Woodlands Day Nursery

Sticks become writing tools and mud becomes a place to practise letters at Woodlands Day Nursery in Meadowfield, Durham. Outdoor learning gives this setting its character, alongside large indoor spaces and a play-based curriculum that starts with movement, language and relationships. These are practical foundations for young children, rather than an early rush into formal lessons.

At its August 2023 inspection, Ofsted rated the nursery Good, found safeguarding effective and judged that targeted support helped children with special educational needs and/or disabilities. Later safeguarding action is material to the choice families make here, however, and needs to be read alongside that dated judgement.

The nursery accepts children from three months and has 55 places in total. Its weekday opening window runs from 7.30am to 6pm, with bank holidays closed.

Rooms and Ages

Butterflies serves children aged two to three, with arts and crafts contributing to its everyday activity. Painting, sticking and making give toddlers ways to explore materials and express ideas while developing control of their hands.

Large indoor spaces sit alongside outdoor environments used for exploration and learning. For families who value time outside, that is a meaningful part of the nursery's identity: the curriculum includes making letters with sticks in mud, bringing early writing into physical, playful activity.

Learning and Activities

The EYFS provides the framework for learning and care: children develop communication, movement and social skills, then build knowledge through books, mathematics, creative activity and exploration of the world. Woodlands uses a play-based curriculum within that framework. Books introduce characters and stories, while building rockets with shapes gives mathematical ideas a concrete purpose.

In August 2023, children investigated reflected light using a mirror and measured ingredients while making play dough. Those examples connect curiosity with learning: a reflection becomes something to investigate, and making dough brings counting together with conversation and hand movements. Babies and younger children used low equipment for climbing and explored sensory materials, giving physical development a place in the day too.

The same August 2023 account included children remembering the life cycles of frogs and caterpillars. Learning extended beyond the immediate activity to recalling ideas encountered before. These are dated examples of the nursery day, rather than a timetable of current sessions.

Relationships mattered in August 2023. Staff comforted babies as they settled, and shared books with them at close quarters. For a young child beginning nursery, those small interactions connect the unfamiliar setting with a dependable adult and a familiar activity.

Parents then received information from their child's key person about learning and ways to continue it at home. A lending library helped connect nursery reading with family life. The Colour Monster story was used to help children discuss feelings, although staff did not consistently teach children how to settle disagreements themselves or recognise the effect of their behaviour on friends. That was the improvement point from August 2023.

Current leadership roles include a designated safeguarding lead and a deputy manager who also acts as SENCo. Meal preparation takes account of allergies, intolerances, cultural needs and sensory preferences, making the detail of an individual child's eating needs relevant to planning.

In September 2025 and February 2026, Ofsted identified safeguarding failures, including notification and procedure failures, and subsequently accepted the nursery's remedial actions. The September 2025 findings also included shortcomings in staff supervision. In February 2026, Ofsted would have issued a welfare requirements notice, a legal notice requiring action, but the nursery had already reported corrective steps, which Ofsted accepted. In September 2025, these included revised policies, staff training and ongoing checks of safeguarding knowledge; in February 2026, actions included changes to collection and handling procedures, behaviour support training, completed allegations management training and a commitment to strengthen safeguarding oversight and timely reporting. The recurrence makes safeguarding practice a central consideration, even though the actions were accepted.

Sessions and Attendance

Woodlands operates throughout the year at 2 Artemis Court, St Johns Road, Meadowfield, Durham, DH7 8XQ. Opening hours are 7.30am to 6pm from Monday to Friday, excluding bank holidays. That window gives families the practical boundaries of the working day; it should be distinguished from the attendance pattern agreed for an individual child.

Before completing registration, families contact the nursery to discuss sessions and funding. Once a place has been confirmed, the registration paperwork includes forms about the child and a funding declaration. Printed copies are also offered, giving families a paper route through the same process.

Funding and Paid Extras

In August 2023, funded early education was provided for children aged two, three and four. Current registration discussions include funding options, with a parent declaration forming part of the paperwork. Current prices should be obtained in the nursery's written quotation, alongside the attendance agreement.

The registration and fees information sets out the joining sequence. Keeping the quotation and contract together gives parents a clear basis for deciding whether the agreed arrangement fits their family.

• Repeated safeguarding action. The September 2025 and February 2026 actions were accepted, but both involved safeguarding procedures or reporting. At a visit, ask how leaders now check staff knowledge and ensure concerns reach the appropriate organisations promptly.
• Managing distress and disagreements. Conflict resolution was an August 2023 improvement point, and February 2026 action included collection, handling and behaviour procedures. Ask staff to explain how they help a distressed child and involve parents.
• The attendance agreement. Registration begins with a discussion of sessions and funding. Ask for one written agreement covering your intended hours, funded provision, meals and consumables before committing.

Woodlands suits families who value outdoor exploration, playful early learning and an all-year setting with a substantial weekday opening window. Mud-based writing, shape construction and the Butterflies room give the educational offer concrete character. The choice also requires careful attention to repeated safeguarding action. The Good judgement belongs to August 2023; families should weigh the later procedural failures and accepted remedies alongside it.