Appletrees Day Nursery

In March 2023, a garden room, outdoor water play and stories carried into hands-on activities gave Appletrees Day Nursery its character. In March 2023, children could move between indoor play, the garden room and outside, choosing how to pursue their interests. The appeal was practical: space to experiment, with adults helping play develop into learning.

At its 7 March 2023 inspection, Ofsted rated Appletrees Good, found safeguarding effective and judged that children, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities, made good progress. The nursery accepts children aged 3 to 60 months at Woodlands, Green Lane, Littlethorpe, Ripon.

In March 2023, the mud kitchen and sandpit gave children opportunities to explore natural materials, while water play introduced ideas about quantities and space through filling and pouring. Children could follow their own interests rather than spend the whole day in adult-directed activities.

The early years foundation stage sets the framework for learning, development and care, with play providing opportunities to practise language, movement and social skills. In March 2023, a dough activity connected pretend insects with books: children made bugs, compared their creations with illustrations and linked a snail to The Snail and the Whale. Staff drew attention to rhyme. This joined storytelling to something children could make and discuss.

Learning also reached beyond the nursery. In March 2023, a bus outing to the post office and a visiting fire engine extended a topic about community helpers. Children explored Chinese New Year and Diwali, introducing different celebrations, while an annual summer party brought families together to celebrate children's achievements.

In March 2023, mealtimes brought different ages together with their key person. Children practised serving pasta and pouring drinks, turning an everyday routine into an opportunity to take responsibility. Older, more capable children nevertheless needed more opportunities to manage these tasks independently.

School preparation had a designated transition manager in March 2023, alongside links with local schools. Support for the next stage therefore included a specific staff responsibility. Staff also shared training sessions with parents, giving families ideas for supporting learning and care at home.

Appletrees is at Woodlands, Green Lane, Littlethorpe, Ripon, HG4 3LR. It opens Monday to Friday from 7.45am to 6pm, across the year, with closures for bank holidays and Christmas.

In March 2023, the nursery provided funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-olds. That is a dated account of its funding offer.

• Conversation between children. In March 2023, adults supported children's speech, but opportunities for children to talk with one another needed extending. Peer conversation matters alongside confident exchanges with staff.
• Purposeful group activities. Planning for adult-led learning needed greater precision in March 2023, and older children's independence at meals needed more attention. These are useful areas to explore during a visit through examples of current practice.
• Funded attendance and extras. For a family considering Appletrees' March 2023 funded offer, what would a current written quotation cover for attendance, meals and non-food consumables?

Appletrees suits families drawn to a rural setting and a play-based day with outdoor exploration. Its March 2023 strengths lay in children's choices, practical experiences and connections between stories and play. The reservations are specific: more conversation between children, sharper planning for group activities and greater independence at meals. Those deserve attention alongside the positive inspection judgement.