Filthy Squirrels Woodland Nursery

Real teapots in the mud kitchen, naps beneath the woodland canopy and a barn for unsafe weather: outdoor life shapes Filthy Squirrels Woodland Nursery. Based at The Threshing Barn in Fifield Bavant, it welcomes children from 2 years 6 months to school age. This is a setting for families who want nature to supply the materials for play, with practical arrangements for sleep, changing and shelter alongside it.

At its May 2023 inspection, Ofsted rated the nursery Outstanding and found that an ambitious curriculum, close knowledge of individual children and imaginative play supported rapid progress. That judgement belongs to that visit. The current approach continues to emphasise children's curiosity, relationships and learning outdoors, rather than treating woodland time as an occasional addition to an indoor day.

Attendance can be term-time or year-round, with a minimum commitment of two days each week. The practical distinction is between the main nursery day and separately charged time before or afterwards.

Learning and Activities

The Early Years Foundation Stage provides the foundation: children develop language, movement, social skills and early understanding through play, alongside literacy, mathematics and creative experiences. The Filthy Squirrel Way builds on that framework by using woodland exploration, children's interests, adult encouragement and questions to extend learning. The approach changes the setting and materials for learning; it does not replace the framework.

A mud kitchen uses ordinary cups and teapots rather than toy substitutes. Pouring becomes a practical puzzle involving grip, balance and keeping a lid in place. Breakable objects also require care. For parents, the useful detail is the opportunity to practise everyday handling skills with materials children can recognise beyond nursery.

In May 2023, a fascination with bees became a woodland search for imitation nectar. Children used syringes to collect liquid, transferred it into containers and measured what they had gathered. An imaginative game therefore brought together hand control, mathematical thinking and conversation. Children also helped one another work out how to use the equipment, making cooperation part of the activity rather than a separate lesson.

Another May 2023 example involved watching a worm move and discussing its role. Children asked about an unfamiliar word rather than letting it pass. That gives a concrete picture of adults extending conversation from something children have noticed themselves, with the natural environment providing the starting point.

Outdoor and Community Life

Climbing, running and jumping are part of the current approach to outdoor play. Adults encourage children to recognise their own limits and consider risks as they move. The emphasis is on trying, adjusting and trying again, with physical challenges supplying opportunities to practise judgement as well as movement.

The barn is the alternative when weather makes woodland use unsafe. Ordinary rain and cold remain part of outdoor nursery life, so waterproof clothing is essential to participation. Families should expect muddy belongings and plan around the clothing list, rather than imagining woodland sessions only in fine weather.

School preparation centres on relationships, emotional independence and managing personal care. Curiosity matters too. The emphasis gives families a clear picture of the nursery's priorities before school: children learning to cope with separation, participate with others and do more for themselves, alongside their developing academic skills.

Relationships and Communication

Shorter settling sessions can run from 9am to noon during the first couple of weeks when a child needs a gentler start. These have a reduced charge; settling beyond two weeks attracts the full day rate. The arrangement offers a defined transition period while keeping the nursery's usual attendance commitment in view.

In May 2023, family involvement included take-home activities, parent gatherings, training and woodwork workshops. Staff also sent accounts of learning in letters addressed to children. These examples connected family participation with what children were doing at nursery, rather than restricting communication to practical messages.

The current registration process collects information about languages, medical conditions, additional support needs and professionals already involved with a child. It also requests consent for information sharing with services such as the Speech and Language Team. That provides a route for families to explain an existing need or professional relationship before attendance begins; it is not a blanket assurance about specialist provision.

Inclusion and Wellbeing

At the May 2023 inspection, Ofsted found safeguarding arrangements effective, with staff recognising concerns and knowing how to report them. This is a dated judgement, rather than a present-day guarantee.

In May 2023, staff used Makaton signing and visual prompts to help children communicate and understand. Staff development covering yoga and brain function shaped work on mindfulness and emotional regulation. These were practical additions to the nursery day at that time, supporting communication through more than speech alone and giving children ways to think about how they felt.

Current sleep arrangements allow children to rest in lie-flat buggies in the woods while staff monitor them. Toileting combines small toilets in the barn with a compost toilet and hand washing station outdoors; children using nappies or pull-ups have a private outdoor changing area. Outdoor provision therefore extends to everyday care, not just activities, a significant consideration for a child still needing a nap or help with toileting.

Sessions and Attendance

The address is The Threshing Barn, Manor Farm, Fifield Bavant, Broad Chalke, Salisbury, SP5 5HT. Opening hours are 8.30am to 5pm, Monday to Friday. The main booked day runs from 9am to 3pm, with additional charged periods from 8.30am to 9am and from 3pm to 5pm.

The minimum booking is two days a week from 9am to 3pm, with term-time or all-year attendance patterns.

A waiting-list form takes the requested start date, number of days and preferred weekdays. The nursery also has an online registration and consent form.

Funding and Paid Extras

Funded childcare is offered to eligible children between 9am and 3pm on weekdays. The registration form covers three and four year old free entitlement hours and includes a field for a 30-hour code. It also allows funding to be shared with one other setting where that nursery agrees. Eligibility and the requested attendance pattern therefore need to be considered separately.

Families supply a packed lunch, which must be nut-free, and a filled drinks bottle; funded attendance carries a separate daily contribution covering snacks, resources, activities and consumables. That contribution sits alongside the funded hours, while additional booked time has its own charge.

A non-refundable registration charge includes a uniform and waterproofs. Current prices come in the nursery's written quotation; the fees and joining information explains the attendance structure and settling terms.

The kit list includes wellies, spare clothing, warm accessories and a bag for wet belongings. Waterproofs are part of the registration package, but the wider preparation falls to families. This is a practical commitment as much as an educational preference.

• Outdoor care throughout the day. Naps take place in woodland buggies, and changing can take place outdoors in privacy. During a visit, ask how these arrangements would work for your child's sleep and personal-care routines.
• A two-day commitment. The minimum is two weekly days from 9am to 3pm, even though term-time and year-round patterns are offered. A family seeking occasional attendance needs to weigh that commitment before joining the waiting list.
• Funding and food. Funded attendance carries a separate contribution for snacks, resources, activities and consumables, while lunch comes from home. Allergy-affected families should confirm current food-handling practice, including the nut-free lunch requirement.
• Preparing for woodland life. Waterproofs come with the non-refundable registration charge, and families supply the remaining kit. Consider whether daily clothing preparation and managing wet belongings fit comfortably into your routine.

Filthy Squirrels suits families choosing woodland learning deliberately, whether they want a 9am-to-3pm day during term time or year-round attendance with additional morning or afternoon care. Its character comes from concrete choices: authentic kitchen objects, outdoor sleep arrangements and a barn retained for unsafe weather.

The Outstanding judgement from May 2023 adds weight, but the everyday decision is practical too. Two days a week, packed lunches and preparation for muddy outdoor play are part of the commitment. For families comfortable with those arrangements, the nursery offers a clearly defined alternative to an indoor-led day.