board

Opening times & term dates

Plan around the nursery week.

Current opening hours, session times and the grant-funded term dates that apply if you claim Nursery Education Funding.

Opening Times

DayOpenClose
Monday08:0018:00
Tuesday08:0018:00
Wednesday08:0018:00
Thursday08:0018:00
Friday08:0018:00

Morning session: 8:00am – 1:00pm
Afternoon session: 1:00pm – 6:00pm

Closed Bank Holidays · Closed 1 week at Christmas

View Public Holidays

Grant Term Dates

These dates apply to parents who claim the Nursery Education Funding.

TermStartEndHalf TermWeeks
Summer Term 2026 13 Apr 2026 17 Jul 2026 25 May – 29 May 2026 13 wks
Autumn Term 2026 7 Sep 2026 18 Dec 2026 26 Oct – 30 Oct 2026 14 wks
Spring Term 2027 4 Jan 2027 26 Mar 2027 15 Feb – 19 Feb 2027 11 wks
Summer Term 2027 12 Apr 2027 16 Jul 2027 31 May – 4 Jun 2027 13 wks
During half terms or school holidays, children can still attend the Holiday Club. Please let us know at least 2 weeks in advance.

Our story

Nearly three decades of early years care.

The history matters because continuity, experience and community relationships are difficult to manufacture. The timeline keeps the story factual while showing how the nursery has evolved.

1997

Dickory Docks begins

The nursery was established in Tilehurst and became part of the local early-years community.

2015

Outstanding Ofsted milestone

An Ofsted inspection in 2015 judged the setting Outstanding, highlighting warm relationships, teaching and parent partnerships.

2023

Latest published Ofsted report: Good

The latest published Ofsted report is dated July 2023 and records an overall rating of Good.

2026

Symbols & Visuals Award

Proud to be one of the first to have been awarded the Symbols and Visuals Award. This recognises the changes the nursery made for all children, particularly SEN children who understand better through visuals. Learn more →

Today

A mature nursery with a clear educational philosophy

29+ years of care, 116 registered places, a qualified early-years team and a curriculum articulated through the DOCKS Approach.

What matters here

Warmth and professional standards should reinforce each other.

Parents should not have to choose between a nursery that feels caring and one that takes education, safeguarding and communication seriously.

Know the child

Key-person relationships and observation help practitioners respond to an individual child rather than a generic age group.

Protect curiosity

Play, exploration and first-hand experience are treated as serious learning, not something to hurry children through.

Partner with families

Parents bring essential knowledge about routines, culture, language, comfort and development.

Prepare steadily

School readiness grows through independence, communication, friendships and early learning without unnecessary pressure.

Our team

Early years work is skilled work.

The nursery employs a qualified early-years team and places importance on ongoing training, safer recruitment and consistent practice across rooms.

A strong nursery team is not simply a collection of friendly adults. Practitioners need to observe development, communicate with families, safeguard children, support SEND, manage routines and create learning from everyday moments.

Explore Careers
20+qualified early-years staff
DBSsafer-recruitment checks form part of appointments
CPDongoing professional learning matters
Key personone close relationship connects child, nursery and family

Inclusion & SEND

Every child should be able to take part.

Dickory Docks has SENCO support and has received the Symbols and Visuals Award from Reading EY SEND Team for accessible communication.

Talk to us about your child →

Safeguarding

Care is only reassuring when standards are strong.

The nursery’s professional responsibilities include safeguarding, health and safety, medicines, allergies, behaviour, key-person practice and safer recruitment.

See our recruitment standards →

Ofsted

Independent inspection is one part of the picture.

The latest published Ofsted report is dated July 2023 and records an overall rating of Good. The nursery also has an earlier Outstanding milestone from 2015.

Inspection outcomes matter, but parents should also look at the daily reality: relationships between adults and children, staff stability, communication, the environment, the curriculum and how the setting feels during a visit.

View the Ofsted record
Learning to play, playing to learn.
The Dickory Docks motto

Meet the nursery, not just the website.

Come and see the rooms, meet the team and experience the atmosphere for yourself.

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