School House Nursery

Hidden dens, climbing equipment and outings to the beach give School House Nursery a clear outdoor identity. Its Holmpton setting combines space for imaginative play with opportunities to explore woodland and village surroundings. For children who enjoy moving, investigating and making up stories outside, that is a substantial part of the offer.

School House Nursery has capacity for 30 children, accepting ages from six months to five years. At its April 2024 inspection, Ofsted rated it Good and judged safeguarding effective. The strongest practical thread is outdoor learning, supported by books, creative activities and individual learning plans.

Attendance can be built around a full day, morning or afternoon session. That choice matters for families balancing childcare with working hours or preferring a shorter nursery day.

Learning and Activities

The early years foundation stage provides the framework for children's learning, development and care: here, play, stories, creative work and outdoor exploration give children ways to practise those skills. Forest School Activities add hands-on experiences with nature, including opportunities to solve problems and work together. Outdoor learning extends beyond the nursery grounds through frequent beach outings, woodland walks and village exploration.

Creative Arts and Crafts brings painting, collage, drawing and sculpting into the day. Different materials give children different ways to express an idea, rather than making creative work solely about producing a finished picture. Personalized Learning Plans use observation and collaboration with parents to shape experiences around individual development. That creates a practical link between what a child needs and what staff plan next.

In April 2024, books supplied starting points for investigations as well as storytelling. Older children examined caterpillars with magnifying glasses and brought The Very Hungry Caterpillar into their play with dough. Waiting for butterflies gave the activity a sense of change over time, while handling living creatures required care.

Toddlers used Five Currant Buns to practise counting in April 2024. Older children helped organise a library system and discussed the people who write and illustrate books. Stories therefore supported number work and knowledge about books as well as language. However, opportunities to draw younger children into conversation were sometimes missed, and some children were hesitant in group discussions.

Outdoor and Community Life

The grounds include cosy nooks and dens for imaginative play, alongside equipment for climbing. These provide different kinds of activity within the same outdoor environment: children can build a story, explore a hiding place or take on a physical challenge. Frequent trips extend that experience into the surrounding area rather than keeping nature-based learning within the grounds.

In April 2024, outdoor activity continued in wet weather. Children gardened, sang while sheltering from rain and used instruments and animal signs. Babies pushed a buggy over grass and dug in soil, giving them opportunities to practise balance and strength through ordinary play. These examples make the outdoor emphasis concrete, including for the youngest children.

Individual planning begins with observation and discussion with parents. The baby room leader also holds the SEND coordinator role, connecting responsibility for the youngest children with a specific inclusion role. The manager is the designated safeguarding lead. These are clear responsibilities within the team, rather than general promises about care.

At the April 2024 inspection, Ofsted found that collaboration with families and other agencies produced effective SEND support plans, helped children catch up and enabled them to participate fully in nursery activities. For families whose child needs additional help, the important detail is that planning involved people beyond the nursery as well as staff and parents.

During April 2024, familiar routines and relationships helped children seek assistance confidently. Toddlers called adults when they needed help with toileting, while older children involved staff in their games. Praise identified the behaviour being encouraged, such as counting or sharing, so children could understand what they had done well.

Self-care was also part of the day in April 2024. Older children washed their hands independently and explained toothbrushing routines. Lunches were home-cooked and included fruit and vegetables; children practised using cutlery and behaving considerately at the table. Meals are included in the private session fees.

Sessions and Attendance

The address is The Old School House, School Lane, Holmpton, Withernsea, HU19 2QS. Weekday opening hours run from 8am to 6pm. The nursery operates for 50 weeks each year, with a two-week Christmas closure; bank holidays are also closure days.

Full-day sessions run from 8am to 6pm, mornings from 8am to 1pm and afternoons from 1pm to 6pm. Half-day bookings are also offered. The morning and afternoon options give families a choice between starting earlier and attending later, while the full day spans the complete opening window.

Enquiries can be made by telephone on 01964 631649. Tours can be booked through the nursery's email enquiry route. A nursery bus provides collections, pick-ups and trips without an additional charge, with the service dependent on numbers. That condition matters if transport forms part of a family's childcare arrangements.

Funding and Paid Extras

Funding is accepted for the 9 month, 2 year and 3 & 4 year entitlements, alongside tax-free childcare. Private childcare is also offered, with meals included in those session fees. Current prices come in the nursery's written quotation, and fees increase each April. The fees page sets out the session and payment structure.

• Conversation and creative freedom. The April 2024 improvement priorities were to strengthen children's participation in conversation and give greater recognition to their own creative expression. On a tour, ask how quieter children are drawn into discussion and how children's independently chosen artwork is celebrated.
• Funding and everyday extras. Meals are included in private fees, and several funded entitlements are accepted. Ask how the accepted funded entitlements fit your intended session pattern.
• Transport dependency. The free nursery bus service depends on numbers. Families planning around collections or pick-ups should establish how that condition applies to their intended attendance.

School House Nursery suits families seeking either full-day childcare or shorter morning and afternoon sessions, with outdoor exploration playing a substantial role. Dens, climbing opportunities and trips into natural surroundings give that emphasis practical substance. Individual learning plans add another useful element for parents who want their observations to inform the nursery day.

The April 2024 priorities around conversation and creative expression remain relevant decision points. Together with the funding and transport arrangements, they give families specific matters to explore when deciding whether this Holmpton nursery fits their child and routine.