Small Oaks

Safari play, home-made drums and outdoor climbing gave Small Oaks in Doveridge a recognisable character at its May 2022 inspection. At its May 2022 inspection, Ofsted rated it Good and judged safeguarding effective. It has capacity for 18 children in total; the children attending in May 2022 were aged 1 to 9, a historical age range rather than a current admissions limit.

In May 2022, imaginative play connected several kinds of learning. Children pretended to travel through Africa, used binoculars to search for animals and drew or wrote about what they spotted. Music extended the activity through dancing and home-made drums. This gave children several ways to explore the same subject, through conversation, movement and making things.

The early years foundation stage sets expectations for children's learning, development and care: play sits alongside developing communication, practical skills and independence. In May 2022, younger children explored pop-up toys, mirrors and books with staff, while preschool children experimented with wooden blocks to build a bridge strong enough for toy cars.

Outdoor play had physical substance. In May 2022, children used a climbing frame with steps and balancing beams, and put outdoor suits on independently. Outings included shops, woodlands and music sessions with other children, taking experiences beyond the nursery itself.

In May 2022, staff talked through younger children's activities, repeated words and used songs to build vocabulary. Older children asked questions and sustained conversations during pretend play. Books about families also prompted discussions about homes, hair textures and different backgrounds.

Communication with parents combined conversations at collection, photographs and an online system in May 2022. That gave families concrete information about children's activities to pick up at home. Daily routines also encouraged children to choose their play, feed themselves and practise hygiene, making independence part of ordinary care rather than a separate school-preparation exercise.

Small Oaks is at 31a High Street, Doveridge, Ashbourne, Derbyshire DE6 5NA. Its 18 places describe whole-setting capacity, not the size of an individual group.

In May 2022, the nursery operated throughout the year on weekdays, closing for bank holidays and a Christmas week. It also provided funded early education for children aged two, three and four. These are dated arrangements.

• Counting during play. In May 2022, opportunities to introduce counting were sometimes missed. Look for how number work now fits into activities children already enjoy.
• Changes between activities. In May 2022, some children waited during meals and moves between indoor and outdoor play. The organisation of these moments matters alongside the activities themselves.
• Planning attendance. How do today's accepted ages, booking patterns and funded-hours arrangements fit your child's needs and your working week?

Small Oaks suits families drawn to imaginative play, outdoor activity and learning through everyday experiences. Its May 2022 picture combines safari role play, practical construction and community outings, with clear priorities around counting and smoother routines. Those priorities give families useful, specific points to explore.