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Great Wood Farm Early Years Centre

Ofsted: Good
(Apr 2024)
·
5.0(5 parent reviews) ·Greatwood Farm, Ponton Road, Grantham, NG33 4DH · Lincolnshire
Number of places
154 places
Age range
0–5 yrs
Last inspected
Apr 2024
Local authority
Lincolnshire

About this day nursery

Great Wood Farm Early Years Centre is a purpose-built nursery situated on an active farm, adjacent to Great Wood in Boothby Pagnell, just ten minutes from Grantham. The setting offers a unique learning environment where Forest School and outdoor education are deeply integrated into the curriculum for children from 6 weeks old until they start school.

It also provides an out-of-school club for older children, including before and after-school care for several local primary schools and a holiday club for children aged 4 (post-reception) to 14. The centre also hosts educational trips, allowing visiting children to engage in hands-on farm and woodland experiences.

Established in 2002 as a family business, the nursery benefits from a rural location, ample parking, and a newly constructed building opened in 2017. The dedicated team focuses on a personalised, child-led approach to learning, with a high proportion of qualified teachers and Forest School Leaders.

Our ethos

Great Wood Farm Early Years Centre integrates Forest School and outdoor education into its curriculum, emphasising a personalised, child-led approach to learning. They are committed to hands-on farm and woodland experiences for children from 6 weeks old until school age.

What it's like

Children of all ages demonstrate that they feel safe, secure and enjoy attending the nursery. They have close relationships with the staff who care for them. Children are developing a keen interest in the natural world, enjoying daily forest school sessions and walks around the farm and woodlands where they learn about animals and insects.

Farm-based nurseryForest School embeddedFamily-run businessOutdoor learning focused

Pricing & funding

Fees are billed monthly in advance, with no charges for bank holidays or the Christmas closure. A sibling discount is available for regular sessions, and optional additional service charges cover meals, snacks, consumables, and extra activities.

Funding accepted

15 hours — universal (3–4 yrs)30 hours — working parents (3–4 yrs)15 hours — working parents (9 months–2 yrs)

Good to know

  • Invoiced monthly in advance, with payment due by the 15th of each month.
  • Late payment of invoices may incur a 10% surcharge.
  • No fees are charged for bank holidays or during the closure between Christmas and New Year.
  • A 10% sibling discount is available, applied to the oldest child's regular sessions.
  • Optional additional service charges cover all meals, snacks, non-food consumables, farm, and Forest School.

Key facts

Opening hours

Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm, all year round

Age range

6 weeks up until going to school, Holiday Club children aged 4 to 14

Term time / All Year

All Year

Established

2017

Ofsted Inspection

Ofsted rating for Great Wood Farm Early Years Centre

Last inspected 2 April 2024

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 of all ages demonstrate that they feel safe, secure and enjoy attending the nursery. They have close relationships with the staff who care for them. Children are developing a keen interest in the natural world, enjoying daily forest school sessions and walks around the farm and woodlands where they learn about animals and insects.

Inspector highlights

  • The manager has designed a well-sequenced curriculum that reflects the uniqueness of the farm and woodland environment.
  • Staff have regular supervision and receive feedback on their practice, and their well-being is supported.
  • Staff promptly recognise signs that children may need additional help and work with parents and professionals to provide targeted support.
  • Children spend lots of time outdoors in fresh air being physically active.
  • Parents are very well informed about their child's time at the nursery and how their child is developing.

Areas to develop

  • 1support children's understanding of behaviour expectations and ensure that these expectations are consistently applied
  • 2review the implementation of group activities, to help all children remain engaged and focused.
Inspection #10295140 · Source: OfstedView full Ofsted report

What parents say

Verbatim quotes recorded in the Ofsted inspection

Parents say that their children enjoy attending the nursery.

They are very well informed about the time their child spends at the nursery and how their child is developing.

Inclusion & environment

How they support every child

SEND provision

Staff promptly recognise the signs that some children may need additional help and support with their learning or development. They work closely with parents and other professionals to provide targeted support that helps individual children make progress. The manager ensures that additional funding, such as early years pupil premium, is effectively used to benefit the children who receive it.

Outdoor space

Children are developing a keen interest in the natural world. They enjoy taking part in daily forest school sessions and walks around the farm and woodlands. Staff use these adventures to support children to learn about different animals and insects. Children spend lots of time outdoors in fresh air being physically active.

Parent Reviews of Great Wood Farm Early Years Centre

5.0
(5)
Harriette Arnold
11 months ago

Incredibly helpful, really thorough emails back and forth and seemingly very very professional place. I'm excited for my daughter to start here in the future. Thanks for your help!

Read on Google
pat morris
8 years ago

Both my children went through GWF a great rural location

Read on Google

Reviews from Google for Great Wood Farm Early Years Centre. See all on Google Maps

Inspection history
Improved from Requires improvement → Good in 2024

Date: June 2019

  • April 2024Good
  • May 2023Requires improvement
  • June 2019Outstanding

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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