Furnace Barn Day Nursery

An acre of land gives Furnace Barn Day Nursery room to make outdoor exploration a substantial part of childhood. This Halton setting has capacity for 39 children, with a current age range from birth to 36 months. Its strongest character comes from the combination of outdoor space, early reading and attention to children's emotional lives.

At its October 2022 inspection, Ofsted rated the nursery Good and found safeguarding effective. That is a dated judgement, rather than a description of today's daily practice. The detail beneath it is useful: children had opportunities to grow food, borrow books and find a quieter place to talk about feelings.

Full-day care runs throughout the year, with a published day from 7.30am to 6pm.

Learning and Activities

The EYFS is the framework for children's learning, development and care: it connects everyday play with the skills children build as they grow. Here, practical experiences provide the clearest examples of what that can look like.

In October 2022, counting was woven into play rather than confined to a separate maths activity. Children compared the scoops needed to fill containers with water, while making a hedgehog with sticks and play dough introduced the idea of adding another spike. These are accessible ways to connect numbers with something a young child can handle and change.

Books had a similarly practical place in the day. In October 2022, babies explored textured pages while listening to stories, and the secret library let children take home a mystery book. The latter gave families a concrete connection between reading at nursery and reading together at home.

Outdoor and Community Life

The acre surrounding Furnace Barn is a significant physical asset. Outdoor exploration has space of its own, rather than depending solely on indoor activities being taken outside.

In October 2022, the garden contained fruit trees and vegetable patches, with children tending crops that could become healthy snacks. Growing food linked care for the environment with something children could eat. An encounter with a millipede also became an opportunity to introduce vocabulary and explore how a living creature moves. The value lies in following children's curiosity while the subject is immediately in front of them.

Relationships and Communication

In October 2022, children sought comfort from their key persons, and staff made time for conversations with parents at the beginning and end of the day. Parents knew who their child's key person was. An online learning journal extended that communication beyond a brief conversation, sharing the learning taking place in nursery.

The zen garden provided a quieter option in October 2022, using books and other resources to help children discuss feelings. Yoga and singing also formed part of the routines observed that month. Together, those examples show different ways the nursery made room for emotional expression, movement and shared activity.

Inclusion and Wellbeing

At the October 2022 inspection, Ofsted found that the special educational needs coordinator helped staff adapt learning through regularly reviewed intervention plans, and that children receiving this support made good progress. This was practical support organised around individual learning needs.

In October 2022, staff followed individual healthcare plans and undertook additional training for specific health needs. The nursery employed 16 staff at that time; this is a staffing snapshot, not a statement of current deployment.

Current policies cover medication administration and communication with parents. A Safer Sleep policy draws on Department for Education guidance and Lullaby Trust recommendations. These describe the arrangements families can discuss in relation to their own child's care, rather than establishing a current inspection judgement.

Sessions and Attendance

Full-day care is offered from 7.30am to 6pm across the year. The nursery opens Monday to Friday and closes on bank holidays. For parents organising work around childcare, the full-day booking pattern and year-round operation are the main practical features.

Furnace Barn Day Nursery is at Furnace Barn, Foundry Lane, Halton, Lancaster, LA2 6LU. Enquiries can be made by telephone on 01524 811811 or by email at furnacebarn@gmail.com.

Funding and Paid Extras

Early Years Funding can be used across sessions. Paid full-day care is also offered, with separate fee bands for children under two and those over two. Families should obtain current prices in the nursery's written quotation.

The pricing structure brings the nursery's full-day care and funding information together. Halton Preschool has its own attendance arrangements; those should not be treated as booking options at Furnace Barn.

• Independence in everyday care. In October 2022, adults sometimes handled tasks children could attempt themselves, including removing outdoor clothing and washing hands. The improvement priority was to give children more scope to practise these skills. A visit is an opportunity to discuss how this now works.
• The funded-day quotation. Funding can be used across sessions. What does a funded booking include, and how are meals, nappies and other consumables handled? A written breakdown will help families compare the whole arrangement.
• Outdoor use for younger children. The acre of land is a substantial attraction. During a visit, discuss how babies and older children use that space across their day, so the physical setting can be weighed against your child's stage and routine.

Furnace Barn suits families seeking year-round, full-day care who place real value on outdoor exploration. Its acre of land is the clearest current attraction; the October 2022 examples of growing food, mystery-book borrowing and emotional support add substance to its character. The independence improvement point deserves attention alongside those strengths. The useful decision is how that outdoor space, full-day pattern and approach to everyday care fit your child.