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Highway Farm Activity Centre

Ofsted: Good
(Apr 2022)
·
5.0(1 parent reviews) ·Highway Farm, Loscombe Road, Four Lanes, TR16 6QA · Cornwall
Number of places
41 places
Age range
3–4 yrs
Last inspected
Apr 2022
Local authority
Cornwall

About this day nursery

Highway Farm Activity Centre in Four Lanes, Redruth, offers a unique outdoor learning environment for children near the Cornish coastline. Established in 2006, the centre provides diverse adventure play opportunities, including an acre and a half of landscaped outdoor space with facilities such as car parking, picnic areas, a football pitch, team-building equipment, and secluded campfire zones.

Little Explorers, their outdoor pre-school, operates from eco-friendly timber buildings with log burners and compost toilets, emphasising a back-to-basics approach. The curriculum is largely outdoor-based, with children spending up to 90% of their day exploring.

Beyond the pre-school, the centre also runs holiday playschemes for children aged 3-12, offering activities like camp cooking, den building, and survival skills. " The centre is Ofsted registered and is managed by Martin Besford and Jane Neill, who bring extensive experience in outdoor pursuits and childcare.

Our ethos

Our ethos is back to basics, good old fashioned outdoor play, learning and adventure. "If you get wet, worry not, you'll dry" "If you get Dirty, fear not, you can clean up" "If you get cold, fret not, you will warm up" Remember, there is no such thing as bad weather, only inappropriate clothing! Different weather only brings more opportunities to investigate, explore and have Fun!. Live your life, play, enjoy yourself, be free!

What it's like

Children are well settled and happy to separate from their parents on arrival. Staff know the children very well and work effectively as a team to plan for their learning and development, providing a wide range of experiences. Children's independence is promoted, and they display exceptional behaviour, understanding rules and cooperating well.

Outdoor learning focusEco-friendly facilitiesHoliday playschemesOfsted registeredChild-led play

Pricing & funding

Charges are structured as flat rates for either full-day or half-day holiday club sessions. A non-refundable deposit is required upon booking, with priority placement given to existing pre-school attendees.

Funding accepted

Tax-Free Childcare

Good to know

  • A 50% non-refundable deposit is required at the time of booking.
  • Places are offered on a first-come, first-served basis.
  • Priority booking is given to children who attend the pre-school.

Key facts

Opening hours

Little Explorers Pre-school: 8am - 4.30pm (term time); Holiday Club: 8.30am - 5.30pm.

Age range

3-12 years (holiday club); Little Explorers pre-school age range not specified.

Food

Children bring packed lunches and drinks; snacks provided.

Waitlist

No specific information found, but priority for holiday club is given to pre-school attendees

Term time / All Year

Term Time

Session types

Full day, Half day

Established

2006

Ofsted Inspection

Ofsted rating for Highway Farm Activity Centre

Last inspected 6 April 2022 · Stephanie Ayres

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

What it's like to attend

Children are well settled and happy to separate from their parents on arrival. Staff know the children very well and work effectively as a team to plan for their learning and development, providing a wide range of experiences. Children's independence is promoted, and they display exceptional behaviour, understanding rules and cooperating well.

Inspector highlights

  • Staff provide a curriculum that has a positive impact on helping children to progress through the stages of learning.
  • The manager and staff quickly identify children with special educational needs and/or disabilities and use their assessments to offer tailored support.
  • Staff foster children's personal development superbly, exposing them to a rich set of experiences that promote an understanding of the world around them.
  • Children enjoy being outside in the fresh air and develop good physical skills.
  • Partnerships with parents are highly valued, and parents praise the quality of care and education.

Areas to develop

  • 1strengthen staff development to ensure that all interactions continually focus on promoting children's language as much as possible
  • 2continue to support staff to consistently interest and engage children in all activities.
Inspection #10125853 · Source: OfstedView full Ofsted report

What parents say

Verbatim quotes recorded in the Ofsted inspection

parents praise the quality of care and education that their children receive.

The nursery 'goes that extra mile' with the activities and experiences that they provide for children.

Inclusion & environment

How they support every child

SEND provision

The manager and staff quickly identify children with special educational needs and/or disabilities and use their assessments to offer tailored support to help these children to make progress. They work with parents and other professionals to ensure a suitable individual curriculum is put in place. Where formal plans are needed, these are completed in time for children to move on to the next stage in their learning with the correct level of support.

Outdoor space

Children enjoy being outside in the fresh air. They develop good physical skills as they climb, jump and balance along the wooden planks and tyres. Children develop good hand-to-eye coordination as they roll eggs down pieces of guttering. Children learn to take risks as they climb on the logs and gather around the fire pit.

Parent Reviews of Highway Farm Activity Centre

5.0
(1)
Beth Selwood
3 years ago

Amazing preschool, my daughter loves it there!

Read on Google

Reviews from Google for Highway Farm Activity Centre. See all on Google Maps

Inspection history

Date: May 2009

  • April 2022Good
  • May 2015Outstanding
  • May 2009Good

Frequently asked about Highway Farm Activity Centre

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