Apple Daycare Oxlease House

Daily woodland walks give Apple Daycare Oxlease House a clear outdoor character. A private garden surrounds the building, while Oxlease nature reserve provides the destination for walks beyond it. For children, outdoor time extends beyond the nursery's own grounds.

This Hatfield nursery has capacity for 40 children, with a current age range from one month to five years. At its March 2023 inspection, Ofsted rated it Outstanding and found that learning was carefully adapted to children's needs, supported by close attention to their development. That judgement belongs to March 2023; the current offer includes daily activity journals, freshly cooked food and balance and gymnastics classes with Supernastics.

Learning and Activities

The early years foundation stage provides the framework for children's learning and care, with play used to develop skills and understanding. At Oxlease House, children choose their own play alongside activities guided by adults, including painting and craft. Tracking and planning software helps staff shape learning around the individual child rather than giving everyone an identical sequence of tasks.

Movement has several forms here. Supernastics supplies balance and gymnastics classes, while Fundamental Movement's & Sports adds sporting activities. These give physical play a place alongside creative work. Dance and sensory music sessions also form part of the preschool offer, and baking activities with the in-house chef bring food preparation into children's experiences.

In March 2023, children explored faces by looking in mirrors and making dough versions with vegetables. Elsewhere, digging for insects brought the surprise of uncovering a metal spoon. These were practical activities with room for children to investigate, choose materials and pursue an unexpected discovery.

Language also grew out of handling things. In March 2023, fruit and vegetable printing prompted a conversation about an aubergine, with children returning to the unfamiliar word as they played. The useful detail is the connection between vocabulary and an object children could examine: conversation belonged to the activity rather than being a separate exercise.

Outdoor and Community Life

Less steady walkers can ride in a buggy or pushchair during the daily woodland outing. The destination is the reserve behind the nursery, and children are encouraged to walk according to their ability. This makes the walking routine relevant to younger children as well as confident walkers.

The private garden gives the setting outdoor space of its own, alongside the neighbouring reserve and playing fields. These are different parts of its setting: the garden surrounds the nursery, while walks take children into the woodland beyond. Families who value regular time outdoors have a concrete daily routine to weigh, rather than simply an outdoor theme.

Relationships and Communication

Each day, a digital learning journal records children's activities through photographs and a short account of a significant moment. Parents can see both what happened and when. That gives a more concrete starting point for conversations about a child's day than a broad description of being busy or enjoying play.

In March 2023, settling began with staff learning about a child's existing routines, interests and preferences from their parents. The process changed according to the child. Key-person relationships provided continuity, so settling involved both familiarity with daily habits and a relationship with a particular practitioner.

For babies in March 2023, staff supported standing during activities, shared books while holding children and offered comfort when they became tired or distressed. Ceiling lights and quiet music were also used during calmer moments. The account describes physical exploration and close adult contact within the same day, rather than treating learning and comfort as separate needs.

Inclusion and Wellbeing

At the March 2023 inspection, Ofsted found safeguarding effective and described SEND support built around collaboration between the SENCo, families and other professionals, with children's development reviewed together. The current Oxlease House team includes an Early Years SENCO role, giving families a specific role to discuss when considering additional support.

In March 2023, everyday routines included children putting away coats and clearing their plates after eating. Younger children received help with sharing and taking turns. These small tasks gave children opportunities to practise independence while adults supported the social parts of being in a group.

Sessions and Attendance

Oxlease House is open Monday to Friday, from 7.30am to 6.30pm, across the year. Weekends and bank holidays are closed, as is the Christmas-to-New-Year period. The offer includes nursery and preschool care, an After School Club and a Holiday Club, so its provision extends beyond the preschool day.

Getting There

The address is Oxlease House, Travellers Lane, Hatfield, AL10 8TJ. The nursery shares a car park with the Hatfield Fitness Centre, which makes the parking arrangement a shared facility to consider when planning collections.

Funding and Paid Extras

In March 2023, the nursery provided funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-old children. Families should use the nursery's current written quotation for prices.

An in-house chef cooks fresh meals from scratch each day, with food adapted to children's ages. Cooking also includes baking activities with the children.

• Daily woodland walks. Walks into the neighbouring reserve are part of each day, with pushchairs or buggies helping less steady walkers. At a visit, discuss how this routine would work for your child's mobility and comfort outdoors.
• Care beyond preschool. Nursery and preschool care sit alongside an After School Club and a Holiday Club. Ask which care plan matches the pattern your family needs, including the Christmas-to-New-Year closure.
• Settling and additional support. Individual settling was a strength of the March 2023 account, and the current team includes an Early Years SENCO role. Use a visit to discuss your child's routines and the support they would need before starting.

Oxlease House suits families looking for nursery or preschool care with daily woodland walks, and those considering after-school or holiday provision. Its strongest practical combination is a private garden, walks into the neighbouring reserve and daily learning journals that keep parents connected to activities. The Outstanding March 2023 judgement adds a dated assessment of educational quality. For a family choosing it now, the daily outdoor routine deserves as much attention as the grade; individual settling arrangements were a strength in March 2023.