Rowanfield Early Years
Rowanfield is situated in the heart of the community. It is a hub for families and has strong links with the neighbouring Rowanfield Infant School and other local schools.
We use three bright, spacious, welcoming rooms which each have free-flow access to the fantastic shared outdoor area with large climbing frame and slide, a large sandpit, plenty of space for running around plus areas for digging, planting and encouraging wildlife. This provides the children with a stimulating and inviting environment in which to play and learn and the covered areas mean children can easily access the outdoors in all weathers.
We also have access to the Forest School, Trim Trail and playground within the grounds of Rowanfield school. Our additional on-site facilities also include a small Soft Playroom and a dedicated kitchen wjere children can take part in baking and cooking activities.
The Team
Rowanfield Team (ID 1489)
-
EmmaEarly Years Lead
Emma
I am the Early Years Lead, SENCO and DSL at Rowanfield. I have worked in Early Years for 16 years, beginning my journey as a parent volunteer at Rowanfield. This experience inspired me to complete my Early Years qualifications and pursue a career dedicated to supporting children and families within the local community.
I am passionate about creating an environment where everyone feels welcome, included, and valued. Making a positive impact on children's early learning and development is at the heart of everything I do. It is a privilege to watch children grow in confidence and independence, celebrating every achievement — no matter how small — as part of their unique learning journey.
-
MaggieSenior Early Years Educator
Maggie
I've been working in Early Years for over 20 years. I love working with children and their families, supporting them as they grow, learn, and flourish. One of my favourite parts of the day is sharing stories — using different voices, bringing characters to life, and making the children laugh. I don't have one favourite book, as I genuinely enjoy most children's stories and love discovering new ones with the children.
-
CharlotteEarly Years Educator
Charlotte
I have had the privilege of supporting and caring for young children for the past 11 years, and I feel very fortunate to be part of each child's journey, guiding them through their time in nursery. Watching them grow in confidence and develop new skills is incredibly rewarding. I especially love sharing story time with the children, and my all‑time favourite book to read together is The Gruffalo.
-
ClaireEarly Years Educator
Claire
I have worked in Early Years for 16 years, and I am very creative and passionate about supporting every child to be the best they can be while exploring, learning, and having fun. I love giving children hands on experiences such as gardening, cooking, and lots of messy play. I also enjoy making natural, wooden resources to extend the children's learning and spark their imagination. Most importantly, I want the children to be happy, confident, and full of joy as they learn through play.
-
EllaEarly Years Educator
Ella
I am an Early Years Educator with a strong passion for supporting children's learning and development, particularly those with special educational needs. I love creating nurturing, inclusive environments where every child feels valued, supported, and able to thrive.
-
HannahEarly Years Educator
Hannah
I began my Early Years journey as a childminder when my own children were small, and I thoroughly enjoyed supporting children to grow and develop in a caring and nurturing environment. After ten years, I decided to move from working at home into a setting, and I joined the Aspire Foundation, where I went on to gain my childcare qualifications.
Now, with 13 years of experience in childcare, I still love spending my days caring for, playing with, and teaching children. Watching their progress and seeing their confidence grow is incredibly rewarding. My favourite activities to share with the children include baking, exploring the outdoors, and discovering nature together. I also love reading with the children and have many favourite stories that I enjoy sharing with them.
-
KatrinaEarly Years Educator
Katrina
I love working in Early Years because every day brings something new, and there is always plenty of fun and laughter. I especially enjoy helping children explore their interest in nature and watching their curiosity grow as they discover more about the world around them. Sharing stories is one of the highlights of my day.
-
LeanneEarly Years Educator
Leanne
Hi, I'm Leanne. When I was on maternity leave many years ago, I spent time volunteering with families and attending lots of baby groups. During that period, I realised how much I loved working with children, which inspired me to study Early Years. That was over ten years ago, and I still love watching the children grow, learn, and surprise us every year. I enjoy dancing, getting creative with messy play, and sharing stories with the children.
-
PaigeEarly Years Educator
Paige
I am a Level 3 Early Years Educator with six years of experience, and I love creating a nurturing environment where busy young minds can grow and thrive. I enjoy setting up child centred activities that support each child's learning and development, while building positive, trusting relationships with families. Ensuring every child feels safe, valued, and confident is at the heart of my practice.
-
TarnyaEarly Years Educator
Tarnya
To follow
Our Space
Explorers 1
Role play is a key feature of the Explorers One room, and the children have access to a variety of messy play experiences every day. Our staff firmly believe that if you go home clean, you probably haven’t had your best day! The room is filled with wooden, natural resources and calming lights, creating a soothing yet stimulating environment where children’s interests are noticed, embraced, and extended through our evolving roleplay areas.
This room also has direct access to a garden, and the children thrive on free flow outdoor play. The mud kitchen is a particular favourite, offering endless opportunities for creativity, exploration, and imaginative play.
The children are beginning to develop greater independence, especially with putting on their coats and managing simple selfcare routines. They are building friendships, practising turn taking, and learning our golden rules - helping them feel confident, supported, and ready for the next stage in their learning journey.
Explorers 2
This is a smaller, homely room that helps our youngest children feel safe, secure, and comfortable as they begin their nursery journey. The calm environment and smaller group size support children as they separate from their caregivers, start to settle, and gain confidence exploring their new surroundings.
In this room, children are learning to build friendships, express their needs, and become familiar with some of our golden rules that help everyone feel safe and happy.
We also have a small free‑flow garden where children can explore mud, sand, and water play - giving them plenty of opportunities to investigate, discover, and enjoy the outdoors throughout the day.
Pre-school
In our preschool room, we are busy preparing the children for their next big step into school, all while having fun learning about the world around us. We encourage independence throughout the day - children practise managing their own coats, bags, and lunchboxes and take great pride in showing how capable they are becoming.
Role play is a key part of our provision, and the children love exploring different themed areas such as the hairdressers, café, shop, and doctors. We also provide a wide range of problem-solving activities. Puzzles, construction, and small world play are always popular and help children to think critically, plan, and explore ideas.
Creativity is highly valued, and children have access to a variety of open-ended resources, allowing them to design, build, and express themselves freely. We also offer hands on experiences such as growing fruit, vegetables, and herbs, and use these in simple cooking activities for their snacks.
We have a dedicated lunchroom, which mirrors the experience of moving to a separate dining space at school. This helps the children build confidence with transitions, routines, and expectations that will support them when they move on to reception.
In preschool, we focus on listening to each other, sharing ideas, and building on one another’s thinking - a key part of becoming school ready. Our free flow garden offers even more opportunities for exploration, including messy play, bug hunting, water play, and so much more.
Rowanfield - Pre-School
Shared garden
Our large, shared garden is a fantastic space for exploration, creativity, and physical development. We have a huge sandpit and a brilliant water wall that the children love experimenting with, using a variety of resources to explore, problem solve, and take turns together. The garden also features a climbing frame and a wooden Wendy house, which transforms into a new imaginative roleplay area every half term.
We promote the use of loose parts throughout the garden, giving children opportunities for open ended play that encourages curiosity, teamwork, and creativity. Each day, the outdoor space is enhanced with different physical activities such as throwing games, obstacle courses, and bikes, ensuring there is always something new and exciting for the children to enjoy.
Contact us
Contact the Early Years Lead
Telephone:
01242 524584
E-mail: rowanfield@aspirefoundation.org.uk
Address:
Rowanfield Early Years
Alstone Lane
Cheltenham,
Gloucestershire
GL51 8HY
Ofsted Information
Ofsted URN EY474927
Last Inspection Judgement: Good
Opening Times
The setting is open term time only Monday to Friday for morning, afternoon and ‘School day’ sessions running between 8:30am – 3:30pm.