Wind in the Willows Nursery and Preschool

In May 2023, plumbing fittings, animal care and outdoor exploration gave this Amesbury nursery a practical character. In May 2023, children experimented with water, explored textures and helped care for chickens, rabbits and guinea pigs: learning involved handling things and seeing what happened.

Wind in the Willows Nursery and Preschool accepts children aged two to five. At its May 2023 inspection, Ofsted judged the provision Good and found safeguarding effective. The detail behind that judgement matters, alongside the improvements requested for babies at that time.

The early years foundation stage sets requirements for children's learning, development and care. In May 2023, this meant developing communication through stories and questions, understanding living things through animal care, and learning to discuss feelings.

In May 2023, children spent substantial time outdoors and chose their own play. Preschool children joined plumbing components and tested them with water; younger children investigated textures using toy animals and different materials. Caring for animals gave children direct experience of living things.

Children aged two to three then had a spacious classroom with plentiful equipment and an outdoor area. Staff used questions to extend children's thinking, while stories prompted discussion about characters' emotions. These were opportunities to investigate, talk and make decisions rather than simply follow instructions.

The baby provision needed further development in May 2023. Its outdoor space supported independent exploration, but equipment and learning opportunities were insufficient. Prolonged dummy use also restricted opportunities for babies to practise speech.

At the May 2023 inspection, Ofsted found that individual plans and targeted activities supported children needing additional help effectively, and that children made good progress. Communication support included signs and visual prompts.

In May 2023, staff exchanged information with parents about children's starting points and development, helping learning at home and nursery connect. Families were also directed towards helpful services. Staff used emotion cards to discuss feelings and recognised considerate behaviour, giving children practical ways to understand expectations.

The address is Plot E, Shears Drive, Amesbury, Salisbury, SP4 7XT. Opening hours are 7.30am to 5.30pm, Monday to Friday, during term time; the nursery closes for school holidays. Families need an attendance arrangement that fits both the daily window and those closures.

In May 2023, the setting received childcare funding for children aged two, three and four.

• Term-time calendar. School-holiday closures are part of the attendance arrangement. Families needing year-round care should weigh that against their working calendar.
• Your child's day. At a visit, ask how the outdoor investigation and animal-care experiences described in May 2023 now fit the day for your child's age group.
• Earlier baby provision. The May 2023 improvement points concerned outdoor learning opportunities and reducing dummy use for babies. They relate to the younger children attending then, rather than the current two-to-five age range.

This suits families seeking term-time childcare for children aged two to five, especially those drawn to practical exploration and outdoor play. The May 2023 account gives concrete examples of that character, from water experiments to animal care. Balance those examples and the dated Good judgement against the school-holiday closures when deciding whether the arrangement fits family life.