Kings Castle Lodge

A vegetable patch, daily nature walks and a large open-plan hall give Kings Castle Lodge its character. Based at Iford Scout Hut in Bournemouth, this nature-based nursery combines a Montessori ethos, centred here on independence and hands-on discovery, with access to Iford's playing fields and meadows. Outdoor learning is built into the routine rather than reserved for occasional outings.

At its August 2024 inspection, Ofsted rated the nursery Good, judged safeguarding effective and found that staff worked effectively with families and external professionals to support children whose development needed extra help. Those findings provide a useful quality benchmark, alongside two specific improvements concerning group activities and conversation with younger children.

The nursery has capacity for 25 children and welcomes children from approximately two to five, with readiness considered individually. Morning, afternoon and full-day attendance are offered across the year. Kings Lodge also operates in association with Kings Castle Montessori, whose older toddlers and preschool children attend the Lodge for nature-based sessions.

Learning and Activities

The EYFS (Early Years Foundation Stage) provides the framework for children's learning and care, covering communication, physical development, relationships and the other areas of early learning. At the Lodge, those areas are explored through making, movement, imaginative play and encounters with the natural world. Montessori principles add an emphasis on children developing independence and learning through practical exploration.

The large open-plan hall can accommodate cooking, role-play, crafts and physical games, with resources changed around children's interests and current topics. That flexibility matters: the same space can support an active game or a quieter creative task. The hall is accompanied by a kitchen and toilets, while outdoor activities can extend from indoors into the garden.

In August 2024, children devised home-life games and dug through sand and stones with toy construction vehicles. Staff built practical problem-solving and older children's number work into play.

The August 2024 inspection identified two improvements: group activities needed better organisation when the playroom became noisy, and younger children needed more pauses in adult conversation to formulate their own responses. Both are relevant to the experience of a child who finds busy spaces distracting or needs longer to answer.

Outdoor and Community Life

A secure playground provides a mud kitchen, opportunities for den-building and water play, alongside movement activities such as yoga and balancing games. Garden access is usually free-flow, allowing indoor and outdoor play to connect. The herb garden and vegetable patch add a longer project: children plant, tend and, when growing succeeds, harvest produce to cook.

Daily nature walks take children around Iford playing fields and meadows. There are one or two walks a day, depending on weather, children's ages and interests. Possible activities include looking for bugs, exploring woodland, seeing cows at Iford Meadows and visiting the River Stour. The frequency is a substantial part of the offer, but the route and activity change with the children and conditions.

In August 2024, children shared a pie made from gathered blackberries with local care home residents. Recycling and ocean-care activities also connected their learning with responsibility for the environment.

Relationships and Communication

In August 2024, key persons exchanged information with parents and with other childcare settings children attended. That continuity matters for children who divide their week between settings, because care routines and developmental needs can be considered together. Staff also recognised considerate behaviour through kindness cards, helping children understand which actions benefited their friends.

Famly carries feedback, newsletters and a learning journal; full learning and photograph journal access forms part of the consumables charge. Direct discussion with the key person or management complements these updates.

Starting at Kings Lodge is handled as a gradual transition. The usual introduction involves two or more settling sessions at the Lodge, generally during already-booked hours and at the normal charge. Arrangements can be adjusted for age, confidence and individual needs. This gives a child time to become familiar with the Lodge before it becomes an established part of their week.

Inclusion and Wellbeing

Support is considered individually before a place is offered. Families may be asked to share reports and discuss their child's communication, health, development and support needs; reasonable adjustments and external professional input can then be considered. Kings Lodge is a mainstream nursery, and continued attendance may be reviewed if a child's needs change beyond the support it can reasonably provide.

Health information is gathered in writing, with healthcare plans, medication paperwork or risk assessments completed where necessary before attendance. Parents provide nappies and specialist personal-care products; standard wipes, bedding and other routine sundries are included in paid fees or covered by the funded-hours consumables charge.

Before children move to primary school, their key person normally supplies a handover covering learning, interests, independence and any support strategies. This is practical continuity between nursery and school, rather than an admissions advantage.

Sessions and Attendance

Kings Castle Lodge operates at Iford Scout Hut, Iford Lane, Bournemouth, BH6 5NE. Opening hours are 8am to 5pm, Monday to Friday, across the year, with bank holidays and a Christmas and New Year closure. The later tea-time provision at Kings Castle does not extend the Lodge's day.

Morning sessions run from 8am to noon, afternoon sessions from 1pm to 5pm, and full days from 8am to 5pm. Half-day and full-day bookings can be combined, with a minimum session duration of four hours. Mornings-only and term-time-only bookings are not offered, making this a year-round arrangement even for families choosing shorter sessions.

Enquiries about Kings Lodge go through Kings Castle Montessori. Once sessions are booked, reducing hours or withdrawing requires eight weeks' written notice. That commitment deserves attention before agreeing a pattern, especially where work arrangements may change.

Funding and Paid Extras

Universal funding for three- and four-year-olds and extended funding for eligible working families are offered on a stretched basis. Delivery is up to approximately 11 or 22 funded hours weekly over 51 weeks, depending on entitlement. Funded bookings must include at least two afternoon sessions per week or a Friday afternoon. Extra private hours can be purchased; funding does not make the whole booking free of additional costs.

Funded hours carry a non-mandatory consumables charge covering snacks, non-food sundries, activities and journal access; it does not apply to paid hours, and exemptions may apply to families receiving certain means-tested benefits. Parents can opt out of the charge and associated provision, with four weeks' written notice required. Parents supply nappies, while standard wipes, sun cream and bedding are included in paid fees or covered by that charge.

Optional hot lunches, supplied by Honest Meals, are charged separately under standard terms; parents can instead provide a packed lunch, while snacks are included in paid fees or the funded-hours consumables charge. The packed-lunch policy requires healthy, nut-free food, and families must disclose allergies and dietary needs in writing.

A refundable deposit applies to fully funded children who pay for no sessions, while children with paid sessions incur a non-refundable administration fee instead. Current prices come in the nursery's written quotation; the fees and terms explain the booking and charge structure.

• Minimum booking. General information gives a normal minimum of two weekly sessions, while the fees terms require four for new children. Ask which requirement will govern your Lodge booking before committing.
• Busy group activities. In August 2024, noise disrupted some children's concentration and adult conversation sometimes left younger children too little thinking time. During a visit, ask how group activities and conversational pauses are organised now.
• Outdoor kit. Lodge children need two changes of clothes, year-round wellington boots and clothing suitable for the weather. Families should be comfortable with an outdoor routine that continues through changing seasons.
• Individual support. Support arrangements are assessed against each child's needs and the nursery's facilities. Discuss specialist care requirements and confirm current allergy arrangements before agreeing sessions.

Kings Castle Lodge suits families looking for a nature-based setting with morning or afternoon sessions as well as full-day attendance. The combination of daily walks, growing projects and a flexible indoor hall gives outdoor exploration a practical place in the day.

The August 2024 Good judgement comes with specific improvements to weigh. Year-round attendance, funded-hours extras and the booking commitment also matter. Practical outdoor learning gives the Lodge its strongest appeal.