Fern Hollow Day Nursery

Kite-making outdoors, photograph-based self-registration and help with family changes give Fern Hollow Day Nursery a recognisable character. In January 2024, children made kites and waited for suitable wind, while younger children searched for their own photographs. These were small opportunities to practise patience and independence.

At its January 2024 inspection, Ofsted rated the nursery Good, judged safeguarding effective and found that staff supported communication and responded promptly to developmental concerns through work with external agencies. The setting in Stocksfield has capacity for 40 children, with an age range of 0 to 60 months.

The early years foundation stage sets the framework for children's learning, development and care: play and everyday routines provide opportunities to develop skills. In January 2024, staff introduced vocabulary during ride-on-car play and used questions to extend older children's conversations over play dough. Learning happened within activities children were already enjoying.

During that month, younger children filled cups with sand indoors, and children had daily opportunities for outdoor learning. Older children used a traffic-light behaviour system, with red signalling that an activity should stop. These examples connect language, physical activity and shared expectations to the nursery day.

At the January 2024 inspection, Ofsted also identified two improvements: planning needed to target children's next skills more precisely, and provision for younger children needed a better understanding of their developmental stages, including outdoors. Some activities emphasised the finished picture rather than the learning involved; the indoor sand activity restricted broad arm movements, while outdoor planning concentrated too heavily on physical play.

In January 2024, children turned to their key person for comfort. Support for families included potty training and adjusting to a new baby sibling, connecting nursery care with changes at home rather than treating them as separate concerns.

A locally established toddler group also helped parents access support from local services that month. Children enjoyed fresh, home-cooked meals, with staff helping them serve themselves and manage portions. Mealtimes therefore included practical opportunities to do things independently.

The address is 4 Birches Nook Road, Stocksfield, NE43 7JL. Opening hours are 7.30am to 6pm, Monday to Friday, across the year, with closures for bank holidays and one week at Christmas. Those closure dates matter when planning childcare around work.

In January 2024, the nursery provided funded early education for children aged two, three and four. This is a dated account of its funding provision.

• Skills before finished products. The January 2024 improvement priorities included making activities more closely match each child's next learning steps. Look for examples of how planning now distinguishes practising a skill from completing an activity.
• Younger children's play. In January 2024, sand play restricted whole-arm movement and outdoor planning needed greater breadth. These are useful areas to explore during a visit, especially for a younger child.
• Attendance and funding. The opening window runs from 7.30am to 6pm. What booking pattern and funded-hours arrangement would apply to your child's attendance?

Fern Hollow suits families who value practical play and support with everyday family changes. Its January 2024 examples give that judgement substance: kite-making, language developed through play and help with potty training. The learning priorities deserve equal attention, especially for younger children. Families whose work fits the weekday opening window should weigh those priorities alongside the year-round calendar and Christmas closure.