Nursery is outstanding (From Salisbury Journal)
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Nursery is outstanding
10:00am Friday 22nd February 2013 in New Forest News By Miranda Robertson
Nursery is outstanding
A NURSERY school in St Ives has been described as outstanding across the board by Ofsted inspectors after just six months in operation.
The Children’s Nature Nursery at Avon Heath attracted high praise after its inspection, with Ofsted saying it is outstanding in meeting the children’s needs, contribution to youngsters’ well-being and in its leadership.
Inspectors said children “thrive in the welcoming and nurturing environment” and that they are “curious and motivated to learn, showing a strong sense of independence and exploration through their play”.
They said children were kept safe while staff made excellent use of the outdoors to stimulate their charges.
The privately owned nursery was established last year at Avon Heath Country Park, and works alongside the rangers at the park.
Inspectors commented on the high quality of parents’ engagement in their children’s learning, and the way teachers encouraged mathematical skills and craft skills.
They also said the nursery made good use of its website and secure social networking to keep parents up to date.
The children are given a wide range of activities including baking bread for a morning snack, using clay and natural objects with an artist, explorer sessions searching for bugs, plants and animal tracks and campfires.
The nursery was opened in August by Alex Shepherd and Ben Walliman, for two to five-year-olds, and for slightly older children in the holidays.
It offers vegetarian home-made meals, a tree house, fire pit, pond, a seven-metre sandpit, vegetable garden, willow igloo, wooden play park, over an acre of secure garden and woodland and 300 acres of protected heathland to explore.
Mr Walliman said: “We are delighted Ofsted has recognised the strengths of our Nature Nursery.”
The nursery currently has 33 children on roll, but has space for 40.
Go to kidslovenature.co.uk or call 01425 483449 to find out more.
