Tree House Day Nursery

Woodland, a large garden and an all weather play area give Tree House Day Nursery its strongest character. This South Horrington setting combines a purpose-built nursery with outdoor spaces for climbing, exploration and play. For parents who want outdoor activity to be part of ordinary nursery life, that physical provision is a substantial attraction.

Ofsted rated the nursery Good at its inspection on 6 July 2021. Tree House caters for children up to five, with separate Babies, Toddlers and Pre School areas. Morning, afternoon, School Day and All day bookings provide different ways to fit childcare around family routines.

Rooms and Ages

Babies accommodates children from nine months to two years, Toddlers covers two to three, and Pre School takes children from three to five. These age-based areas give families a clear picture of how children are grouped as they grow.

The daily offer includes painting, messy play and role play, alongside outdoor exploration. Children can experiment with materials, act out ideas and make choices about their play. The purpose-built indoor accommodation sits alongside a garden, playground and woodland, giving activity several different settings rather than confining it to a single play space.

Learning and Activities

The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) provides the framework for learning: children develop communication, movement and relationships through play, then build skills in areas such as literacy, mathematics and creative expression. It is the foundation of the nursery day rather than an extra programme.

Letters and Sounds adds specific speaking, listening and early phonics activities. Stories, rhymes and games draw attention to sounds, helping children practise listening before more formal reading work at school. The programme includes listening to environmental and instrumental sounds, exploring rhythm and using the voice. Its practical value is that early literacy begins with active participation, rather than simply introducing letters.

Forest School brings planned woodland activities for children aged two upwards. Finding small creatures and making nature crowns or leaf bookmarks connect learning with materials and living things outdoors. These are concrete activities families can picture, with exploration and manageable tasks giving children opportunities to try things for themselves.

Outdoor and Community Life

Tree House Woods is used daily by children. The woodland provision includes balancing tyres, stacking logs, dens, swings and hammocks, as well as a tree house built around a cherry blossom tree. Those features offer different kinds of physical challenge and quieter play within the same outdoor environment.

A large garden and an all weather play area broaden that outdoor offer. Families choosing Tree House should expect outdoor clothing to matter: wellies, waterproof trousers and spare clothes are needed in winter, with a sun hat and a covering cotton shirt in summer.

Relationships and Communication

A key person takes responsibility for planning each child's learning and monitoring development. Parents can contribute their knowledge of interests and experiences at home, so planning draws on more than observations made during nursery sessions.

Tapestry, the online learning journal, gives families access to photographs, videos and developmental notes. Daily conversations, reports and parent meetings provide other opportunities to follow progress. Private rooms are available for confidential discussions, making it possible to talk about sensitive matters away from other families.

Inclusion and Wellbeing

Support for additional needs has defined steps. Key workers liaise with the SENCO team, activities and routines can be adapted, and individual educational plans are reviewed every six weeks. Adjustments can include toys, menus and the physical environment. Parents are involved in decisions about referrals and additional support, rather than receiving a finished plan after decisions have been made.

For children using English as an additional language, support can include translation, resources in the family's home language and attention to development in both languages. The child protection policy identifies safeguarding lead and deputy roles, alongside recruitment checks and procedures for sharing concerns with relevant agencies.

Transitions receive practical attention too. For children with known additional needs, entry planning meetings bring parents, nursery staff and other agencies together; photographs of the key worker and nursery areas can help introduce the setting. When children move to school, learning journals and information about individual needs can be shared with parental permission.

Meals are cooked in the nursery's own kitchen, and the session fees include the meals specified for each booking. Dietary provision covers vegetarian and vegan diets, intolerances and allergies.

Sessions and Attendance

Tree House is on Old Frome Road, School Lane, Wells, BA5 3DL. Opening hours are Monday to Friday, 7.30am to 5.30pm, with weekends and bank holidays closed.

The Morning session runs from 7.30am to 1.30pm; Afternoon is noon to 5.30pm. School Day runs from 8am to 4pm, while All day covers 7.30am to 5.30pm. A 7.30am start needs advance booking so staffing can be arranged. The minimum attendance is two sessions per week, with a session defined in the terms as half a day.

Attendance runs across the year, with closure weeks in August and over Christmas and New Year. Enquiries can be made by telephone on 01749 679637 or by email to treehousedaynursery@yahoo.co.uk. A large car park is part of the nursery grounds.

Funding and Paid Extras

Funded nursery education is offered for three- and four-year-olds from the funding period following their third birthday. Hours beyond the entitlement and additional services can be charged separately. Families should obtain a current written quotation, using the sessions and fees page to understand the booking structure.

Fees are paid in advance, monthly or weekly by arrangement. The registration deposit is credited against the first month's fees; withdrawal requires one month's notice or fees in lieu. Absences remain payable, so the cost of a booking continues when a child misses a session.

• Starting age. The Babies area starts at nine months, while the nursery's age range extends down to three months. If your child is younger than nine months, ask which area would accommodate them before arranging a visit.
• Funded attendance. Private session bookings include specified meals. How would funded hours, food and nappies, wipes or sun cream be handled in your child's particular booking?
• Outdoor and dietary needs. Woodland use is daily, and the nursery caters for allergies and intolerances. During a visit, discuss suitable outdoor clothing and confirm current food preparation arrangements for your child's dietary needs.

Tree House suits families who value daily woodland use, practical early language activities and a clear system for involving parents in developmental support. Morning and afternoon sessions sit alongside School Day and All day care, making the offer relevant to several attendance patterns. The outdoor spaces give it character; the key person, learning journal and transition arrangements give parents concrete ways to stay involved.