Judy's House

Woodland exploration gives Judy's House its character: hammocks, animal guidebooks and a mud kitchen featured in children's learning in October 2024. Nature was a working resource, with children investigating creatures, discussing discoveries and practising counting through play.

At its 17 October 2024 inspection, Ofsted rated the nursery Outstanding and found that children made excellent progress, with teaching that sustained their interest and developed their thinking. In Wimborne, the setting has capacity for 37 children aged 6 to 60 months.

In October 2024, children used the mud kitchen for pretend baking, explaining their ingredients, tools and quantities. Staff extended the activity through questions about the sequence of making a cake. This connected imaginative play with language, memory and mathematics.

The early years foundation stage sets the requirements for children's learning, development and care: here, the October 2024 examples included conversation, counting and physical exploration through play. Older children tackled simple calculations and spotted deliberate mistakes made by staff, giving them opportunities to explain their reasoning.

Regular woodland walks were part of the day in October 2024. Children investigated spaces beneath trees with torches, noticed seasonal changes and discussed fungi. Hammocks and tree trunks became places to browse animal guidebooks together. Books belonged within the exploration, rather than being confined to an indoor activity.

Children also lifted logs together to search for worms. Staff used outdoor exploration to develop problem-solving and encourage children to attempt challenges. Songs and stories brought groups together on tree stumps, while conversations about animals gave children reasons to share information and ask questions.

At the October 2024 inspection, Ofsted found safeguarding effective and praised relationships in which staff adjusted their responses to individual children's care needs, allowing extra time and support to settle. That combination matters for children who need a slower route into shared activities.

In October 2024, key persons exchanged learning and care information with families each day. Parents' evenings and workshops offered further opportunities to discuss development and ways to support learning at home. Communication extended beyond a brief account of activities.

Outdoor safety was taught directly at that time. Children could explain risks to other people, and staff monitored their safety while they explored. The emphasis was on helping children understand the surroundings they were using.

The address is The Orchard, 4 Deans Court Lane, Wimborne, BH21 1EE. Opening hours are 8am to 6pm, Monday to Friday, across the year, with closures for bank holidays and one week each at Christmas, the end of May and the end of August.

In October 2024, the nursery offered government-funded places.

• Outdoor learning. Woodland walks and investigation were prominent in October 2024. On a visit, explore how the outdoor day would work for your child's age and confidence.
• Funded attendance. Government-funded places formed part of the offer in October 2024. What funded attendance pattern and additional charges would apply to your proposed booking?

Judy's House suits families who value nature-led exploration and conversation woven into play. Its October 2024 examples show how a pretend cake, an animal guidebook or a woodland discovery can become a substantial learning activity. The Outstanding judgement gives that approach a strong dated endorsement.