Little Oaks Nursery

In June 2023, a covered sandpit, balance play and a woodland area on a primary-school site shaped outdoor experiences at Little Oaks Nursery in Hartpury. In June 2023, babies explored sand while older children practised keeping themselves safe outdoors. These were experiences with different demands for different ages.

Ofsted rated the nursery Good on 5 June 2023 and judged safeguarding effective. Little Oaks accepts children aged nine months to five years, with its address on Over Old Road, Hartpury, Gloucester.

The early years foundation stage sets the framework for children's learning, development and care: play and planned activities help children build skills. In June 2023, key persons used information from parents alongside observations of play to decide children's next learning steps.

Preschool learning that month connected home life with the wider community. Visits included places of worship, farms and villages, giving children concrete examples of how other people live. Small-group mathematics involved recognising quantities on spotted cards, with staff helping children who needed another way to work out an answer.

Outdoors in June 2023, younger children balanced on planks supported by tyres and climbed crates. Preschool children explored the school site's woodland area and learnt boundaries for safe play. The younger children's curriculum needed clearer learning intentions, however, and lengthy turns during singing activities left some children disengaged. Outdoor resources alone were not the whole answer.

At the June 2023 inspection, Ofsted found that children with special educational needs and/or disabilities were making very good progress, supported by collaboration between parents, key persons, the special educational needs coordinator and other professionals. Additional funding supported equipment, staff training or individual help.

In June 2023, staff helped toddlers understand how their actions affected friends, while preschool children used a sand timer to take turns with favourite toys. These examples made sharing and consideration practical rather than abstract. Staff also gathered parents' knowledge of their children when they started, making that information part of planning their care and learning.

Little Oaks is at Over Old Road, Hartpury, Gloucester, GL19 3BJ. Opening hours are 8am to 5pm, Monday to Friday, during term time, with closure during school holidays.

In June 2023, the nursery received funding for early education for two-, three- and four-year-olds. It occupied its own building within the grounds of Hartpury Primary School. Attending the nursery does not guarantee a Reception place; families still apply through the local authority admissions process.

• Learning for the youngest children. The June 2023 improvement priorities concerned clearer curriculum planning for babies and younger children, alongside keeping them involved in larger-group activities. On a visit, ask how staff now adapt these activities when children lose interest.
• Term-time attendance. School-holiday closure makes the nursery's calendar a significant part of the childcare decision. Families needing holiday cover will need to plan for those breaks.
• School-site connection. In June 2023, the nursery occupied its own building on Hartpury Primary School's site. Attending the nursery does not secure admission to Reception. Treat the nursery choice and the school application as separate decisions.

Little Oaks suits families seeking term-time childcare in Hartpury, with outdoor exploration and preparation for school prominent in its June 2023 daily life. Its Good judgement provides a clear inspection position, while the younger children's learning priorities deserve attention. The strongest examples concern preschool learning and practical support for individual needs.