Aktiva Nurseries Oakfield

Garden access for babies, forest walks for toddlers and science experiments for preschool children give Oakfield a recognisable progression through the early years. Its purpose-built community building in Kingsbrook, Broughton, provides the base for children aged three months to five years, with 51 places in total. Outdoor exploration runs through the room descriptions rather than sitting apart from the rest of the day.

At its 28 November 2022 inspection, Ofsted rated the nursery Good, found safeguarding effective and judged that the special educational needs coordinator’s work with outside agencies supported early intervention and children’s progress. That is a dated judgement. The practical offer combines full-day and shorter school-day bookings, with homemade food prepared by an in-house chef.

Rooms and Ages

Discoverers, for three months to two years, combines sensory and messy play with language-building interaction, separates younger and older babies at busy times and gives them direct garden access in different weather. This makes the youngest children’s day about movement, exploration and conversation, rather than simply preparing them for the next room.

Explorers, for children aged two to three, emphasises communication and everyday independence, with forest walks extending exploration outdoors. Learning to manage small tasks matters at this stage: self-help is part of the room’s stated purpose, alongside developing children’s curiosity.

Professors, for ages three to five, uses science experiments, regular forest walks and community outings to develop enquiry and independence ahead of school. Questions about how things happen have a practical outlet here. The room’s emphasis connects investigation with the skills children use throughout their day.

Learning and Activities

The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) provides the framework for children’s learning, development and care; at Oakfield, sensory play, conversation, physical activity and investigation give those aims a practical shape. The framework itself is the baseline. The useful detail is how experiences change as children move from exploring textures to asking questions and testing ideas.

In November 2022, babies explored dough and winter animal scenes, while older children poured sand and water and manipulated tools in dough play. Those activities exercised hands and fingers in preparation for writing. Stories and adults’ commentary on play also introduced vocabulary, giving language practice a place within activities children were already enjoying.

In November 2022, two areas needed attention: younger children needed more scope to invent and experiment in pretend play, and activities needed better adaptation so quieter children participated fully. These are useful distinctions for parents. An appealing activity is only part of the picture; room to develop an idea and support to join in matter too.

Outdoor and Community Life

A play area sits directly outside the community building. Discoverers has garden access, while forest walks feature in Explorers and recur in Professors, where local outings also form part of the offer. The outdoor emphasis therefore changes with age: immediate exploration for babies, followed by experiences beyond the nursery for older children.

In November 2022, children used the outdoor areas daily and older children took planned walks to nearby parks and around the local area. These experiences introduced the surrounding community alongside indoor learning. The current room descriptions continue to give outdoor activity a clear role.

Relationships and Communication

In November 2022, children formed close relationships with their key person and other staff, and younger children’s routines reflected those followed at home. Familiar adults and a recognisable rhythm supported the move between home and nursery. Praise for kindness and opportunities to take responsibility also formed part of the day.

Communication extended beyond conversations about care. In November 2022, parents received information about learning and development, and a book lending library and stories read on social media supported activities at home. The value was concrete: families could carry a story or shared interest into time together outside nursery.

Inclusion and Wellbeing

Oakfield offers one-to-one, SEND and behaviour support, with a SENCO working alongside nursery management. Its terms require families to disclose medical, educational and other additional needs before attendance, allowing the nursery to assess the support a child requires. Those terms also allow an application to be declined where the nursery considers that the needs cannot be accommodated within participation in the setting, including where one-to-one supervision is required.

In November 2022, older children practised caring for teeth using templates and discussed healthy food, while feeding themselves and pouring drinks built everyday independence. These were practical self-care experiences, with preparation for school embedded in ordinary tasks.

Homemade meals are prepared by the in-house chef. Oakfield’s allergy policy asks families to avoid sending nuts, while explicitly stopping short of guaranteeing a nut-free setting; other allergens may also be excluded through communication with families.

Sessions and Attendance

The address is The Dalby Community Building, Siding Road, Broughton, Aylesbury, HP22 7AY. Opening hours are 7.30am to 6pm, Monday to Friday, across 51 weeks of the year, excluding bank holidays; the annual closure also includes one week at Christmas.

Full day runs from 7.30am to 6pm or 7.30am to 5pm. School day runs from 9am to 3pm for children over three, while School day plus runs from 9am to 4pm. These are different booking choices within the opening window, so the shorter day has its own practical value for families whose schedules do not require an early start.

Payments are monthly in advance, and the nursery accepts tax-free childcare. A deposit is credited against the final invoice when sufficient notice has been given and the account is settled; it is retained if a family pays it and subsequently decides not to start. Written cancellation requires two calendar months’ notice, including cancellation before a confirmed start.

Funding and Paid Extras

Universal Funded Entitlement and Extended Funding Entitlement are offered for eligible two-, three- and four-year-olds on a stretched basis: 11 or 22 hours each week respectively, with the extended offer running across 51 weeks. Stand-alone funded sessions run from 9.30am to 3pm on two days for the universal or two-year-old offer, and four days for the extended offer. Those stand-alone bookings follow a first-come-first-served rule.

Funded hours and food are separate. Meals during funded attendance carry an additional charge, or families can opt out of nursery food altogether and supply the day’s food in a labelled picnic arrangement with a thermal lunch box and cool block; partial substitution is not permitted, and food cannot be refrigerated or reheated. Milk and water are provided.

Hours beyond the funded allocation are charged privately. Additional individual services carry charges explained beforehand, with an option to decline them. A registration charge applies, with an exemption for the stand-alone funded-hours-only offer. Current prices come in the nursery’s written quotation, and the Oakfield fees and funding policy explains the charging structure.

• Quieter children and imaginative play. The November 2022 improvement points concerned participation and creative freedom. On a visit, ask how staff draw quieter children into activities and let younger children develop their own pretend-play ideas.
• Allergy arrangements. The policy requests avoidance of nuts but gives no nut-free guarantee. Families managing allergies should confirm the current food-handling arrangements and how individual requirements are communicated at mealtimes.
• Choosing the day and its costs. School day is restricted to children over three, and funded meals are charged separately. Ask for a written quotation matching the intended pattern, including how non-food consumables are handled.
• Support and contractual commitments. Additional needs must be disclosed before attendance, and the terms allow applications to be declined where needs cannot be accommodated. Discuss the proposed support before committing, alongside the two-calendar-month cancellation requirement.

Oakfield suits families choosing full-day care from 7.30am to 6pm or school-day sessions from 9am to 3pm for children over three, with an age progression built around sensory exploration, independence and enquiry. Direct garden access for Discoverers and science experiments in Professors make that progression tangible. The November 2022 Good judgement provides a dated assessment, with participation and pretend play identified as areas needing attention. Funding, food charges and the support assessment deserve equal attention when deciding whether the arrangement fits.