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Footprints On The Moon Outdoor Nursery

Ofsted: Good
(Sept 2021)
·
4.7(12 parent reviews)
·Plessey Woods Country Park, Visitors Centre, Bedlington, NE22 6AN · Northumberland
Number of places
25 places
Age range
2–4 yrs
Last inspected
Sept 2021
Local authority
Northumberland

About this day nursery

Footprints On The Moon Outdoor Nursery provides a unique learning environment within the natural beauty of Plessey Woods, Northumberland. Embracing a 'classroom without walls' philosophy, the nursery fosters child-led exploration and development, believing that an outdoor setting allows children to flourish at their own pace.

This holistic, child-centred approach is deeply rooted in Forest School principles, aiming to cultivate enhanced communication skills, self-confidence, and resilience in every child, irrespective of their age, background, or ability. Beyond their core nursery and forest school offerings, Footprints On The Moon extends its services to include Beach School experiences on the North East coast, engaging holiday clubs filled with woodland adventures, and specialised programmes for home-educated children and school groups.

They also run 'Forest Friends,' a toddler group designed for children aged 0-5 and their families to connect with nature and each other. The nursery is committed to creating memorable experiences, even offering nature-themed birthday parties.

Our ethos

"Footprints On The Moon Outdoor Nursery embraces a 'classroom without walls' philosophy, fostering child-led exploration and development. This holistic, child-centred approach is rooted in Forest School principles, aiming to cultivate communication skills, self-confidence, and resilience."

What it's like

Children are very happy and content at Footprints On The Moon Outdoor Nursery, forming close relationships with peers and staff. They understand routines and rules, showing kindness and respect towards each other while developing a good understanding of risk and safety in their outdoor environment.

Outdoor NurseryForest SchoolBeach SchoolChild-led LearningNature-based Curriculum

Pricing & funding

Pricing on request

This nursery doesn't publish its fees online. Contact them directly for an up-to-date price list and availability.

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Key facts

Opening hours

Monday to Friday 7.30am - 5.30pm; Saturday 8am - 4pm

Ofsted Inspection

Ofsted rating for Footprints On The Moon Outdoor Nursery

Last inspected 7 September 2021

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 very happy and content at Footprints On The Moon Outdoor Nursery, forming close relationships with peers and staff. They understand routines and rules, showing kindness and respect towards each other while developing a good understanding of risk and safety in their outdoor environment.

Inspector highlights

  • Children are very happy and content and form close relationships.
  • Children develop a good understanding of risk and how to keep themselves safe.
  • There is a clear sense of teamwork as staff positively support each other.
  • Children have good levels of motivation and confidence.
  • Staff plan opportunities for children to explore their own interests through their learning.

Areas to develop

  • 1provide greater opportunities for staff to share their knowledge and expertise to help them to raise learning experiences even further and embed consistency in teaching across the nursery
  • 2develop opportunities to provide extra challenge for children and build on what they already know and can do, in order to extend their learning to a higher level.
Inspection #10190739 · Source: OfstedView full Ofsted report

What parents say

Verbatim quotes recorded in the Ofsted inspection

"Parents are extremely positive about the care their children receive."

"They appreciate the high levels of care provided to children and the support given to develop their social skills."

"Parents explain how the regular exchange of information helps them to know how their children are getting on and how they can support their children's continued learning and development."

Inclusion & environment

How they support every child

SEND provision

Staff gather detailed information from parents to ensure that they know children's individual interests and needs, to plan for their future learning.

Outdoor space

Children participate in a wide range of outdoor learning in the surrounding forest. When participating in the forest school activities, they know to follow the staff's clear instructions.

Parent Reviews of Footprints On The Moon Outdoor Nursery

4.7
(12)
Lisa Corken
a year ago

I’ve had two of mine go to Footprints and it has been an amazing experience for both. My older one is at school now and is always asking when he can go in for a day in the holidays. The littlest one is having a fab time there too. This is a fully forest immersive experience, not the same as the primary schools that say they are a forest school too and they get a couple of hours out once a week. I’ve loved meeting lots of like minded parents and have made some great friends.. thumbs up all the way, I feel privileged to have had my kids go here❤️

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Abby Harris
a year ago

Forest Friends is our favourite time of the week, it's absolutely brilliant. Both Annie and Michelle are superb teachers and all the kids absolutely love it. I recommend FOTM to everyone with young kids (but even for us parents it's always a fun time and I always come away having learnt something new about the forest!)

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Andrea Marie
3 years ago

Simply wonderful, inclusive, nurturing and super fun. In an amazing and safe setting where children of all abilities and ages are free to be themselves, express themselves and make suggestions and have opinions that are heard and taken on board my son has thrived way beyond my expectations. He has learned and developed skills in a multi sensory, holistic and fun way educationally, socially and emotionally with dedicated, kind, caring and knowledgeable staff who he is excited to see on each visit. He has a huge sense of pride and his confidence and anxieties have improved hugely through attending both nursery and forest school / home education groups. Beach school visits are a hit and toasting marshmallows or pizza making around campfires, exploring or being in any of the many 'camps' are always exciting events but the primary educational element of practical life skills or otherwise within the setting and learning to love and respect each other, the beach and the outdoors are not things you can find easily elsewhere. The staff are always happy and it is clear to see that they enjoy their work with the children as much as the children enjoy being with them and all the other children. This is obvious in the communication between them all. I should just add that the communication extends to parents too. I always know what has taken place and what adventures have been had both from staff and my son! Forest School is so much more than can be imagined. THANK YOU Footprints !

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Sophie Lively
4 years ago

Inclusive, welcoming and incredibly fun! Footprints on the Moon has provided a safe and nurturing space for both of my children who have attended a range of different sessions over the past few years. Through Forest Friends, Home Education sessions and the nursery, both of my children have developed in confidence and a range of skills - both practical and social. This is solely down to the dedication, knowledge and supportive nature of the whole team who are so passionate about what they do. I would highly recommend Footprints to anyone who has children!

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Julia K
3 years ago

What an incredible experience for our little boy and for us too:) Annie and her team are really great with kids and know so much about nature. All was very safe and well organised. We can’t wait to sign up again. I can’t recommend highly enough.

Read on Google

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Inspection history

Most recent inspection

7 September 2021

Good

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

View full Ofsted report

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