Treetots Childcare

Nature walks and a capacity of 12 children give Treetots Childcare its character. Based at John's Hut on Park Lane in Redhill, Bournemouth, it combines a nature-led nursery day with practical experiences such as growing herbs, preparing food and working with natural materials. This is a setting for families who value outdoor discovery alongside indoor play.

At its May 2023 inspection, Ofsted rated Treetots Good and found safeguarding effective. Children then attending were aged 1 to 8; that is the age range at the visit, rather than a statement of today's intake. The strongest examples from that period involve children doing things for themselves, exploring the woodland and developing language through everyday activity.

The practical commitment is substantial: children must attend for at least seven hours per day. That makes the nursery's approach more relevant to families seeking a sustained nursery day than a brief play session.

Learning and Activities

The Early Years Foundation Stage provides the framework for children's learning, development and care. Here, play and practical activity give children opportunities to communicate, explore materials and develop independence. Nature supplies much of the subject matter: herbs and flowers to grow, birdsong to listen to and walks that invite children to notice their surroundings.

Indoors, wooden toys and natural materials sit alongside creative activities. Bread baking, weaving and sewing give children different ways to use their hands; stories, dance and singing bring language and expression into the day. Preparing food adds a practical purpose to learning. These are concrete experiences rather than a named branded curriculum.

In May 2023, communication and persistence were central to the nursery's teaching. Younger children practised speech with gestures and repetition, while conversations with older children introduced vocabulary connected to what they were doing. Making play dough, for example, linked practical independence with words describing actions. Language was being used for a purpose, rather than confined to a separate activity.

There was also a clear teaching weakness. In May 2023, staff sometimes supplied an answer too quickly when children encountered a problem, including telling them how to adjust a play-dough mixture. The improvement priority was to give children more opportunity to work out solutions, anticipate what might happen and experiment. For parents, that distinction matters: completing an activity and learning through trial and error are different experiences.

Outdoor and Community Life

Nature is more than an indoor theme. In May 2023, children explored woodland behind the nursery, tackled gentle slopes, climbed trees and moved through long grass. Those experiences gave physical activity a changing setting, with surfaces and movements different from indoor play.

Water was another simple resource used imaginatively that month. Younger children used water to paint trees, while older children gathered it in containers to create muddy slides. The appeal lies in the scope for children to change materials and see what happens. The current nature-led approach also includes opportunities for growing plants and taking nature walks.

Relationships and Communication

Settling follows a clear sequence: an initial 30-minute stay with a parent, followed by an hour apart. Those two settling periods are free, and further settling can be discussed if the child, parent or practitioners need more time. Starting regular attendance depends on both parents and practitioners feeling the child is ready. This makes the first separation a shared decision.

Babysdays is the communication system, carrying photographs and updates about meals, nappy care and sun cream, as well as invoices. Parents receive an email to establish their profile before the child starts. It brings everyday care information and administration into the same place.

In May 2023, children had close relationships with their key person, and staff reassured those needing additional help to settle. Key people also gave parents ideas for supporting learning at home. Everyday independence was visible in children removing shoes, washing hands and collecting items for snack time. Small tasks were part of the nursery day.

Inclusion and Wellbeing

A SEN co-ordinator role provides a named responsibility for special educational needs. Relevant staff experience includes supporting children with autism in school and community settings, and training in special educational needs and behaviour management. These are useful mechanisms and experience to discuss in relation to an individual child's needs, rather than a promise about any particular support package.

All staff have paediatric first-aid and safeguarding training. In May 2023, the nursery employed four childcare staff; following communication training, staff were using visual prompts and signing to help children understand routines. That dated example shows how staff development translated into something children could use during the day.

Food is charged separately. The daily food provision includes breakfast, a rolling snack, a home-cooked lunch and tea, giving meals a place within the day's routine.

Sessions and Attendance

Treetots opens at 8am on weekdays, closing at 5.30pm on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday, and at 5pm on Thursday. The minimum attendance requirement is seven hours per day. These are opening hours and a booking minimum, rather than separate morning and afternoon session offers.

The nursery opens during school holidays, closes on bank holidays and has three weeks of closure each year. Holiday opening may help families whose childcare needs continue beyond term time, but the annual closures still need to fit their plans.

Getting There

The address is John's Hut, Park Lane, Redhill, Bournemouth, BH10 7DG. Families can contact the nursery through its enquiry form or by email at info@treetotschildcare.co.uk.

Funding and Paid Extras

Government-funded childcare is accepted for children aged 2, 3 and 4, alongside privately paid childcare. Childcare vouchers and Tax-Free Childcare are also accepted. Current prices come in the nursery's written quotation.

Food carries a separate charge, and outings attract an additional charge. These categories matter when comparing the overall cost of attendance, rather than considering childcare hours alone.

• Time commitment. Attendance must be at least seven hours per day, and Thursday closes earlier than the other weekdays. A requested visit is an opportunity to discuss how the booking arrangement fits your working week.
• Learning through mistakes. The May 2023 improvement priority concerned staff stepping in too quickly to solve problems. Ask how practitioners now help children experiment and reach their own answers.
• Settling and separation. The first two settling periods progress from time with a parent to an hour apart. Discuss how that sequence would be adapted for your child if more preparation is needed.
• Funded-place costs. Food and outings have separate charges. Ask for a written breakdown of how funded hours are delivered and what arrangements apply to meals and non-food consumables.

Treetots suits families drawn to a nature-led day, practical creativity and a small whole-setting capacity. Nature walks, growing plants and food preparation give that approach substance, while Babysdays and a staged settling process make the parent relationship tangible.

The fit is strongest for families comfortable with the seven-hour daily minimum and needing care during school holidays. The Good judgement from May 2023 provides a dated quality reference; its teaching improvement priority remains a useful point for discussion alongside the nursery's outdoor and practical strengths.