Attwood Farm Nursery

Bottle-feeding lambs, brushing donkeys and growing strawberries gave Attwood Farm Nursery a recognisably rural character in April 2023. These were opportunities for children to take responsibility for living things, alongside outdoor play and woodland exploration.

At its 18 April 2023 inspection, Ofsted rated the nursery Good and judged its safeguarding arrangements effective. Attwood Farm, Bodle Street Green, Hailsham, BN27 4RA has capacity for 34 children, with an accepted age range of 3 to 60 months.

In April 2023, children climbed, used ride-on toys and learnt to consider others before using the slide. Regular woodland trips brought seasonal change into their learning: they noticed new flowers and trees turning green. Discovering minibeasts prompted children to build a bug house, connecting an immediate interest with a practical activity.

The early years foundation stage provides the framework for children's learning, development and care. In April 2023, this took concrete form through conversation, stories, outdoor exploration and making things: younger children learnt animal vocabulary, while older children practised longer sentences and writing their names. Dough modelling involved scissors, rolling pins and play knives, giving children opportunities to handle tools.

Community participation also featured in April 2023. Children were encouraged to join the Flower Festival, a community event, and the nursery invited the community to its Nativity performances. Parents shared their cultures and celebrations with children, adding family experiences to discussions about other people.

In April 2023, timers helped younger children practise sharing, while familiar routines included putting coats away and removing outdoor shoes. Mealtimes were social occasions with home-cooked food. Children talked about their experiences and food preferences together.

Communication with families in April 2023 included photographs and learning reports through an online platform, alongside regular conversations about children's preferences. Stories helped children think about starting school, giving them a way to discuss a forthcoming change.

During April 2023, staff had regular safeguarding training, checked the premises daily and reviewed accident and absence patterns. Fire and lockdown practice familiarised children with emergency routines. Staff also met the manager to discuss training needs and received support for further development.

The address is Attwood Farm, Bodle Street Green, Hailsham, BN27 4RA. Opening hours are 8am to 5pm, Monday to Friday, with closures of two weeks at Christmas, one week at Easter and two weeks in summer. Those holiday breaks matter for families arranging childcare across the year.

In April 2023, the nursery received funding for early education for children aged two, three and four. That is a dated funding position rather than a promise of eligibility or a funded place.

• Planning and questioning. The April 2023 inspection identified a need to connect activities more closely to each child's next learning steps and improve staff questioning so children could develop their own ideas. Ask how these priorities now shape an individual child's day.
• Holiday coverage. The Christmas, Easter and summer closures create several separate breaks in attendance. Families needing continuous weekday care should factor each break into their arrangements.
• Your child's attendance. Which booking pattern and funded-hours arrangements would apply to your child's age and intended attendance?

Attwood Farm suits families drawn to a rural nursery setting and weekday opening hours, provided its holiday closures fit their plans. Its April 2023 experiences gave children practical responsibilities with animals and plants, plus woodland exploration and community participation. The learning priorities from that inspection remain useful points for a family discussion about how activities are tailored to their child.