Little Delwood Kindergarten

Woodland walks, an outdoor mud kitchen and children choosing their own play give Little Delwood Kindergarten a clear character. This Chandler's Ford setting combines practical experiences with time to explore: cooking, planting and creative play sit alongside stories and group activities. It suits parents who value independence in everyday tasks as much as organised learning.

At its 22 November 2022 inspection, Ofsted rated the kindergarten Good and found safeguarding effective, with children making good progress, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). The improvement points concerned the organisation of group activities and ways of involving children who were less comfortable speaking.

Little Delwood has capacity for 28 children and accepts children from two years to school age. Morning, afternoon and shorter school-day sessions sit alongside full-time and term-time attendance options.

Learning and Activities

The EYFS provides the framework for children's learning and care, with playful opportunities across its areas of learning and development. Here, that means children learning through relationships, exploration and activities that respond to their individual development, rather than following a single pace.

A Froebelian approach adds an emphasis on children directing their play with adult guidance, first-hand experiences and connections with the natural world. Our World of Learning, shortened to OWL, expresses this through respect, community and links between children's interests and their experiences. Cooking, washing up, planting and tidying give those ideas practical expression. They are tasks children can take part in, rather than simply watch.

The main room includes a book corner, construction blocks, puzzles and a painting easel; outside, the mud kitchen gives messy exploration its own space. Movement between the room and garden is possible for much of the day, allowing children to follow an activity indoors or take their play outside. Structured experiences include baking, singing and team games, alongside time for children to pursue their own interests.

In November 2022, children used counting in a practical task, working out how many spoonfuls of oats would fill a saucepan. Stories also prompted physical participation, with children acting out climbing a beanstalk. These examples show learning attached to something children were doing, rather than confined to an adult explanation.

Outdoor and Community Life

Frequent trips into nearby woodland and around the estate extend the day beyond the garden. Parachute games take place on the green, while woodland walks call for suitable boots and clothes that can cope with wet or muddy play. Outdoor exploration is part of the routine, so a spare outfit has a practical purpose.

In November 2022, community outings happened daily and included visits to the woods and church. Children also investigated worms they uncovered while digging, adding new finds to their count. That dated picture complements the current emphasis on walks and hands-on discovery, while keeping the inspection's frequency separate from today's arrangements.

Relationships and Communication

A key person works with families to understand a child's interests, worries and development. Parents can contribute photographs and videos from home through Tapestry, the early-years software used for a diary shared on most days. Communication therefore works in both directions: families see the kindergarten day, and staff can connect it with life at home.

In November 2022, children had close relationships with their key person and sought help when they needed it. Everyday independence was visible too: children managed handwashing, chose snacks, poured drinks and prepared for garden play with little assistance. For parents, these are useful examples of the small skills that gradually reduce a child's dependence on adults.

Inclusion and Wellbeing

At the November 2022 inspection, Ofsted found that relationships with other professionals helped children with SEND obtain additional support and make good progress. This is a dated assessment of support in practice, rather than a promise about an individual child's provision.

Children can have quiet periods and sleep during the day if they still need them. Toilet training is supported, and families supply spare nappies for children who use them. Parents bring a packed lunch; morning and afternoon snacks are provided, with a Snacks & Consumables Charge potentially applying during funded hours.

Preparation for school centres on the I Can skills: managing clothes and toileting, sharing, listening briefly and communicating needs. Golden Rules support this through adult examples, reflection and helping children work through disagreements. The emphasis is on practical readiness and participation, rather than an admissions advantage.

Sessions and Attendance

The kindergarten opens Monday to Friday, from 8am to 6pm. Families can choose morning-only, afternoon-only or shorter school-day attendance, together with full-time or term-time options. These are different ways to use the setting; the opening window is separate from the length of any particular booking.

For families attending across the year, closures include bank holidays and Christmas. Enquiries can be made by telephone or email, and a tour can be booked. The address is Millers Dale Centre, The Deanery, Chandler's Ford, Eastleigh, SO53 1TL.

Funding and Paid Extras

Little Delwood accepts 15 and 30 hour government funding. The additional entitlement depends on family eligibility, so accepting funding should not be read as a guarantee that every child qualifies for both offers. Current prices come in the nursery's written quotation.

Food and non-food items have different arrangements. Lunch comes from home, while funded attendance may attract the Snacks & Consumables Charge. Families also provide nappies when needed. The practical distinction matters: funding the childcare does not itself settle what a family supplies or pays for alongside it.

• Participation in groups. In November 2022, some group activities left children waiting too long, and quieter children needed more ways to contribute. During a tour, ask how activities now accommodate different ages and children who prefer not to speak in a group.
• Outdoor clothing. Frequent woodland walks and messy play make suitable footwear and a complete spare outfit everyday essentials. Choose clothes that can withstand paint, mud and water.
• Funding and supplies. Packed lunches and nappies come from home, and funded hours may carry a Snacks & Consumables Charge. Have the written quotation distinguish childcare, food and non-food items before agreeing an attendance pattern.

Little Delwood suits families seeking morning or afternoon sessions as well as shorter school days, with full-time and term-time options adding further choice. Its clearest appeal is practical, child-led learning: woodland exploration, cooking and everyday self-help skills give the approach substance. The Good judgement dates from November 2022, and the group-participation improvement points deserve attention when choosing the setting.