Little Oaks, Tylers Green

In October 2022, woodland play and children taking charge of their own ideas characterised the nursery experience at Little Oaks, Tylers Green. In October 2022, children explored the on-site woods, helped create a recycling and modelling area and developed imaginative games with staff extending their ideas. These are useful examples of what learning looked like here: practical, collaborative and shaped by children's interests.

At its October 2022 inspection, Ofsted rated the nursery Outstanding and found that children made excellent progress, with confident conversation and sustained involvement in their play. That is a strong dated judgement, supported by concrete examples of children explaining ideas, choosing resources and helping one another.

The nursery has capacity for 55 children and accepts children aged 18 to 36 months. It operates on the site of Tylers Green First School as a separate organisation.

Learning and Activities

The Early Years Foundation Stage provides the framework for learning: Little Oaks emphasises children expressing themselves, developing new skills, managing risk and learning to care for other people and their world. The nursery aims to recognise individual needs and celebrate each child's development. For parents, the useful detail is the connection between learning and behaviour, with kindness treated alongside children's growing skills.

In October 2022, children's interests shaped activities. Herbs and coloured liquids became ingredients for imaginative potions, while leaves and pinecones added possibilities to play dough. Children also helped staff develop a recycling and modelling area. That gave them a practical role in deciding how their play space worked.

Mathematical learning took place through practical problems in October 2022. Children built a road from wooden planks, with some fitting and measuring the pieces while others moved toy cars along them. The same activity offered different ways to participate. Pirate play also involved wooden blocks, jumping and shared storytelling, bringing movement and imagination into one experience.

Outdoor and Community Life

In October 2022, children spent time outside in the on-site woods. Staff also wore costumes to act out a story children knew. Singing, rhymes with actions and play with rhyming words gave children opportunities to explore language.

Frequent community outings in October 2022 included local parks and the library. Children explored nature and learned about one another's celebrations, including Diwali, Eid and Christmas. Resources reflected the cultural backgrounds of children attending, giving those conversations a connection to their own lives.

The Blossom app records significant moments, assessments and next steps, with regular updates sent to families. Parents choose which family members receive them. Meetings take place in the autumn and spring terms, followed by a summer report, so communication combines ongoing updates with scheduled opportunities to discuss development.

Little Oaks employs a group SENCO and works with other agencies to bring in additional professional support when needed. This is a specific support mechanism for families whose children need extra help. The nursery also supports staff training in child development, special educational needs and safeguarding.

At its October 2022 inspection, Ofsted found safeguarding effective, with staff understanding how to report concerns, paediatric first-aid training throughout the team and clear recruitment, induction and supervision arrangements. In October 2022, parents also received ideas for continuing children's learning at home, linking nursery experiences with family life.

Sessions and Attendance

The address is Tylers Green First School, School Road, High Wycombe, HP10 8EF. Opening hours are 7.45am to 6pm, Monday to Friday, during term time; the nursery closes for school holidays. This calendar matters for families arranging care across the whole year.

Enquiries go directly to Little Oaks at enquiries@little-oaks.org. Although it shares the school site, the nursery is a separate organisation. Attending the nursery does not guarantee a place at Tylers Green First School.

Funding and Paid Extras

Little Oaks offers 15-hour funding and privately paid childcare. It asks families to contribute towards the difference between funding and its costs where possible, while accepting a lower contribution or a decision not to contribute. This is a request for a contribution, so families should understand that distinction when considering the cost of attendance.

Breakfast and tea are included in the cost during Breakfast and After School hours. There are no additional fees or contributions for other activities. For current prices, ask the nursery for a quotation.

• Holiday cover. The nursery operates during term time and closes for school holidays. Families needing year-round childcare must account for those closures.
• The youngest children. Children can attend from 18 months, while children attending in October 2022 were aged 3 to 4. At a visit, ask how settling and the daily arrangement work for an 18-month-old.
• Funding contributions. The nursery requests a contribution towards its funding shortfall but accepts lower payments or no contribution. Consider that request alongside the quotation for privately paid care.

Little Oaks suits families seeking term-time childcare, regular app communication and an approach that values children's ideas and kindness. Its October 2022 learning examples have substance: outdoor exploration and costumed storytelling, practical mathematics and shared imaginative play. The school-site location is useful context, while the separate organisation and holiday closures are important practical boundaries. The dated Outstanding judgement gives a strong starting point for considering this nursery.