Three Exceptional Nursery Schools in the Heart of Bristol
Welcome to Central Bristol Nursery Schools
Where Every Child’s Journey Begins with Care, Learning, and Community
The Limes Nursery School
Serving the diverse Whitehall community for 40 years with a holistic approach to child development through open-ended play. This inclusive nursery helps children become enthusiastic learners and confident communicators in a supportive, caring environment.
Rosemary Nursery School
Bristol’s oldest nursery school, nestled in the heart of St Jude’s since the 1920s. This beautiful urban oasis offers children a tranquil garden space where they can explore nature through gardening and forest school activities.
St Werburgh's Park Nursery School
Built in 1931 as an open-air nursery inspired by pioneer Margaret McMillan, this spacious school features specialist rooms and exciting outdoor areas. Recognised as a Centre of Excellence, it combines historical heritage with outstanding modern early years practice.
About Central Bristol Nursery Schools
The Central Bristol Nursery Schools Federation brings together three outstanding nursery schools – Rosemary Nursery, St Werburgh’s Park Nursery, and The Limes Nursery – each with decades of experience in early years education. Together, we serve Bristol’s diverse communities, creating nurturing environments where children develop independence, confidence, and a genuine love of learning. Our experienced practitioners work in partnership with families to ensure every child receives the very best possible start in life.
About Us
At Central Bristol Nursery Schools, we offer a range of services designed to support the growth and development of young children.
A Rich Heritage of Early Years Excellence
Our federation combines nearly two centuries of collective experience in early childhood education, with roots stretching back to the 1920s. From Rosemary Nursery’s distinction as Bristol’s oldest nursery school to St Werburgh’s Park’s heritage as a 1931 open-air nursery inspired by pioneer Margaret McMillan, and The Limes’ four decades of service to the Whitehall community, we bring time-tested wisdom together with contemporary early years practice. This remarkable legacy represents generations of Bristol families who have trusted us with their children’s first educational experiences.
Celebrating Diversity in Learning
We are proud to serve Bristol’s wonderfully diverse communities, welcoming families from many different backgrounds and cultures. Our inclusive approach enriches the learning environment for all children, exposing them to various perspectives, languages, and experiences from an early age. This diversity is one of our greatest strengths, creating vibrant learning communities where every child and family feels valued and respected. Our experienced practitioners understand that each child is unique, and we celebrate the different ways children learn, play, and grow.
Nature and Learning in the City
Despite our urban locations, each of our nursery schools offers children exceptional opportunities to connect with nature and explore the outdoors. From Rosemary Nursery’s hidden gem of garden space behind Cabot Circus to St Werburgh’s Park’s exciting outdoor areas and The Limes’ spacious garden for exploration, we believe outdoor play is essential for healthy development. Our children enjoy gardening, forest school activities, and exploratory play, experiencing the benefits of nature connection while remaining in the heart of Bristol’s vibrant communities.
What Parents Are Saying
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.
We have moved to the other side of Bristol but still want to send [my child] to Rosemary as she loves it so much!
Lovely nursery, professional and friendly staff.
News
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...
St Werburgh’s Yellow Room Explores Shadows and Welcomes Grandparents
Building Social Skills This week the children have been learning how to take turns with their new friends, share their ideas, and listen to each other, developing the important social skills that help them work and play cooperatively whilst building positive...
The Limes Willow Room Enjoys Autumn Leaves and Helicopter Stories
Autumn Fun and Teamwork This week the children have loved working as a team to rake up big piles of leaves and then jump in them! This seasonal activity has encouraged cooperation and turn-taking whilst allowing children to experience the joy of autumn through...
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,...
The Limes Red Room Begins Helicopter Stories and Celebrates Diwali
Helicopter Stories Launch This week in Red Class, we have started our core experience, helicopter stories, which enables children to share a story and then perform it with their peers. Lots of imagination has been used, and interesting characters have been created....
The Limes Red and Green Room Start Children’s Kitchen and Enjoy Diwali Puppet Show
Children's Kitchen Begins We have now started Children's Kitchen at The Limes! Claudia is currently coming in every Wednesday to cook with the children from Red and Green Room. This hands-on cooking experience helps children develop important life skills, learn...
Headteacher's Welcome
Welcome! I’m Rachel, and I’m delighted to serve as Acting Head Teacher for Central Bristol Nursery Schools Federation. Having had the wonderful opportunity to teach at all three of our schools – Rosemary Nursery, The Limes Nursery, and St Werburgh’s Park Nursery – I’ve come to deeply appreciate the unique character and community spirit that makes each one special.
For over twenty years, I’ve been privileged to work in Bristol’s early years education, taking on various roles that have all reinforced my passion for this crucial stage of learning. I truly believe in the transformative power of quality early education and the essential role our nursery schools play, both within Bristol’s early years community and in supporting the families in our local neighbourhoods.
What fills me with pride every day is working alongside such dedicated and brilliant teams who are committed to providing inclusive, nurturing education where every child can flourish and reach their potential.
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.