Glebe Farm Nursery School

A farmhouse, generous outdoor grounds and a dedicated Forest School area give Glebe Farm Nursery School its character. In Canwick, near Lincoln, natural materials and cosy indoor spaces complement outdoor exploration and learning through play.

At its 10 June 2026 inspection, Ofsted judged achievement, curriculum and teaching, inclusion, behaviour and routines, welfare and wellbeing, and leadership and governance to be at Strong standard, with safeguarding standards met. The practical detail behind those judgements matters: books reach into outdoor play, everyday routines build independence, and activities combine conversation with physical exploration.

Children are accepted from two months to five years. Full-day sessions run from 7.45am to 5.30pm, and eligible families can use stretched funding within that pattern.

Learning and Activities

The early years foundation stage provides the framework for children's learning, development and care: play, conversation and everyday experiences build skills. Glebe Farm adds a dedicated Forest School area for exploring nature, alongside cookery and other enrichment.

In June 2026, babies shared textured and lift-the-flap books with adults, while preschool children used yoga to act out stories, building understanding and vocabulary. Books, rhymes and songs supported language throughout the nursery; the outdoor book shed allowed independent reading.

Mathematics was practical in June 2026: toddlers investigated weight and size using water and sand, while preschool children counted children at group time and stood opposite one another to compare quantities. Number became something visible to test and discuss.

Cooking together, Storal's group-wide cookery offer presented at this branch, involves handling ingredients and learning about growing food. Practical tasks connect mealtimes with learning.

Outdoor and Community Life

In June 2026, younger children practised balance on beams and made pretend meals in the sand pit. Preschool children collaborated on a tall garden tower, combining physical skills with decisions about risk. The grounds supported shared problem-solving as well as movement.

Sands is Glebe Farm's chosen charity, supporting people affected by a baby's death and work to improve bereavement care. Fundraising plans include sponsored challenges, dressing-up days and bake sales across the year. This gives families a concrete community cause to take part in, rather than a general invitation to become involved.

Relationships and Communication

In June 2026, settling sessions were tailored to families and extended when needed. Staff worked with external agencies to prepare equipment and surroundings before children started, allowing individual needs to shape their first experiences.

Key-person relationships provided familiarity, with daily spoken and online updates keeping parents informed. Support extended to the wider family. Coaching, observation and professional discussion helped leaders review teaching; staff had dedicated training time, and new colleagues got to know children and the environment before assuming responsibilities.

Inclusion and Wellbeing

At the June 2026 inspection, Ofsted found that children with special educational needs and/or disabilities made substantial gains in communication, confidence and movement. Adapted activities, external professionals and additional funding for individual adult support helped them participate, with needs reviewed regularly.

Daily care in June 2026 responded to babies' hunger, tiredness and need for comfort. Staff helped children manage feelings, predictable routines clarified what came next, and older children modelled language and expectations in mixed-age play.

Independence developed through ordinary tasks: babies practised feeding themselves, while preschool children served meals and carried plates to the table. These June 2026 routines supported preparation for school.

Meals are prepared by an on-site chef, using local ingredients where possible, and the menus accommodate dietary requirements. Food is included in private fees; funded sessions carry a separate food charge.

Sessions and Attendance

Glebe Farm Nursery School is at Glebe Farm, Heighington Road, Canwick, Lincoln, LN4 2RJ. Full days run from 7.45am to 5.30pm, Monday to Friday. The nursery operates for 49 weeks annually, with closures covering Christmas week, two weeks during August and two staff training days, alongside bank holidays.

Monthly invoices remain level, with planned closures accounted for in fees. Fees remain payable during illness or other absence.

Enquiries can be made through the branch's enquiry form, by telephone on 01522 575055 or by email at glebefarm@storal.com. Joining involves a non-refundable registration charge and a deposit that is applied to the first invoice. Current prices come in the nursery's written quotation.

Funding and Paid Extras

Eligible children aged nine months and above can access the 15 Hours or 30 Hours offer, stretched between 1 September and 31 July to up to 12 or 24 funded hours weekly respectively. Up to 9.75 funded hours can be used daily. Regular rates apply in August.

Private fees include snacks and meals, formula and milk, nappies, wipes, nappy cream and sun cream, together with enrichment activities. Funded sessions have separate charges for food, health and hygiene consumables, and enrichment; the activity charge applies to children over two, with no activity charge for under-twos. Additional hours beyond the funded portion are charged privately.

Part-funded sessions have proportionate extra charges. The branch's fees and funding information brings attendance, funding and extras together.

• August costs and closures. Funding runs from September to July, while regular fees apply in August and the nursery closes for two weeks that month. Build both the invoice and the childcare break into your annual plan.
• Settling and individual support. June 2026 practice included extended settling sessions and preparation with outside agencies. During a visit, discuss how those arrangements would work for your child's routines and any equipment or support they need.
• Food and funded extras. Dietary requirements shape the menus, and food and consumables are charged separately during funded sessions. Families managing allergies should confirm current kitchen practice and have the quotation explained for their intended attendance.
• Continuing improvement. The June 2026 next steps called for consistently high-quality interaction and further removal of barriers for children needing extra help. Ask how staff review that work and what changes it produces for an individual child.

Glebe Farm suits families whose working hours fit its full-day timetable and who value substantial outdoor space and nature-based learning. Shared stories, practical mathematics and responsive care gave its June 2026 strengths substance.

The financial calendar needs planning: funding covers September to July, extras remain separate, and August combines regular fees with a closure period.