Horizons Nursery

A separate sleep room, learning shaped by children's questions and community outings give Horizons Nursery a recognisable character. But a safeguarding suspension announced in summer 2026 is the decisive consideration for families weighing this Boscombe setting. Its earlier Good judgement cannot answer that later concern.

At its 10 May 2024 inspection, Ofsted rated Horizons Good overall, judged safeguarding effective and found that its curriculum supported children's progress, including through targeted communication support. In a compliance outcome dated 5 August 2026, Ofsted recorded a suspension following safeguarding concerns received on 30 June, breaches identified during a 10 July visit and an action to improve recruitment checks by 23 July. That outcome states that the nursery remained registered; it does not establish that the suspension had ended. Childcare requiring registration cannot be provided while a suspension applies.

Horizons has 40 places in total and a current age range from birth to five. Tadpoles and The Frogs organise the early-years provision, while flexible hours form part of its childcare model. The attractions of that offer need to be considered alongside the later regulatory position.

Rooms and Ages

Tadpoles caters for children aged 18 months to three years: an airy play space and separate sleep room support play and rest, with sand, water, painting and printing among its activities. Children can join older children and siblings for music and messy play when ready, making these shared experiences responsive to the younger child's readiness.

The Frogs caters for ages three to five, using indoor and outdoor activities to develop communication, physical skills and social confidence. These are practical priorities for children moving towards school: talking with others, managing movement and learning how to participate in a group.

Room allocation deserves attention because the nursery's general age range is broader than the ages attached to its detailed room descriptions. The separate sleeping space is a useful concrete feature for younger children, while the garden and indoor soft play space give movement a place alongside quieter activities.

Learning and Activities

The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) provides the framework for children's learning and care, including language, movement and relationships developed through play. Alongside it, Horizons uses the Cycle of Inquiry: children's questions and developing skills shape the experiences and materials staff introduce. That gives a clear explanation of how children's interests influence the day, rather than leaving the approach as a name alone.

Creative work, sensory exploration and science experiments have dedicated spaces. The curriculum approach centres on active exploration and hands-on experiences, so activities are intended to give children things to investigate and discuss.

In May 2024, everyday tasks supplied learning opportunities: children counted how many spoons a play-dough activity needed, while younger children encountered size vocabulary during sensory play. Books were used both outdoors and indoors, with children also choosing to look through them independently. These examples show how conversation and early mathematical ideas fitted into ordinary play at that time.

Outdoor and Community Life

Community experiences connected learning with practical tasks in May 2024. Visits to a dentist introduced oral health and what happens at a check-up; shopping for recipe ingredients brought food preparation into the wider neighbourhood. These were purposeful experiences, rather than outings detached from the nursery day.

Past events add detail to family participation. March International Day on 20 March 2025 invited families to share traditional food and drinks at a Baptist church hall. Sports Day on 23 May 2025 included children's competitions at kings park and a race for parents. These are dated examples of nursery life, rather than promises about the next events programme.

Daily diaries for Tadpoles give parents an account of their child's day. A separate sleeping room also gives rest its own space, rather than making it compete with activity in the play room. These arrangements have direct value for families managing a younger child's routines.

In May 2024, staff used visual prompts to introduce familiar words to children learning English, and translators helped parents access information when needed. One-to-one conversations and work with external professionals formed part of the response to communication difficulties. Sensory toys were purchased for children with special educational needs or disabilities. These are dated mechanisms of support, rather than a general assurance about every child's experience today.

School preparation was similarly practical in May 2024: children practised putting on shoes, serving drinks and preparing fruit, while older children managed their own toileting. Independence was built through tasks children could repeat for themselves.

There were also shortcomings. In May 2024, staff sometimes failed to explain behaviour rules or follow through when children ignored them, including running on a muddy slope. Lunchtime organisation reduced opportunities for conversation because staff fetched equipment and reached across children in a restricted space. Clearer behaviour guidance and better use of mealtimes were the two improvement priorities.

The later recruitment action is more serious than those learning priorities. It required enhanced criminal-record checks without delay for every adult working with children. The August 2026 outcome must therefore remain central to any decision about care here.

Sessions and Attendance

The address is Unit M, 600 Christchurch Rd, Boscombe, Bournemouth BH1 4SX, within the sovereign centre. Opening hours are 6.30am to 9pm, Monday to Saturday; the nursery operates across the year and closes on bank holidays. These are its stated operating arrangements, subject to the restriction on providing childcare while a suspension applies.

Flexible hours are offered. Enquiries can be made through the contact form or by telephone on 01202914590. The broad opening window and flexible booking approach are separate facts: opening hours alone do not establish a particular full-day or half-day session.

Funding and Paid Extras

Horizons offers Early Years Education Entitlement funding for children aged three or over from the term following their third birthday, and for eligible two-year-olds. Funded hours cannot be used at weekends, before 8am or after 6pm. Private childcare is charged separately, with different charging bands for weekday, weekend and early or late hours; current prices come in the nursery's written quotation.

For funded attendance, an optional Enrichment & Consumables Fee supports snacks, enhanced creative and sensory resources, cooking experiences and celebrations. Families who decline it can supply snacks and, where appropriate, materials; children retain their funded entitlement and receive alternative activities during celebrations supported by the fee. Food and consumables therefore have different arrangements according to whether families choose the additional provision or supply items themselves.

For Tadpoles, freshly prepared midday meals are provided, a weekly menu is displayed and special dietary requirements are catered for; breakfast and tea can also be requested. Additional food charges include breakfast, snacks and tea, while optional trips may carry a separate charge. The fees and extras distinguish these additions from the funded entitlement itself.

• Suspension and recruitment checks. The 5 August 2026 outcome records a suspension and an action concerning enhanced criminal-record checks. Before arranging attendance, establish the current suspension position and the response to that action; childcare requiring registration cannot take place during a suspension.
• Room allocation for younger children. Tadpoles is described for ages 18 months to three, while Horizons' overall age range begins at birth. Which room and daily arrangements would apply to your child's age?
• Funding outside daytime weekdays. Funded hours exclude weekends and attendance before 8am or after 6pm. Families needing these hours should assess the private-hours quotation alongside their funded entitlement.
• Food and enrichment choices. Choosing the additional fee affects snacks, materials and participation in funded celebrations. During a visit, discuss those alternatives and any dietary requirements together so the child's day and the charging arrangement are clear.

Horizons' stated offer suits families seeking flexible hours, including early, late or Saturday attendance, alongside families using weekday funded childcare within its permitted daytime window. The separate sleep room, Cycle of Inquiry and practical community learning provide concrete reasons to consider it.

The regulatory position takes precedence. The August 2026 suspension outcome prevents an unqualified recommendation.