The Den Farmside

Low branches, muddy puddles and counting on a swing give The Den Farmside’s October 2024 daily life a clear character: physical exploration sits alongside language and number work. This Coalville nursery has capacity for 51 children, accepting ages from birth to five.

Ofsted rated the nursery Good on 10 October 2024. Practical independence was also visible that month, with toddlers learning to wipe their noses and preschool children handling their own coats and shoes.

In October 2024, babies practised climbing steps and using slides with staff guidance, while painting gave adults opportunities to introduce colour words. Familiar stories in the toddler and pre-school rooms invited children to supply missing words, connecting listening with speaking rather than making story time entirely adult-led.

The early years foundation stage is the framework for children’s learning, development and care. Here, the October 2024 examples included movement, conversation, counting and growing independence: everyday activities carried the learning.

Outdoors, the woodland area offered low trees for preschool children to climb, with an adult’s hand helping them balance before jumping. Counting backwards on a swing brought numbers into active play. These examples give families a concrete picture of the experience at that time, rather than just a curriculum label.

At the October 2024 inspection, Ofsted found safeguarding effective, support for children with SEND good, and children learning English as an additional language making good progress. Support included individual development plans, referrals to outside agencies and pictures that helped children understand what would happen next.

In October 2024, staff sometimes used words from children’s home languages to help understanding. Children also had individual toothbrushes and adult support to brush for a set period, bringing oral health into nursery routines.

An app shared children’s achievements with parents that month. However, some families were not receiving ideas tailored to continuing their child’s learning at home. That matters because updates about achievements and practical guidance for parents serve different purposes.

The address is 8 Forest Road, Coalville, LE67 3SH. Opening hours are 7am to 6pm, Monday to Friday, with an all-year opening schedule.

In October 2024, the nursery’s session window ran from 7am to 5.45pm, and closures included bank holidays and a week between Christmas and New Year. Funded childcare was offered from nine months upwards at that time.

• Training in everyday practice. In October 2024, staff did not consistently put training into action, including allowing children time to answer questions and using songs during nappy changes. This was an improvement priority affecting ordinary interactions throughout the day.
• Learning beyond nursery. The October 2024 improvement priorities included giving all parents ideas for their child’s individual learning at home. Families who value this guidance should weigh it alongside the achievement updates shared through the app.
• Planning attendance. How do current booking patterns, funded hours and charges for food or consumables fit your intended attendance? Discuss these together during a visit so the arrangement matches your family’s routine.

The Den Farmside suits families drawn to outdoor exploration, practical independence and language woven into play. Its October 2024 experience included tree climbing, shared stories and supported self-care, with a Good judgement overall. The same assessment identified inconsistency in applying staff training and sharing home-learning ideas. Those priorities belong alongside the positive examples when weighing the nursery.