School Outdoors Dulwich

A log circle, porridge cooked outdoors and a permanent mud kitchen give School Outdoors Dulwich its character. Based at Herne Hill Velodrome, this fully outdoor nursery takes children aged two to five. Forest School means learning through practical exploration outside: making things, investigating nature and developing ideas through play. The woods are the learning environment, rather than an occasional destination.

At its May 2022 inspection, Ofsted judged the nursery Good overall, with Outstanding behaviour and attitudes. That judgement sits alongside a clear educational identity: tools, dens and fire activities feature in the day, with opportunities for children to choose their own play as well as take part in guided activities. Families considering it are choosing an outdoor way of spending the nursery day, with the clothing and preparation that entails.

Learning and Activities

The early years foundation stage is the framework for children's learning, development and care. Here, play and practical experiences outdoors give children ways to explore ideas, communicate and develop physical skills. Forest School adds the setting's particular approach, with activities initiated by children alongside those planned by staff.

The wooded site has a log circle used for breakfast and shared activities. Porridge preparation and morning circle time bring the group together before guided work begins. Tool activities, den construction and art using inspiration from nature give the day different kinds of practical work. These are experiences children can take part in, rather than simply watch.

Nature walks introduce plants and small creatures. Later activities can include collecting firewood and cooking bread over a fire or roasting marshmallows. Free play has its own physical possibilities: trees to climb, a rope swing and a hammock. The permanent mud kitchen provides another outlet for imaginative play, with children making pretend recipes and potions.

In May 2022, children worked with actual tools and bark to construct boats. Activities drew on their interests and abilities, while the outdoor environment supported movement and exploration of nature. In May 2022, practitioners new to the setting sometimes had a less clear understanding of what individual children needed to learn next, although induction provided effective support. Children also practised assessing risk and taking responsibility for their safety. That combination connects practical tasks with decisions about how to carry them out.

Language was an improvement point in May 2022. Staff introduced vocabulary and used questions to extend conversation, but sometimes moved on before children had enough time to formulate an answer. The recommendation was to allow more thinking time between questions. For a nursery built around investigation, the pace of adult conversation matters as much as the activity itself.

Outdoor and Community Life

The outdoor model runs through the whole day. Children spend their time outside, with staff-led experiences and opportunities to pursue their own ideas. A child who enjoys physical exploration has several ways to engage, from building a den to experimenting in the mud kitchen.

In May 2022, community experiences included visits to a nearby garden centre, and meals used produce sourced locally. Children planted vegetable seeds and took part in oral-health activities. Those examples linked the natural world with everyday care, food and health, rather than treating nature solely as a subject to identify.

Relationships and Communication

In May 2022, new children developed close relationships with their key person and other practitioners, and were comfortable exploring activities away from that familiar adult. Information shared by parents helped staff respond to children's needs during the day. This gives a useful picture of how settling worked at that time: reassurance supported participation, rather than requiring children to remain beside an adult.

Current daily communication includes a spoken handover and updates through Famly, the nursery's educational software app. Parents receive information about their child's day as well as a conversation with staff. The routine combines a digital account with direct contact, giving families two ways to follow the experiences their child has had.

Inclusion and Wellbeing

At the May 2022 inspection, Ofsted found safeguarding effective and children, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities, making good progress, with support involving parents, outside agencies and the special educational needs coordinator. These are dated findings about practice, rather than promises about an individual child's experience today.

Daily food routines include porridge cooked at the log circle, a hot lunch and a hot tea, with dishes such as curry, stew or pasta. Shared tea also creates time for stories, songs and showing completed tool projects, so the end of the day includes quieter group activity as well as eating.

Sessions and Attendance

The address is Herne Hill Velodrome, 104 Burbage Road, London, SE24 9HE. Opening hours are 8am to 6pm, Monday to Friday. The nursery operates across the year, closing for bank holidays and two weeks at Christmas. Those closures matter for families arranging care through the winter holiday period.

Outdoor attendance requires preparation. Waterproof clothing is required each day, and the seasonal kit guidance includes warmer waterproofs, thermal layers and suitable winter footwear for cold weather. Children also need spare clothing and a filled water bottle. This is a practical part of choosing the setting: clothing must support a day spent outside, rather than a brief outdoor session.

Funding and Paid Extras

In May 2022, funded places were offered for two-, three- and four-year-olds. The nursery's fees page links to its fee information.

School preparation also featured in May 2022. The manager worked with local schools to understand expectations for the next stage and help children prepare for the change. That was transition work, with the emphasis on readiness for a different learning environment.

• A whole day outdoors. Waterproofs are required for attendance, with different clothing guidance for winter. On a visit, ask how shelter, rest and personal care work through cold or wet days, especially for a newly enrolled two-year-old.
• Time to answer. The May 2022 improvement point concerned adults allowing children longer to think between questions. During a visit, ask how practitioners give children that space during guided activities and conversation.
• The written care package. The daily routine includes hot food, and funded places were offered in May 2022. Before joining, ask for the current attendance options and funding terms, including the treatment of meals and non-food consumables.

School Outdoors Dulwich suits families who actively want nature to shape their child's nursery day. The log circle, practical tool work, trees and mud kitchen make that choice concrete. It is an immersive outdoor offer, with guided experiences and time for children to invent their own play.

The May 2022 judgement provides a positive, dated assessment, while the recommendation about thinking time offers a specific point to explore. The central decision is whether the fully outdoor model fits the child and family: enthusiasm for exploration needs to sit alongside the daily task of preparing suitable clothing and spare kit.