Jack In The Box, Bosbury, Crib Cottage

In September 2022, first steps, woodland stories and routines paced around very young children characterised Crib Cottage. Jack In The Box, Bosbury, Crib Cottage has 11 places in total, at Crib Cottage, Behind The Parish Hall, Bosbury, HR8 1PX.

At its September 2022 inspection, Ofsted rated the nursery Outstanding and found safeguarding effective, with strong key-person relationships and early identification of developmental gaps. The children attending then were aged 0 to 1. That age profile matters: the account centres on crawling, emerging language and the transition from home to nursery, rather than older children's school preparation.

In September 2022, learning followed children's interests through exploratory play. The early years foundation stage provides the framework for learning, development and care; here, its everyday expression included movement, conversation, books and opportunities to practise new skills.

Physical development had a practical emphasis. Children crawled, took early steps and climbed, with adults helping them work out how to get down again. That gave independence a concrete starting point: attempting a manageable challenge with support nearby.

In September 2022, physical play also supported balance, core strength and the smaller movements involved in fine-motor development. Learning was revisited, giving children repeated opportunities to practise rather than moving straight on to something new. For children beginning to move independently, the important connection was between exploration and practice: their interests supplied a reason to try, and repetition gave them another opportunity to work on an emerging skill.

During September 2022, language activities included small groups for listening and taking turns, alongside songs woven into daily routines. Books were accessible outdoors as well as inside. A book corner held scrapbooks containing photographs from home, giving children something familiar to communicate about.

The woodland area added another setting for stories and songs. In September 2022, children sang about rain while sheltering there, then investigated puddles afterwards. Daily walks brought opportunities to notice insects, leaves and shadows. These were experiences children could explore directly, with the natural surroundings supplying the material for learning.

September 2022 walks also included touching bushes and watching them spring back. That made the outdoor experience about more than exercise: children could notice what happened in response to their own actions. Stories in the woodland setting were shared with cuddles from staff, bringing close adult contact into time outdoors. Alongside the home photographs in the book corner, this connected communication with familiar people and things. Books were something children could choose independently as well as share with an adult.

In September 2022, key persons visited children at home before they started, learning their routines and preferences. Parents could remain during settling visits. Those arrangements connected familiar home habits with new relationships at nursery, rather than expecting children to adapt all at once.

Development was reviewed termly with parents and management in September 2022. At that inspection, Ofsted found that staff understood children's next developmental steps and sought changes to provision or external help when needed, while safeguarding practice included risk checks and regular staff training.

Rest also had a place in the September 2022 day: gentle music accompanied sleep or quiet time after morning activities. Meals, snacks and water were provided. Together with outdoor exercise, these routines balanced activity with opportunities to recover.

Crib Cottage's address is Behind The Parish Hall, Bosbury, HR8 1PX. Its capacity of 11 places describes the whole setting, rather than the number of children in a particular group.

In September 2022, the nursery operated Monday to Friday, from 8am to 5.30pm. Those hours describe the nursery at that date and are separate from the learning and care arrangements described above.

• Attendance arrangements. The September 2022 operating day ran from 8am to 5.30pm on weekdays. What current booking pattern, funded-hours arrangements and written quotation would apply to your child?
• Settling from home. Home visits and parent-accompanied settling formed part of care in September 2022. During a visit, discuss how your child's sleep, comfort and communication routines would shape their start.

Crib Cottage suits families seeking care centred on the earliest stages of development. Its September 2022 strengths were concrete: supported first steps, familiar photographs, woodland experiences and close connections with home. The Outstanding judgement belongs to that inspection date; the strongest reasons to consider the setting lie in those detailed examples of how very young children were supported.