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Kids Love Nature Kindergarten at Wickham

Ofsted: Good
(Mar 2023)
·
5.0(3 parent reviews) ·Park Place Pastoral Centre, Winchester Road, FAREHAM, PO17 5HA · Hampshire
Number of places
44 places
Age range
1–4 yrs
Last inspected
Mar 2023
Local authority
Hampshire

About this day nursery

Kids Love Nature Kindergarten at Wickham, established in September 2023 through the acquisition of Wickham Montessori School, provides an exceptional outdoor learning environment. Situated within the expansive 18-acre Park Place Pastoral Centre, the kindergarten offers children abundant opportunities to engage with nature.

The facility boasts three thoughtfully designed classrooms, equipped with carefully selected sensorial resources that foster essential life skills such as fine motor development, communication, problem-solving, and creative expression. Children have access to a secure garden featuring climbing equipment, a sandpit, a mud kitchen, and an outdoor classroom.

Plans are underway to expand the outdoor area, enabling seamless transitions from downstairs classrooms and introducing exciting new adventures. Additionally, a two-acre field adjacent to the kindergarten is being transformed into a dedicated nature school area.

This space will facilitate activities like mini-beast hunting, den building, and learning about fire safety around a fire pit. An extensive allotment with a large polytunnel, managed by a full-time gardener, will also be installed, allowing children to participate in the entire "seed to plate" journey, growing and harvesting produce for meals prepared by the in-house chef.

The stunning natural surroundings, including extensive woodlands, further enhance opportunities for children to connect with nature, explore local habitats, and draw inspiration for their kindergarten activities. Kids Love Nature Kindergarten at Wickham aims to provide an extraordinary everyday experience for children.

Our ethos

Kids Love Nature Kindergarten at Wickham is committed to providing an exceptional outdoor learning environment, inspired by nature. They focus on fostering life skills through thoughtfully designed classrooms and carefully selected resources, while also offering abundant opportunities for children to connect with nature, explore woodlands, and engage in activities like gardening and den building, embracing a "seed to plate" philosophy.

What it's like

Children are warmly greeted and quickly become engrossed in activities, showing enthusiasm, confidence, and independence. They benefit from an ambitious, well-sequenced curriculum that builds on their existing knowledge and provides enriched experiences. Children have very good attachments to staff and learn to share, take turns, and work together to solve problems.

Nature-based learningSensorial classroomsExtensive outdoor spaceAllotment and gardeningBushcraft and fire pit

Pricing & funding

Fees are structured around standard daily rates from 8am to 5pm, categorised by age group. Fees include a discount for booking a full day, and an additional commuter hour is available. Hourly rates, food packages, and additional services are charged separately, with discounts available for combined bookings.

Funding accepted

15 hours — universal (3–4 yrs)15 hours — eligible 2-year-olds

Good to know

  • Non-refundable registration fee and a refundable deposit are required to secure a place.
  • Daily fees include a discount for booking a full day.
  • A 25% discount is offered on combined early start (7:45am), voluntary food package, and additional services.
  • Fully funded sessions are available from 9:45am.
  • A minimum of 3 full days is required for children eligible for 30 hours stretched funding.

Key facts

Opening hours

8am - 6pm, 51 weeks of the year

Age range

9 months - 5 years

Term time / All Year

All Year

Session types

Full day, Half day

Established

2014

Ofsted Inspection

Ofsted rating for Kids Love Nature Kindergarten at Wickham

Last inspected 24 March 2023 · Natalie Moir

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 warmly greeted and quickly become engrossed in activities, showing enthusiasm, confidence, and independence. They benefit from an ambitious, well-sequenced curriculum that builds on their existing knowledge and provides enriched experiences. Children have very good attachments to staff and learn to share, take turns, and work together to solve problems.

Inspector highlights

  • Leaders plan a meaningful and well-sequenced curriculum that helps children accumulate skills needed for their futures.
  • Staff place a strong focus on supporting children's independence from an early age, contributing to their school readiness.
  • Leaders ensure effective staff supervision and prioritise staff well-being, leading to ongoing professional development and improved teaching quality.
  • Staff understand the importance of developing children's communication and language skills, fostering back-and-forth conversations and expanding vocabulary.
  • Staff thoughtfully promote children's physical development, enabling good progress in both fine motor skills and gross motor activities outdoors.

Areas to develop

  • 1review the organisation of mealtimes, so that the needs of all children are considered and the length of time children spend waiting is reduced.
Inspection #10279167 · Source: OfstedView full Ofsted report

Inclusion & environment

How they support every child

SEND provision

Staff make good use of effective assessment to help identify and close any possible gaps in children's learning quickly. All children, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities, make good progress from their starting points.

Outdoor space

Older children explore sprigs of rosemary in the outdoor area, working together to explore their senses. Outside, children run, climb, and use wooden planks and tyres to create various balancing opportunities, making good progress in their physical development.

Parent Reviews of Kids Love Nature Kindergarten at Wickham

5.0
(3)
Kathryn Moles
a year ago

I can’t thank Kids Love Nature Wickham enough for the amazing experience my boys have had. They absolutely loved attending and came home each day excited to share what they had learned and explored. The outdoor program sparked their curiosity and creativity in ways I hadn’t imagined. The staff are fantastic and communicate regularly with us, keeping us informed on our children's progress and activities. I always felt confident that my kids were in safe, caring hands. It’s clear the team is genuinely invested in their personal growth and development, and I’ve seen my boys become more independent, confident, and passionate about nature. I’m so grateful to Kids Love Nature Wickham for everything they’ve done. They’ve truly made a positive impact on my children’s lives, and I couldn’t be more thankful.

Read on Google
Alan Batten
9 years ago

Great school great location. My two grandson's go there and both love it.

Read on Google

Reviews from Google for Kids Love Nature Kindergarten at Wickham. See all on Google Maps

Inspection history
  • March 2023Good
  • March 2018Good
  • September 2014Good

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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