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Into the Ark Forest School Scarisbrick

Ofsted: Good
(Nov 2023)
·
5.0(14 parent reviews) ·Dam Wood, Dam Lane, Scarisbrick, L40 9QD · Lancashire
Number of places
20 places
Age range
2–4 yrs
Last inspected
Nov 2023
Local authority
Lancashire

About this day nursery

Into the Ark Forest School in Scarisbrick offers a distinctive outdoor nursery and pre-school experience within its private woodland, providing a nature-immersive environment for children aged 3 to 5 years. The curriculum is child-led, fostering exploration, creativity, and a deep connection with nature, which includes activities like tool work, building structures, and caring for animals.

The school operates during term time, from Monday to Thursday, 8:30 AM to 4:00 PM, and also offers a Home Education group on Fridays. It emphasises developing physical and emotional confidence through hands-on learning in the natural world.

The school maintains low staff-to-child ratios, with one staff member for every five children, to ensure personalised attention and support. They are Forest School accredited and fully insured for their adventurous activities.

While promoting independence and resilience, the school prioritises safety and encourages positive social interactions among children. They have a single annual intake in September and may admit children who are close to turning three at the start of the term.

Our ethos

We believe in nurturing children's natural curiosity and fostering a deep connection with the environment. Our child-led approach encourages exploration, creativity, and resilience through outdoor learning experiences in our private woodland. We aim to support children in becoming confident, independent, and imaginative individuals, promoting positive relationships and a healthy respect for nature.

What it's like

Children show excitement when they arrive at the inclusive outdoor setting and greet their friends. The learning environment inspires children's curiosity, and they use critical-thinking skills when building a mudslide or making imaginative creations. Staff responses motivate children, and they make good progress in their learning.

Forest SchoolOutdoor NurseryChild-led learningLow ratiosTerm-time only

Pricing & funding

Fees are structured into funded and private rates, incorporating a Forest School element. Private options are billed per 7.5-hour day, with additional hourly rates available. Home education options are also offered, alongside discounts for qualifying families. All fees are paid monthly in advance.

Funding accepted

15 hours — eligible 2-year-olds15 hours — universal (3–4 yrs)30 hours — working parents (3–4 yrs)Tax-Free Childcare

Good to know

  • Fees are paid monthly in advance.
  • A non-refundable retainer of approximately £100 is required upon formal offer of a place.
  • A 10% sibling discount is available for Home Education full days.
  • Accepts Tax-Free Childcare and childcare vouchers.

Key facts

Opening hours

Monday to Thursday: 8:30 AM - 4:00 PM; Friday (Home Ed): 9:30 AM - 3:30 PM

Age range

3-5 years

Term time / All Year

Term Time

Session types

Full day

Established

2021

Ofsted Inspection

Ofsted rating for Into the Ark Forest School Scarisbrick

Last inspected 28 November 2023 · Suzy Marsh

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 show excitement when they arrive at the inclusive outdoor setting and greet their friends. The learning environment inspires children's curiosity, and they use critical-thinking skills when building a mudslide or making imaginative creations. Staff responses motivate children, and they make good progress in their learning.

Inspector highlights

  • Leaders are highly ambitious about providing outdoor education that supports children in all areas of their learning.
  • Staff enable children to take ownership of their learning, for instance by using resources in imaginative ways.
  • Staff provide tailored care for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND).
  • Staff support children to understand the world. They teach them to respect the environment and to care for living things.
  • Physical development is given high priority. Children enjoy being immersed in forest school activities.

Areas to develop

  • 1strengthen the quality of supervision sessions and sharply focus on developing individual staff's delivery of the curriculum intent.
Inspection #10301488 · Source: OfstedView full Ofsted report

What parents say

Verbatim quotes recorded in the Ofsted inspection

They say how open and friendly staff are.

They speak highly of the setting and the unique opportunities that staff provide for children.

Parents report that they are very well informed.

Inclusion & environment

How they support every child

SEND provision

Staff provide tailored care for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). Leaders work closely with external agencies to seek additional guidance, assess and identify emerging needs. Staff implement individual plans that identify additional strategies to support learning. Children with SEND make good progress alongside their peers.

Outdoor space

Children show excitement when they arrive at the inclusive outdoor setting. The fully outdoor area has been developed to support physical development and forest school activities. The environment is used well and enables children to continuously build on their physical skills, such as balancing in hammocks and climbing trees.

Parent Reviews of Into the Ark Forest School Scarisbrick

5.0
(14)
Lauren Holding
2 months ago

There aren’t enough positive words in the dictionary to use about this school. The location and staff are perfection. Both of my boys are so excited to go everyday and miss it when it’s the holidays. The memories and experiences they have had will stay with all of us forever. We feel so fortunate as a family to have found it and will be so sad when their time is over but can’t wait for our daughter to attend in the future. The boys will definitely be attending the weekend and holiday clubs to see all their teachers and visit their favourite spaces! Recommend 100 percent!!

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Melissa
9 months ago

I honestly don't know where to begin this review, my daughter has been at Into the Ark Forrest School for a year now since she was 3 and I can never seem to find the words to express how magnificent they are. The place is like a magical enchanted Forrest where the children play and explore all day outside just like they're supposed too. My daughter resembles it to being in Narnia. They get up to all sorts of activities, my daughter has grown in so much confidence and her imagination knows no bounds. She has adored every second she has spent there so far. The staff are magnificent and so loving and caring, they're like a second family every single one of them looks after your child like they are their own. My daughter expresses so much love and adoration for all of them. They are of the highest training and I have never worried about my child being there. I don't even give it a second thought when dropping her off now, she struggled at first with it being her first nursery setting but they made us feel so reassured and took it at pace with my child. I could write about Into the Ark all day, I recommend and push anyone who is thinking of sending their children here to do so immediately. I cannot wait for my youngest to start there and I honestly never want my daughter to leave 😭 Thank you ladies for everything that you do! You truly are a blessing.

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Emma Wilson
a year ago

I genuinely could not recommend Into the Ark more. All the staff are not only extremely friendly but absolute experts in what they do. Every member of staff really takes the time to get to know and understand your child individually. My little boy loves coming here so much, every time I drop him off I feel so happy, relaxed and confident knowing he will have such an amazing time and is in the safest hands. I really do believe they have played such a huge part in shaping him into the confident nature loving little boy he is and I am so grateful to them. My husband and I regularly say that signing him up to Into the Ark was the best decision we have made.

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Amy
4 years ago

I honestly can't put into words how special this place is. The staff are genuinely lovely and the experiences the children get are incredible. Both my boys talk about forest school all the time and even though my eldest is almost 7 so not at the nursery anymore he still loves to go back for the holiday or weekend clubs and utilises the things he learnt there. It's just such an amazing, unique, beautiful, supportive setting and the kids thrive with the freedom.

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Hazel Smith
3 years ago

My son started into the ark home ed sessions 2 and a half years ago they have been amazing! He spends his days playing, exploring, learning new skills, using tools and inventing all sorts of contraptions. The staff are wonderful and supportive, very empathetic to the children's needs and because of this into the ark is a beautiful safe space for children to grow. The children are encouraged to take part in fire circles and various activities however none of it is forced which has suited my structure hating son brilliantly. Into the ark have helped my son to grow and develop at his own pace where he is comfortable I always highly recommend into the ark, having worked in several nurseries and as a childminder it really is the most amazing and unique setting around!

Read on Google

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Inspection history

Most recent inspection

28 November 2023

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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