Lilliput Farm Day Nursery

A working farm next door, a vegetable garden and animals to care for give Lilliput Farm Day Nursery a recognisable character. Nature is part of the learning here, with seasonal farm activity and a conservation area providing concrete things to observe and investigate. The setting occupies a detached property surrounded by a large garden near Stourport.

Ofsted rated the nursery Outstanding on 19 August 2024. It has 36 places in total and accepts children aged 3 to 60 months. That whole-setting capacity should be kept separate from the size of any individual room or group.

Full-time attendance and separate morning and afternoon sessions give families different ways to use the nursery. Its strongest practical attraction, though, is the combination of countryside surroundings and everyday opportunities to learn about living things.

Rooms and Ages

In August 2024, learning differed between the toddler room and the pre-school room: toddlers practised persisting with activities, while preschool children connected stories about harvesting with handling harvested ingredients and making bread. These examples give substance to learning through play. A book could lead into a practical experience, while a difficult task could become a chance to try again.

The tweenie room also featured in August 2024, with staff using group activities to develop babies’ early communication. Younger children explored through their senses and practised making marks with tools. The emphasis was on experiences children could actively take part in, rather than simply watch.

Learning and Activities

The early years foundation stage is the framework for children’s learning, development and care. Here, play-led learning includes both activities initiated by children and those organised by adults, with creativity, movement, independence and communication running through the day.

Forest School teaching adds nature walks, work in the vegetable garden and care for animals in the pets corner. These are tangible ways to explore the natural world: children have living things to notice and look after, rather than nature appearing only in books or pictures. The neighbouring working farm also provides opportunities to learn about animals and seasonal farm life.

In August 2024, children explored the Olympic and Paralympic Games and made medals of their own. They also learnt about children’s lives in Yemen, considering similarities and differences. Those activities connected craft and conversation with a wider understanding of other people.

Outdoor and Community Life

The conservation area gives children opportunities to investigate wildlife and consider how to protect it. Alongside the garden’s play areas and pets corner, it makes outdoor learning a substantial part of the setting’s character.

In August 2024, children collaborated on dens by moving logs and considered how to climb low branches safely. Daily physical activities included yoga and gymnastics, while cutting holiday brochures gave smaller hand movements their own place in the day. Outdoor exploration and more directed movement therefore served different purposes, from negotiating a shared task to practising physical control.

At its August 2024 inspection, Ofsted found safeguarding effective and support for children with additional needs timely and highly effective, with staff identifying developmental gaps and working with parents and other agencies where needed. This gives families a dated assessment of both safety arrangements and the response to children needing extra help.

In August 2024, key persons knew the children well, and leaders monitored development to identify where support was needed. Induction helped babies become familiar with staff before starting. For a family choosing baby care, that preparation matters alongside the activities on offer: relationships need time to develop before a new routine begins.

In August 2024, families received parenting support on topics such as helping children understand boundaries. Before leaving for school, children’s individual skills were recognised through awards, giving the transition a personal element rather than treating every child’s achievements as identical.

Snacks include milk and wholemeal biscuits in the morning, followed later by food such as fruit, vegetables, sandwiches and yoghurt. Children are offered drinks throughout the day.

Sessions and Attendance

Opening hours are 8am to 6pm, Monday to Friday. Full-time children attend for most of that opening window; part-time attendance is divided into a morning session from 8am to 1pm and an afternoon session from 1pm to 6pm. The separate sessions matter for families seeking a shorter attendance pattern as well as those needing most of the day.

The nursery operates throughout the year and closes on bank holidays. Enquiries can be made by telephone on 01905620708 or through the contact form.

Getting There

The address is 1 Dunhampton Farm Cottage, Dunhampton, Nr Stourport, DY13 9SW. Access is via Doverdale Lane from the A449, and a private lay-by provides parking.

Funding and Paid Extras

In August 2024, the nursery provided funded early education for children aged two, three and four. That is a dated description of its funding offer, separate from the current choice between full-time, morning and afternoon attendance.

• Baby settling. Familiarisation with staff formed part of induction in August 2024. On a visit, ask how those sessions would be arranged around your baby’s routine.
• Outdoor learning. Nature walks, animal care and the vegetable garden are part of the offer. Ask how participation is adapted for your child’s age and confidence outdoors.
• Attendance and costs. Morning and afternoon sessions sit alongside full-time attendance. What would a current written quotation cover for your chosen pattern, including funded hours, food and consumables?

Lilliput Farm Day Nursery suits families who want learning connected to animals, growing and the changing seasons. The working farm, conservation area and vegetable garden give that preference practical substance. Its August 2024 Outstanding judgement adds a clear inspection position, while the examples from that period show children learning through movement, practical tasks and conversation.

The attendance offer serves families needing most of the day and those choosing a morning or afternoon session. For parents drawn to countryside childcare, that combination of outdoor experiences and different session patterns is the central appeal.