Where History Meets
Early Years Excellence
Nestled within the magnificent Richmond House at 6 St Mary’s Road, Leicester, designed by the renowned architect William Goddard in 1870, our nursery offers a truly unique setting for your child’s early learning journey. As part of St Crispin’s Grammar School, we benefit from a strong educational foundation and community.
The building’s stunning Jacobean-style architecture provides large, airy rooms flooded with natural light—the perfect environment for little minds to explore, create, and flourish.
Light-Filled Spaces
Large windows and high ceilings create bright, inspiring learning environments
Nurturing Care
Warm, experienced staff dedicated to each child’s wellbeing
Heritage Setting
Beautiful Victorian architecture, inspiring wonder and curiosity
Small Groups
Excellent ratios, ensuring personalised attention for every child
The building’s stunning Jacobean-style architecture provides large, airy rooms flooded with natural light—the perfect environment for little minds to explore, create, and flourish.
Meet our Mascots!
At Richmond House Nursery, we have our Mascots to help our nursery children settle into daily learning routines.
We have:
- Lulu the Llama
- Prickle the Hedgehog
- Zippy the Lizard
- Cloudy the Sheep
- Biscuit the Puppy
Every morning, before the children arrive, the nursery is quiet. Sunlight stretches across the floor… and something wonderful begins to stir. On the shelves, the toys wake up. A soft puppy wiggles free and climbs down, a gentle llama steps carefully to the floor, and a curious rabbit hops to the window to check if the children are on their way. These aren’t ordinary toys. They’ve been waiting.
As the door opens and little footsteps rush in, the magic continues — not hidden, not secret. The toys here and they’re ready to play. The puppy sits beside story time, listening just as closely as the children. The llama helps build towers during construction play, proudly standing guard over every creation. The rabbit joins painting time, watching colours swirl and turn into masterpieces. At snack time, they gather around the table, learning about sharing and kindness. Outside, they explore together — counting leaves, chasing bubbles, and discovering the world one small moment at a time. Here, imagination isn’t something you leave behind when you grow.
It’s something you’re welcomed into every day.
Because in this nursery, learning feels like play, and we learn that friendships come in all shapes and sizes, helping us grow and learn together.
Seven Areas of
Learning & Development
Following the Early Years Foundation Stage framework from the Department for Education, we nurture your child’s development across all key areas.
🗣️ Communication & Language
Developing speaking, listening and understanding skills
Key Learning Goals
- Listening and attention in small groups and whole class settings
- Understanding and following instructions
- Speaking confidently and expressing ideas
- Building vocabulary through stories, songs, and conversations
- Engaging in back-and-forth conversations with adults and peers
How We Learn
Story time, show and tell, singing, puppet play, and conversation circles
🏃 Physical Development
Building coordination, control and movement skills
Key Learning Goals
- Gross motor skills through running, jumping, climbing and balancing
- Fine motor control for writing, cutting and manipulating objects
- Developing hand-eye coordination
- Understanding the importance of physical activity and healthy choices
- Managing personal needs independently
How We Learn
Outdoor play, dance, yoga, threading, painting, and self-care routines
💝 Personal, Social & Emotional
Building relationships and emotional intelligence
Key Learning Goals
- Self-regulation and managing feelings
- Building relationships and playing cooperatively
- Developing self-confidence and self-awareness
- Understanding and respecting differences
- Managing transitions and new experiences
How We Learn
Circle time, role play, turn-taking games, and friendship activities
📚 Literacy
Early reading and writing foundations
Key Learning Goals
- Comprehension through sharing books and discussing stories
- Word reading using phonics and recognising familiar words
- Developing a love of books and reading for pleasure
- Mark making and early writing with purpose
- Learning letter sounds and formation
How We Learn
Shared reading, phonics games, writing corners, and storytelling
🔢 Mathematics
Numbers, shapes, patterns and problem-solving
Key Learning Goals
- Number recognition, counting and understanding quantity
- Simple addition and subtraction through practical activities
- Recognising and creating patterns
- Exploring shapes, space and measures
- Developing mathematical vocabulary and reasoning
How We Learn
Number songs, sorting activities, construction, cooking, and outdoor maths trails
🌍 Understanding the World
Exploring people, places and the environment
Key Learning Goals
- Learning about families, communities and traditions
- Exploring the natural world and seasonal changes
- Investigating materials and how things work
- Using technology purposefully
- Understanding similarities and differences in the world
How We Learn
Nature walks, gardening, cooking, festivals, and science experiments
🎨 Expressive Arts & Design
Creativity through art, music, dance and imagination
Key Learning Goals
- Creating with materials including painting, drawing and collage
- Exploring and using different media and techniques
- Being imaginative through role play and small world
- Singing, playing instruments and moving to music
- Sharing creations and talking about their work
How We Learn
Art studio, music sessions, drama, dance, and imaginative play areas
Free Childcare
Funded Hours
We accept government-funded childcare hours, making quality early years education accessible for families in Leicester.
15 Hours
Universal Entitlement
All 3 and 4-year-olds are entitled to 15 hours of free childcare per week during term time.
Eligibility
- All children aged 3 to 4 years
- Available from the term after their 3rd birthday
- Up to 570 hours per year
- Can be spread across the week
30 Hours
Extended Entitlement
Working families may be eligible for an additional 15 hours, totalling 30 hours of free childcare.
Eligibility
- Both parents working (or single parent working)
- Each parent earns at least National Minimum Wage for 16 hours/week
- Neither parent earning over £100,000 per year
- Must apply through Childcare Choices