Ellingham House Day Nursery

Rural grounds and outdoor play give Ellingham House Day Nursery its clearest character. Possible experiences include gardening, seasonal walks and mud kitchens alongside stories, sensory exploration and creative play, making this a setting for families who want nature to feature in their child's ordinary day.

The nursery is in Ellingham, Ringwood, Hampshire, BH24 3PJ, and has 86 places in total for children from birth to 60 months. At its November 2022 inspection, Ofsted rated it Good overall, while identifying staff understanding of the wider curriculum and support for the manager as areas needing further work. That judgement is dated; the current practical offer includes full days, mornings and afternoons.

Learning and Activities

The Early Years Foundation Stage provides the framework for learning through play, with experiences adapted to children's development. Here, sensory exploration, early conversation, stories and creative activities give children different ways to investigate ideas and practise skills. Staff plan around children's interests, introduce vocabulary and help them work through challenges. The useful distinction is the combination of that everyday learning with the rural setting, rather than the framework itself.

In November 2022, babies explored textures through That's Not My... stories, while older children shared pictures and looked through books independently. Singing ran through the day, with nursery rhymes becoming more familiar as children moved through the nursery. These examples give parents a concrete picture of early language experiences: handling books, noticing pictures and joining in with familiar songs.

Mathematics also appeared in ordinary routines in November 2022. Numerals at snack time helped children count portions onto their plates. Learning was woven into an activity children already understood, rather than confined to a separate counting exercise.

Outdoor and Community Life

Outdoor learning takes place throughout the seasons. Activities may involve seasonal walks, gardening, mud kitchens, outdoor sleeping and forest-style play. The grounds therefore support several kinds of experience, from physical movement to exploring natural materials; these are possible activities, rather than a fixed daily checklist.

In November 2022, outdoor play included imaginative movement, with children pretending to fly. Getting ready for the garden also gave them opportunities to practise dressing: they attempted boots, waterproof clothing and zips, with adults helping them finish the task themselves. Independence was built through small, practical steps.

The optional Enrichment Programme adds experiences beyond the standard early-years curriculum. Its activities may include baking, gardening, cultural or creative sessions, celebrations and graduation events. For funded attendance, it sits within the separately charged Essentials Package, so the learning offer and the charging arrangement need to be understood together.

Relationships and Communication

Settling was individualised in November 2022, both for children starting nursery and those moving between rooms. Time in a new room increased gradually where needed, and children were not hurried into a move before they were comfortable. Young children also sought comfort from their key person. For parents weighing a baby's first separation, these are useful examples of how relationships and transitions were handled at that time.

Communication with families is part of the current approach, intended to keep home and nursery consistent. Alongside this, staff help children express feelings and find ways through difficult moments. That makes conversation about a child's experience relevant to care as well as learning.

Inclusion and Wellbeing

At the November 2022 inspection, Ofsted found that children with special educational needs and/or disabilities received effective, carefully adapted support, and that safeguarding arrangements were effective. The examples included helping children join others for snack and recognising each new step, rather than expecting everyone to participate in the same way immediately.

In November 2022, small-group work using the colour monster helped children discuss feelings and relate them to play. When disagreements arose over toys, staff listened to the children involved and helped them think about the consequences of their actions. Emotional learning had a practical purpose: finding a way to resolve an everyday disagreement.

Meals are cooked on site each day with seasonal ingredients. Non-funded fees include food and consumables, while funded hours carry separate, optional charges for these through the Essentials Package.

Sessions and Attendance

The address is Ellingham, Ringwood, Hampshire, BH24 3PJ. Opening hours are 7.30am to 6pm, Monday to Friday; the nursery operates for 51 weeks, closing for public holidays and a week over Christmas. Onsite parking supports collection and drop-off.

A full day runs from 8am to 6pm, a morning from 8am to 1.30pm, and an afternoon from 1.30pm to 6pm. An Early Start runs from 7.30am to 8am. The minimum weekly booking is four morning or afternoon sessions, or two full days, and must include either Monday or Friday. These conditions matter as much as the clock times when fitting childcare around work.

Permanent session changes and cancellations require one calendar month's notice. Fees are paid monthly in advance, and normal charges apply on bank holidays; sickness and holidays do not attract refunds, credits or replacement sessions. Enquiries can be made directly to the nursery, and a registration form is available.

Funding and Paid Extras

Funded childcare includes the 15-hour and 30-hour entitlements for 38 weeks, stretched across the nursery's operating weeks. The nursery also accepts 2 Help funding. Funded hours can be used alone or combined with paid attendance, and can fall within the full-day, morning or afternoon patterns between 8am and 6pm, subject to availability.

For non-funded attendance, fees are inclusive. During funded hours, meals, non-food consumables and enrichment are charged separately through the optional Essentials Package. Consumables cover wipes, nappies, nappy bags, cream and suncream. Families can opt out by contacting the manager before term starts, although suitable alternatives or arrangements for collecting and disposing of consumables may then be required under nursery policy.

A registration charge and a deposit apply, with both waived for fully funded places; otherwise, the deposit is refundable against the final invoice. Current prices come in the nursery's written quotation. The important comparison is between the funded hours themselves, additional paid hours and the extras chosen alongside them.

• Weekly commitment. The minimum is two full days or four morning or afternoon sessions, including Monday or Friday. A family seeking occasional attendance needs to weigh that commitment against its working pattern.
• Funded extras. The Essentials Package is optional and separately charged during funded hours. Discuss the opt-out arrangements before term begins, including food alternatives and responsibility for consumables.
• Curriculum and leadership. In November 2022, staff needed a clearer understanding of the overall learning aims, and support and coaching for the manager needed to become fully established. During a visit, ask how those aims guide activities and how leadership support works now.
• Baby care outdoors. Outdoor sleeping is among the possible activities. During a visit, ask how sleep arrangements would fit your baby's routine and how settling into their room would be paced.

Ellingham House suits families seeking either full-day attendance or regular morning and afternoon sessions, with outdoor experiences running through the nursery day. Its rural grounds, play-based learning and seasonal activities give parents concrete reasons to consider it.

The November 2022 Good judgement provides a dated assessment, including clear development points. The decision also turns on practical fit: the weekly minimum includes Monday or Friday, and funded attendance separates free childcare hours from optional food, consumables and enrichment charges. Those are substantial considerations alongside the appeal of the setting.