Humpty Dumpty's Kindergarden

Woodland surroundings, a natural garden and children choosing between indoor and outdoor play give Humpty Dumpty's Kindergarden its character. Independence runs through the day: babies explore resources within reach, toddlers practise dressing and eating, and older children choose activities that build towards school. The setting has capacity for 49 children, accepting ages from three months to five years.

At its July 2022 inspection, Ofsted judged the nursery Good and found safeguarding effective. That judgement is dated, and the detail matters as much as the grade: care routines, communication and children's engagement were strengths, while teaching consistency and challenge for the most able needed attention.

Based at The Barn in Taverham, Norwich, the nursery offers full days, shorter days and separate morning and afternoon sessions. That gives families different ways to organise attendance rather than a single day-long commitment.

Rooms and Ages

Caterpillar Room takes children from three months to two years, combining home routines with resting areas, low wooden furniture and reachable resources that give crawling babies opportunities to pull themselves up. This is a room arranged around early movement and care, rather than expecting babies to fit an older child's day.

For two- to three-year-olds, Ladybird Room emphasises self-help through eating, dressing and toileting, with encouragement for children who try tasks themselves. Butterfly Room serves ages three to five, pairing child-chosen activities and supported risk-taking with an enclosed outdoor area used in different weather conditions. The emphasis shifts towards making decisions and preparing for school.

Learning and Activities

The Early Years Foundation Stage provides the framework for children's learning, development and care; here, play, communication and everyday self-help give those aims practical form. Alongside it, In The Moment planning means practitioners respond to children's interests and their stage of development when arranging activities. Children help shape what happens next.

Natural and everyday materials are part of that approach. Treasure baskets contain fabric, metal and wood, giving children different textures and objects to investigate. The attraction for families is concrete: exploration is built around things children can handle, rather than relying solely on adult-led instruction.

In July 2022, stories were extended through a book of the week, with props or a tablet helping to hold children's attention. Children could also borrow a favourite book or an activity bag from the nursery library, taking part of their learning home. Small-group box time activities worked on attention, listening, counting and ideas such as speed.

At the July 2022 inspection, Ofsted identified uneven skill in extending learning and supporting behaviour, alongside insufficient challenge for the most able children. Those are meaningful reservations for parents: engaging activities need practitioners who can adapt the next step to the child, including one already confident with the task.

Outdoor and Community Life

Indoor and outdoor choice is a regular part of the nursery's approach, with access outside in different weather conditions. The natural garden and surrounding open space make physical play a substantial part of the setting's character. For a child who likes moving between active exploration and quieter activities, that choice has practical value.

Butterfly Room children also visit local facilities to explore beyond the nursery grounds. These outings extend the older children's experience of their surroundings; they sit alongside the room's emphasis on independence and new experiences.

Relationships and Communication

Babies' familiar routines remain important in Caterpillar Room. Continuing routines from home gives families a concrete point of continuity when nursery care begins, while the room's resting areas accommodate pauses within the day.

In July 2022, babies received comfort when tired and help settling to sleep, and staff organised predictable daily routines. Children practised sharing and taking turns with adult reminders and examples of suitable language. These observations describe care in July 2022.

Communication also had everyday substance in July 2022: parents received updates through an online application and could speak with staff each day. That combination allowed both short exchanges about the day and discussion of learning. It connected nursery experiences with family life.

Inclusion and Wellbeing

Ladybird Room uses Teddy talks, a speech and language assessment tool that helps practitioners and parents identify where further help may be needed. Its two-year progress check is completed with parents and can be shared with other professionals involved with the child. These are specific ways of discussing development, rather than a general promise about support.

A nursery chef prepares food, and menus change regularly, informed by the Children’s Food Trust and Eat Better, Start Better Guidance. Children can participate in food preparation where appropriate, choose and serve food or drinks, and practise feeding themselves, making mealtimes another opportunity for independence.

Sessions and Attendance

Opening hours are 7.30am to 6pm, Monday to Friday, with closures for bank holidays and one week at Christmas. Private bookings comprise Full Day, 7.30am to 6pm; Short Day, 7.30am to 4pm; AM Session, 7.30am to 1pm; and PM Session, 1pm to 6pm. The shorter day offers a different finishing time, while the morning and afternoon options divide attendance around lunchtime.

Stretched funding has its own blocks: 7.30am to 12.30pm or 1pm to 6pm, plus a longer block from 7.30am to 2.48pm. Care extending beyond those blocks is charged separately. In particular, the private morning session and funded morning block finish at different times, which matters when planning collection and additional paid care.

Getting There

The address is The Barn, Fir Covert Road, Taverham, Norwich, NR8 6HT; access is via Trevor Evans Way, off Fir Covert Road. Enquiries can be made using the contact form or by telephone on 01603 866477.

Funding and Paid Extras

Funded childcare is offered, including 30-hour entitlements for eligible working families with children aged nine months to three years, and three to four years. Delivery is stretched, and entitlement does not guarantee a place at this nursery or a particular attendance pattern.

Private session prices include the activities, resources and meals specified for that session. Funded attendance has separate Food, Care, IT, and Special Activities & Celebration packages, as well as charges for additional care beyond the funded blocks. The fees and funding page explains that structure; current prices should come in the nursery's written quotation.

• Teaching beyond the activity. In July 2022, extending learning consistently and challenging the most able children needed attention. During a visit, ask how practitioners now adapt activities for children who grasp an idea quickly.
• The funded morning finish. The funded block ends at 12.30pm, while the private AM Session ends at 1pm. A written quotation should distinguish funded attendance, extra care and the separate packages for the pattern you intend to book.
• What the Care package covers. Funded attendance separates this package from food and other services. Ask which non-food consumables it includes and which items families bring themselves.

Humpty Dumpty's suits families who value outdoor choice, practical independence and continuity with babies' home routines. Full days and shorter days serve different collection needs, while morning and afternoon sessions offer another attendance pattern.

Teddy talks and the toddler progress check give developmental conversations a clear mechanism. The dated Good judgement supports the overall picture, but the July 2022 teaching concerns deserve a direct discussion before choosing the setting.