Little Farmers, Burrow Farm

A mud kitchen and cows passing the fence give Little Farmers, Burrow Farm its recognisable character: farm-based childcare where outdoor exploration supplies much of the learning. The Broadclyst setting has 14 places in total. Small overall capacity is a useful distinction, though it should not be confused with the number of children in an individual activity.

At its June 2025 inspection, Ofsted rated the nursery Good and found safeguarding effective. The strongest practical attraction is the connection between movement, nature and everyday learning. There are also two clear teaching priorities: giving children more time to think through problems, and making mixed-age activities work for younger participants.

Children can start at nine months and stay until they move to Reception. Attendance is built around full days, with a minimum booking of two days each week.

Learning and Activities

The Early Years Foundation Stage sets the expectations for children's learning and care; here, play and practical exploration provide the route into those areas of learning. Little Farmers' group-wide Forest School ethos adds an emphasis on hands-on experiences in natural surroundings. It is an approach alongside the national framework, rather than a replacement for it.

In June 2025, children planted sunflower seeds, handled gardening tools and explored the language of filling and emptying. Older children connected the activity with vegetables they grew at home. These are useful examples of one experience bringing together physical coordination, vocabulary and an understanding of how plants grow.

The same visit captured imaginative play in the mud kitchen, transport-making with construction materials and play dough shaped into hedgehogs. The activities offered different ways to use hands, make choices and express ideas. Younger children also shared books closely with adults, giving quieter experiences a place beside outdoor exploration.

Outdoor and Community Life

Burrow Farm's cows pass the nursery fence on their journeys to and from milking; calves can also be seen in spring. This gives children a connection with the working farm beyond pretend animal play. The animals are part of the surroundings children can observe.

In June 2025, discoveries included a newt in a hedgerow, while the water wall provided an opportunity to take turns. Babies pulled themselves upright to investigate petals and water in the mud kitchen. Outdoor exploration therefore extended to the youngest children, with sensory experiences and opportunities to practise movement rather than simply watching older children play.

The teaching caveat matters. In June 2025, staff did not consistently give children opportunities to solve problems independently or enough time to respond to questions. Mixed-age story activities also lost some younger children's attention. The next step is better timing and adaptation, rather than adding more activities to an already varied day.

Relationships and Communication

Each child has a key worker and a deputy, with the key worker taking the lead on observations and progress reporting. Daily care is shared across the team. For parents, that separates responsibility for tracking development from the practical business of having familiar adults available throughout the day.

Famly, the group-wide parent communication app, carries pictures and daily updates alongside eating, sleep and nappy-change information. A formal observation is shared weekly, and families can contribute pictures from home. That creates a useful link between experiences outside nursery and conversations during the child's day.

In June 2025, staff gathered information from families at the start and used it when helping children settle. Babies sought reassurance from familiar adults as they explored. Daily conversations at handover complemented the app, allowing parents to hear about the day directly as well as through updates.

Inclusion and Wellbeing

At the June 2025 inspection, Ofsted found that staff used assessment to target support, worked with families and other professionals on individual needs, and met children's care needs successfully. The examples included support for concentration and managing emotions. This is a dated assessment of practice, rather than a blanket promise about every child's future experience.

The current team structure includes a designated safeguarding lead at Burrow Farm and a practitioner based with the under-twos. Those are concrete arrangements for responsibility and age-specific care. They do not, by themselves, establish the size of a baby's daily group.

Across Little Farmers, children who need daytime sleep can use cots or sleep mats in a quiet indoor area, while others continue playing. Food is prepared on site, with hot lunches and a lighter tea; dietary requirements and allergies can be catered for. Funded attendance has a separate food charge, addressed below.

Sessions and Attendance

The address is Burrow Farm, Broadclyst, EX5 3JA. Opening hours are 8am to 5.30pm, Monday to Friday. The nursery operates for 51 weeks each year, closing between Christmas and New Year and on bank holidays; those closures carry no fees.

The booking rule is specific: at least two full days per week, with no part-day bookings or term-time-only places. This makes the setting a practical option for families needing regular attendance across the year. It also means a family seeking a short morning or a school-term calendar would need a different attendance arrangement.

Visits take place by appointment. Enquiries can be made by telephone, and a visit offers the opportunity to connect the outdoor emphasis with the care arrangements relevant to your child's age.

Funding and Paid Extras

Government-funded childcare is accepted, alongside privately paid childcare. Extra private hours can sit alongside funded attendance. Current prices come in the nursery's written quotation; the important distinction is between the funded childcare hours and the additional items associated with attending.

For funded hours, food is charged separately, as are personal-care supplies such as wipes, sun cream and nappies where needed. Enhanced Forest School and farm activities also carry a separate charge. The additional charges are voluntary: families who decline them can arrange to bring the required items from home. The fees and funding terms explain that choice.

• A year-round, full-day commitment. The minimum is two full days weekly, and term-time-only attendance is excluded. Match that pattern to your working week and holiday plans before booking a visit.
• Mixed-age teaching. In June 2025, some younger children disengaged during group activities, and adults did not consistently leave enough thinking time. At a visit, ask how stories and problem-solving activities are now adapted for different ages.
• Outdoor clothing is part of the routine. Warm neoprene wellies and waterproof clothing are required, with seasonal additions on the starter kit list. Allow for practical clothing that supports regular outdoor play.
• Food and personal care on funded days. These attract voluntary additional charges, with a home-provided alternative. Families managing allergies should confirm the current food arrangements and how their child's needs will be handled.

Little Farmers, Burrow Farm suits families wanting regular full-day attendance across the year, with nature and physical exploration central to the experience. It can serve both families combining funded hours with private childcare and those paying privately, within the same minimum booking rule.

The farm surroundings are the draw; the June 2025 teaching priorities are the detail to examine. For a baby, familiar adults and opportunities to explore matter most. For an older child, the question is whether that curiosity is being extended through well-timed conversation and activities pitched at the right level.