Little Raccoons Day Nursery Elstree

Peeling an onion became a lesson in size at Little Raccoons Day Nursery Elstree in May 2023. That small example captures the character of its teaching at the time: familiar materials, practical exploration and adults bringing learning into play. Ofsted rated the nursery Outstanding at its inspection on 25 May 2023.

Based at The Hollybush on High Street, Elstree, the nursery accepts children aged 3 months to 5 years and has 50 places in total. Its inspection account gives parents concrete examples to weigh: babies communicating through gestures, children helping build an obstacle course and a sand timer making turns easier to understand. These are useful details about how children experienced the nursery, rather than simply a grade.

The early years foundation stage sets the requirements for children's learning, development and care. In everyday terms, learning happens through play and conversation as well as practical activities, with adults helping children develop communication, physical skills and independence.

In May 2023, staff introduced ideas about size while children explored and peeled onions. The activity linked sensory discovery with mathematical language. Books also prompted conversations about the subject children were exploring, giving stories a role beyond listening quietly. Staff answered babies' sounds and gestures, treating those early attempts at communication as something to respond to.

Children helped create an obstacle course in May 2023, then attempted its challenges independently. Both indoor and outdoor spaces had resources selected for children's developmental stages. The practical value was the opportunity to attempt something difficult and experience the satisfaction of managing it, with physical activity and persistence working together.

A small musical exchange illustrates how adults responded to children's feelings that month. When a baby looked unhappy about a spider disappearing in a rhyme, staff changed to Incy wincy spider, a different spider song. The child's reaction influenced what happened next. For parents of a baby, that is a more revealing example of responsive care than a broad claim about individual attention.

Recycling, growing plants and exploring life cycles also featured in May 2023. Religious festivals provided opportunities to discuss differences between people. These experiences brought environmental care and the wider world into activities children could take part in themselves.

At the May 2023 inspection, Ofsted found safeguarding effective, recognised prompt specialist help for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities, including speech and language therapy, and judged that children made substantial progress across their learning. That assessment belongs to the inspection date.

In May 2023, a key-person arrangement worked alongside assessments to identify gaps in learning and plan what children needed next. Parents received updates online and through daily conversations, with assessments shared to help them support learning at home. The combination matters: information about the day was linked to an understanding of a child's development.

Support for behaviour was practical in May 2023. Staff explained expectations and used gentle reminders; a sand timer helped children understand whose turn came next. Praise recognised effort as well as positive behaviour. Children had something visible to refer to while learning to wait and share.

Personal care also gave children opportunities to practise independence that month. They served their own food, cleared up and washed their hands and faces. Meals were prepared fresh each day. Everyday routines therefore contributed to learning about looking after themselves, alongside the more obvious play activities.

The address is The Hollybush, High Street, Elstree, Borehamwood, WD6 3EP. Opening hours are 7.30am to 6.30pm, Monday to Friday, across the year, with closures for bank holidays and a week at Christmas. The holiday break needs to fit the family's childcare arrangements as much as the weekday opening window does.

Enquiries can be made through the Elstree contact form or by telephone on 0203 150 1414. The branch also accepts email enquiries at info-elstree@littleraccoons.co.uk.

In May 2023, the nursery received early-education funding for three- and four-year-olds. This is a dated funding position, separate from the current opening arrangements and age range.

• An older inspection snapshot. The Outstanding judgement dates to May 2023. Use its examples of teaching and care as the starting point for a visit, asking how those practices work now.
• Care for the youngest children. Children can start from 3 months, and the May 2023 account includes adults responding to babies' gestures and emotions. On a visit, how are your baby's sleep and settling routines handled?
• Christmas cover. The nursery closes for a week at Christmas as well as bank holidays. Families relying on weekday care throughout the year will need arrangements for those breaks.

Little Raccoons Elstree suits families seeking year-round weekday care for a baby or preschool child. Its strongest case comes from the detailed May 2023 account: learning woven into sensory play, adults responding to children's feelings and practical routines that helped children become more independent.

The opening window supports families with an early start or later finish. The inspection judgement is a useful point of reference, while a visit should establish how its examples of day-to-day care translate into your child's experience now.