The Lemon Tree Nursery School

Four acres of gardens give The Lemon Tree Nursery School its character: gardening, outdoor play and learning in the grounds are central to the day. This is a term-time setting in Orchard Portman, Taunton, for children aged one to five. French begins through songs and games at around two, adding another language to familiar play rather than making it a formal lesson.

Ofsted rated the nursery Outstanding at its 24 May 2023 inspection. The current offer includes outdoor learning, Montessori equipment as play resources, Forest School activities that encourage independence in nature, and a parent communication system connecting nursery observations with children's interests at home.

Families can choose morning, afternoon or full-day attendance, with an after-school extension on Monday to Thursday. The choice matters, but so does the calendar: this is care organised around terms, with school holidays outside its attendance pattern.

Learning and Activities

The Early Years Foundation Stage gives the day its educational framework, covering communication, physical development and relationships alongside early mathematics, literacy, creativity and understanding the world. These areas overlap in play: talking about a nature walk, balancing outdoors or making a model can involve several kinds of learning together. Montessori equipment is among the play resources used alongside that framework.

French is introduced at approximately two through play and songs. Children also choose a nursery library book during the week, with a tote bag supplied for carrying it home. That gives families a practical link between nursery activities and shared reading, while keeping children's own choices involved.

In May 2023, an ice experiment involved watching the effects of salt and heat, returning to the ice later and discussing the changes. Other activities involved testing buoyancy and magnetism. The useful detail is the sequence: children predicted, tried things out and revisited what happened, with adults introducing words to describe their observations.

The daily timetable moves between free play, group conversation, outdoor exploration and creative activities. Later activities include construction, role play, jigsaws and art materials; singing, percussion and stories help close the day. It is a mixture of child choice and planned shared experiences, rather than one continuous group lesson.

Outdoor and Community Life

The gardens are working learning space. Children can garden, use ride-on toys and balancing beams, and take nature walks; afternoon activities such as model making and sand or water play move outside when the weather allows. Outdoor clothing is part of the arrangements, making the grounds relevant beyond dry summer days.

Forest School activities centre on exploring nature while developing confidence, resilience and independence. Short yoga sessions are introduced in Little Willows and Robins, while the Orchard uses yoga for relaxation and physical development. A separate Thursday yoga option for Robin and Orchard children requires booking and regular attendance, so it is a different commitment from yoga within the nursery day.

Families opt into or out of activity arrangements termly. Core activities include music, mindfulness, Forest School and languages; additional cooking, science experiments and visits from theatre or museum professionals are not guaranteed.

Relationships and Communication

Settling is planned around getting to know the child. Induction takes place in the term before starting, and flexible stay-and-play or settling sessions can accommodate individual needs. Parents share interests, routines and comfort preferences, giving staff information that goes beyond an application form.

A key person oversees learning and development. Early in the new term, families have a discussion about their child's interests and development, helping shape the activities offered next. Parents can contribute observations from home rather than simply receive updates.

My Nursery Child is the online learning journey and communication portal, carrying progress records, observation notes, photographs, nursery news and messages. Home interests can inform nursery planning.

Inclusion and Wellbeing

At the May 2023 inspection, Ofsted found safeguarding effective and SEND support exceptionally strong, with staff identifying additional needs, seeking professional advice and involving parents. Those are dated judgements; the current support arrangements give families concrete mechanisms to discuss.

The SENCOs and key person use observations and a graduated response, with an Individual SEN Support Plan where needed. Its cycle of assessment, planning, action and review includes parents' views and goals relevant to the child. With consent, advice can come through Somerset's Inclusion Advice Line or professionals such as a speech and language therapist. High Needs Funding may support additional provision, depending on the child's needs and the arrangements required.

The nursery is on one level with a portable ramp. For school transition, the key person prepares a form including parents' comments; a School Entry Plan meeting can bring together the family and professionals involved.

Sleep arrangements include travel cots, mats and a coracle, with individual fitted sheets and routines informed by parents. Children may sleep outdoors in summer. The nursery follows a Safer Sleeping Policy, giving napping a defined place within the day rather than expecting every child to follow the same routine.

Parents supply a packed lunch for morning or full-day attendance, while the nursery supplies snacks and drinks; snacks are included in private session fees but fall within the separately charged consumables arrangements for funded attendance. Its food policy aims to exclude nuts and sesame, rather than promising an allergen-free setting.

Sessions and Attendance

The address is The Old Rectory, Orchard Portman, Taunton, Somerset, TA3 7BQ. Morning sessions run from 8am to 12.45pm, Monday to Friday; afternoons run from 12.45pm to 4pm, Monday to Thursday. Full days are 8am to 4pm, Monday to Thursday.

The After School Club extends care from 4pm to 5pm on Monday to Thursday and must be booked for the term. Friday finishes with the morning session, so the extension does not solve a Friday afternoon childcare need. The nursery closes during school holidays and on bank holidays, and has no inset days.

Enquiries can be made by form, email or telephone, with the enquiry form collecting the intended starting date and attendance days.

Funding and Paid Extras

Funded childcare is accepted, including Working Parents Entitlement of up to 30 hours for eligible families and two-year-old funding for eligible low-income families outside Working Family funding. Delivery is term-time. Funding acceptance does not change the nursery's starting age of one, and entitlement depends on eligibility rather than applying automatically to every child.

Private session fees include snacks, drinks, sun cream, cookery ingredients, outdoor clothing and activities. For funded attendance, the additional-charge arrangements cover consumables, clothing or equipment and activity participation separately, with choices made termly. Parents remain responsible for lunch. Families using only their free entitlement can make alternative arrangements for extras; this can involve leaving during a session or temporarily moving rooms to maintain staffing arrangements.

An administration charge applies, except where parents intend to use only their free entitlement. Current prices come in the nursery's written quotation. Invoices can be paid termly or through monthly instalments, and cancelling or changing the contract requires six weeks' written notice. Child absence attracts the full fee, although an alternative attendance day may be offered for illness when space permits.

• The Friday finish. Friday offers the morning session only, while Monday to Thursday can extend to 5pm. Compare that asymmetry and the school-holiday closures with your working week.
• Funding and the whole session. Entitlement-only arrangements can mean a different leaving time or a temporary room move. At a visit, discuss how your intended funded pattern would work alongside lunch and activity choices.
• Outdoor days and naps. Nature walks, gardening and outdoor learning feature throughout the offer, and summer naps can be outside. Discuss your child's sleep routine and comfort with outdoor activity during settling.
• Packed lunches and allergies. Lunch comes from home and the nursery aims to exclude nuts and sesame. Allergy-affected families should confirm current practice and the arrangements for their child's food and medication.

The Lemon Tree suits families seeking morning sessions, afternoon attendance or full days within a term-time calendar. Its gardens, informal French and links between home interests and nursery planning give the offer a clear character. The dated Outstanding judgement adds weight, while the practical decision rests on the shorter Friday, holiday closures and how funded attendance fits the chosen sessions.

For a child who enjoys outdoor exploration, and parents who want to contribute to learning records and settling plans, there is plenty to work with here. The funding choices deserve careful attention alongside the timetable.