Belmont Farm Nursery School

Belmont Farm Nursery School's strongest character comes from the unusually tangible experiences recorded at its August 2022 inspection: children used an on-site farm, tended fruit and vegetable patches, cooked their produce and attended forest-school sessions. The overall judgement was Outstanding in 2022, grounded in ambitious teaching and an exceptional emphasis on speech, language and independence.

The setting is at Belmont Farm, The Ridgeway, London NW7 1QT, and has capacity for 185 children aged from three months to five years. The account of daily practice below belongs to August 2022 rather than being a claim about today's routines.

In August 2022, learning was practical and purposeful. Children built bridges outdoors, created homes for different people and solved problems together. The statutory Early Years Foundation Stage sets areas of learning rather than prescribing every activity. In August 2022, staff translated those areas into an inspiring curriculum, using play, conversation and practical responsibilities to build children's next steps towards later learning.

Language ran through the day. Babies chose songs with picture cards, while staff introduced new words and prompted older children to think more deeply. Reading challenges, a lending library, early phonics and encouragement for children's first writing attempts added a clear school-readiness thread. Independence was equally concrete: children used play coins at breakfast, prepared fruit for friends, helped at mealtimes and signed themselves into the classroom. Older children displayed work on a proud table and took turns as the daily fruit monitor, giving responsibility a visible place in the routine. These small duties turned abstract aims such as confidence, coordination and cooperation into things children could practise for themselves each day.

Outdoor learning went beyond free play. Children tended growing patches and cooked what they had grown, while the on-site farm and forest-school sessions connected physical activity, nature and food. Dentist visits supported oral hygiene, and a children's health and safety council involved children in thinking about risk rather than simply keeping them away from it.

Warm relationships were visible in the 2022 evidence. Babies sought comfort from staff, while affirmations helped them approach physical challenges. A love-based approach, child-created rules and adult role-modelling supported calm, cooperative behaviour.

Safeguarding arrangements were effective in August 2022. Staff understood signs of harm, referral procedures and how to respond to allegations; recruitment and first-aid arrangements were also examined. Inspectors also found excellent progress for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities, supported by close monitoring and consistently strong teaching.

Parents reported strong communication. Leaders monitored children's development closely, and staff training and coaching helped keep teaching consistent. Monthly workshops, learning-at-home support and a parent committee gave families practical ways to contribute and continue learning beyond the nursery day.

Confidence and self-esteem were treated as part of learning, not as an extra. Children helped create rules, adults modelled the behaviour they expected, and harmonious play followed. This matters because the strongest preparation for school in the report was broader than phonics: children practised taking turns, managing self-care, making choices and carrying out useful tasks for other people.

The setting is on The Ridgeway in Mill Hill. Full-day and half-day arrangements need direct confirmation; the opening window alone does not establish either booking pattern. Families should establish the current attendance model before applying.

• What remains current. The Outstanding judgement and detailed account of practice come from August 2022. A visit should establish how the farm, forest-school sessions, lending library and parent workshops operate now.
• Practical fit. The nursery should set out its current booking model, minimum attendance, closures, notice terms, funding participation and charge structure in writing before a family commits.

Belmont Farm Nursery School's 2022 inspection record is full of memorable substance: home-grown food, forest-school learning, careful language work and routines that give children genuine responsibility. It is best suited to families drawn to outdoor, hands-on learning and a strong emphasis on communication and independence. The important practical task is to establish whether its current attendance patterns and charge structure fit the family's week. For parents comparing settings, the distinction is clear: the educational case is unusually well documented, while the present-day booking and cost proposition still needs a direct conversation.