Nursery Advice
Claim Your Nursery

Barley Burrow

Ofsted: Good
(Jan 2025)
·
5.0(9 parent reviews) ·St John's CofE Primary School, Boreham Road, Warminster, BA12 9JY · Wiltshire
Number of places
26 places
Age range
2–4 yrs
Last inspected
Jan 2025
Local authority
Wiltshire

About this day nursery

Barley Burrow offers creative childcare and early years education for children aged 18 months to 4 years from an independent, privately-owned preschool in Warminster. The nursery aims to distinguish itself through its unique approach, maintaining higher adult-to-child ratios to facilitate exploration of the local area through memorable outings.

' This is achieved through extensive exploration both on foot and via bus, encountering new individuals who spark curiosity and provide enriching learning opportunities, including dance, music, martial arts, sports, and visits from community helpers like the fire station and police. Barley Burrow proudly provides a secure and stimulating environment, featuring excellent indoor and outdoor spaces.

The 'best of both' approach is adopted for outdoor learning, with groups alternating between the classroom and outdoor areas to ensure equal time in each. The preschool also focuses on preparing children for primary school with small group learning activities such as phonics through rhyme, story time, and a 'BLAST' programme designed to boost communication skills.

The team prioritises keeping parents informed and involved, utilising an interactive app for daily diaries, chat, photo updates, and news, alongside social media for sharing daily moments of creativity, exploration, and fun.

Our ethos

Barley Burrow's philosophy centres on learning through engaging experiences that foster choice, wonder, and confidence in 'Little Bunnies.' They achieve this through extensive exploration and new encounters, incorporating activities like dance and music, and visits from community helpers. The nursery also focuses on preparing children for primary school with learning activities such as phonics and story time.

What it's like

Children are happy and eager to start their day, confidently separating from their parents and carers due to the kind and caring staff. Staff are attentive to individual needs, ensuring children feel safe and secure. The curriculum is broad and ambitious, building on children's experiences and promoting independence through engaging activities like making pizzas.

Creative ChildcareOutdoor Learning FocusHigh Staff-to-Child RatiosCommunity EngagementSchool Readiness Programme

Pricing & funding

This nursery offers morning settling-in, short-day, and full-day sessions. Fees are calculated termly and billed in equal monthly installments one month in advance. Morning snacks are included, but parents must provide a packed lunch, and optional breakfast carries an extra charge.

Funding accepted

15 hours — universal (3–4 yrs)30 hours — working parents (3–4 yrs)
  • Deposit/Reservation Fee£150 / session
  • Burrow Breaky additional (before April 2025)£1 / session
  • Morning Session (un-funded, before April 2025)£40.00 / session
  • Morning Session (un-funded, from April 2025)£45 / session
  • Short Day Session (un-funded, before April 2025)£50 / session

Good to know

  • A deposit is required to secure a space, with a portion deductible from the final invoice.
  • A notice period of two calendar months is required when withdrawing a child.
  • Fees are calculated termly and split into equal monthly invoices, billed one month in advance.
  • Morning sessions are only offered for the first three months to help children settle in.
  • Fees include a morning snack, but parents must provide a packed lunch.
  • A free two-hour taster session is provided before the official start date.

Key facts

Opening hours

Monday - Thursday 8:00am - 4:30pm, Friday 8:00am - 4:00pm

Session types

Morning Session, Short Day Session, Full Day Session

Age range

18 months - 4 years

Term time / All Year

All Year

Ofsted Inspection

Ofsted rating for Barley Burrow

Last inspected 16 January 2025

Safeguarding effective
Overall effectiveness
Good
Quality of education
Good
Behaviour and attitudes
Good
Personal development
Good
Leadership and management
Good

What it's like to attend

Children are happy and eager to start their day, confidently separating from their parents and carers due to the kind and caring staff. Staff are attentive to individual needs, ensuring children feel safe and secure. The curriculum is broad and ambitious, building on children's experiences and promoting independence through engaging activities like making pizzas.

Inspector highlights

  • Leaders have a good oversight of their curriculum and support staff well with training.
  • Children have many opportunities for fresh air, exercise, and to develop physical skills in the outdoor space.
  • Staff know children and families well, working in partnership with parents.
  • Leaders and staff monitor and assess children's progress effectively, including those with SEND.
  • Staff help children learn about their feelings and emotions, and older children confidently discuss theirs.

Areas to develop

  • 1provide more support for the quieter children to build friendships with their peers.
  • 2develop the routines of the day to be more organised to maximise children's learning and to prevent distractions.
Inspection #10376729 · Source: OfstedView full Ofsted report

What parents say

Verbatim quotes recorded in the Ofsted inspection

"parents say that they are very happy with the care that their children receive"

"they say that they are well informed about their children's progress"

Inclusion & environment

How they support every child

SEND provision

Leaders and staff have good procedures in place to monitor and assess children's progress. They have a good insight of what children need to learn next, including those who have delays in their progress or special educational needs and/ or disabilities (SEND). Staff use what they know about children to tailor their support precisely.

Outdoor space

Children have lots of opportunities to have fresh air and exercise and to develop their physical skills. Children benefit from using the outdoor space frequently, and staff ensure that they provide a good range of activities and resources to keep children busy. They enjoy physical education sessions, climbing and balancing on tyres, and using construction resources to build walls.

Parent Reviews of Barley Burrow

5.0
(9)
Catherine Kirkham
3 years ago

My 3 year old has been attending for the past 10 months and her development has been incredible! She loves going to play with her friends; Lucy and the team at Barley Burrow are all so wonderful with all the children. The day trips our little one has been on so far include catching the bus into town, trainspotting, the town park and the library to name a few. I also love the daily updates we get with pictures of what she is up to, it really reassures me that she is having a good time and being well cared for! I would throughly recommend this nursery and intend on sending her siblings there when the time comes!!

Read on Google
ellie evans
3 years ago

Lucy and the team at Barley Burrow are incredible and the kindest souls. My little boy took a long time to settle and they did everything they could to make him happy and now he absolutely loves going there! Couldn’t think of a better kinder team to look after my little one. They go on the best weekly trips out and about around Warminster. Thank you for everything you do and we will always recommend you to any new parents!

Read on Google
Georgia Roberts
3 years ago

Since meeting Lucy and her lush team I hoped my daughter would be happy in this homely setting, within a few weeks my daughter was really settled, this was shown in the photos I was sent throughout the day and also when I collected her at pick up time. All the staff are fun, professional and completely down to earth. My daughter gets really excited about going to nursery now, we couldn't be any happier with Lucy and her team.

Read on Google
Yolande Perry
3 years ago

We love Barley Burrow and my daughter always has so much fun there. They are always up to lots of imaginative creative play which is something we were looking for in a preschool. They also go out and about on adventures together making some fun memories. My daughter genuinely comes home inspired with fun ideas that she wants to play out or make with me too.

Read on Google
Laura B
3 years ago

Fantastic nursery with brilliant staff. My son loves it and settled in very quickly as they took the time to get to know him and his likes/dislikes. He loves going to nursery which is testament to the warm, caring atmosphere that the staff create. Children are engaged in a huge range of activities and snacks are healthy and varied. Great communication through use of messaging, photographs, key worker evenings and link books. Highly recommend.

Read on Google

Reviews from Google for Barley Burrow. See all on Google Maps

Inspection history

Most recent inspection

16 January 2025

Good

Only one graded inspection on record — a trend chart will appear here once a second graded report is published.

View full Ofsted report

Frequently asked about Barley Burrow

Nearby day nurseries in Warminster

Other Ofsted-registered day nurseries close to Barley Burrow.

Are you the owner of this nursery? Claim this listing to manage photos, hours and contact details.

Claim listing

Share this nursery

Send to a partner, friend or family member.

This listing has been compiled from official Ofsted records, the nursery's own website, details provided directly by the nursery where available, and other trusted public sources. We regularly review and update listings to keep the information as accurate as possible. Learn more