Oak Tree Nursery

Cornflour for babies, puppet stories for younger children and careful pouring for older ones: Oak Tree Nursery’s February 2024 activities gave children different ways to explore, communicate and practise control. Small experiences carried clear learning purposes.

Ofsted rated the nursery Outstanding on 28 February 2024, finding that teaching and the curriculum supported excellent development. Based in Ilfracombe, Oak Tree has capacity for 42 children, with an accepted age range of 2 to 60 months.

The early years foundation stage provides the framework for children’s learning, development and care: here, the February 2024 examples included learning through sensory play, conversation, movement and stories. Babies explored cornflour while staff supplied words for its texture and the actions they were making. Older children practised precise movements by transferring sawdust between containers.

In February 2024, staff used observations and children’s starting points to decide what to introduce next. A sloping plank gave babies a balance challenge; puppets helped younger children participate in songs and stories. The lending library extended access to books into family life.

Garden access was daily in February 2024. Babies made chalk marks outdoors, while younger children explored nature and practised mindfulness. Making bird feeders connected children’s interest in birds with a practical activity. Photographs also helped older children remember and discuss earlier learning.

At the February 2024 inspection, Ofsted found safeguarding effective, relationships secure and support for children with SEND exceptional, with staff working alongside parents and professionals to identify learning needs and arrange training, funding or referrals promptly. Those findings give families a substantial dated assessment of both care and inclusion.

In February 2024, children practised resolving disagreements themselves, including negotiating roles in a puppet performance. Older children waited patiently when younger children joined games. These were useful opportunities to practise consideration alongside independence.

Everyday self-care also featured that month: younger children washed their hands and faces independently, and older children managed wiping their noses. Parents described close working relationships with staff and could recognise the effect of teaching on their children’s learning. Staff received support and training, including training about two-year-olds; an on-site cook was employed at that time.

The address is Old Medical Centre, Marlborough Road, Ilfracombe, EX34 8JL. Oak Tree opens Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm, across the year, closing for bank holidays and one week at Christmas. That opening window is useful for planning a working day.

In February 2024, the nursery received early education funding for children aged two, three and four. This is a dated account of funding participation.

• Planning attendance. The weekday opening window runs from 8am to 6pm. Which booking patterns and funded arrangements would fit your child’s attendance?
• Outdoor learning. Daily garden use featured in February 2024, including chalking and nature exploration. This gives outdoor experiences a meaningful place in the dated picture of nursery life.

Oak Tree suits families seeking weekday childcare in Ilfracombe who value play with a clear learning purpose. Its February 2024 assessment is compelling: sensory exploration, language work and practical independence sit alongside carefully targeted support. The strongest reasons to consider it are the detail of that teaching and the attention given to individual development.