Opening hours
Monday to Friday, 51 weeks a year, closed on Bank Holidays, the Friday before the first May Bank Holiday, and Christmas week (closes 1pm Christmas Eve)
Mighty Oaks Day Nursery & Pre School
Ofsted: Good
(Jan 2025)
Number of places
44 places
Age range
1–4 yrs
Last inspected
Jan 2025
Local authority
Bournemouth, Christchurch & Poole
About this day nursery
Mighty Oaks Day Nursery & Pre School in Christchurch offers high-quality childcare and education for children aged 0 to 5 years. Located within 65 acres of land, the nursery provides extensive opportunities for children to engage with nature, featuring woodland areas for nature walks and trails, as well as open grassed areas and Astroturf pitches for physical activities.
The nursery draws inspiration from Forest School principles, integrating them with the Early Years Foundation Stage curriculum to provide a holistic learning environment. They emphasise connecting children with the outdoor environment year-round, regardless of weather.
Mighty Oaks also focuses on healthy food and nutrition, with menus designed by an Early Years Nutrition Consultant. The nursery is open 51 weeks a year, closing only for Bank Holidays, one Friday before the first May Bank Holiday, and over the Christmas week.
Our ethos
We incorporate the ethos of Forest School teaching alongside the delivery of the Early Years Foundation Stage. We take the children on regular walks in the forest, where they get to explore the natural world. We believe in connecting children to nature and the outside environment in all weathers and all year round.
What it's like
Staff provide a warm and welcoming environment and spend time getting to know the children to build secure relationships. As a result, children arrive happy, settle quickly and confidently explore the environment. Staff support children successfully during their play and meet their individual needs effectively.
Forest School ApproachExtensive Outdoor EnvironmentNutrition-focused MealsEYFS Curriculum
Pricing & funding
Fees are structured based on age, split into under two years and two to five years. The nursery offers full days, morning or afternoon sessions, and school days, alongside an hourly rate. Additional charges apply for food when using funded hours, and discounts are available for siblings, local businesses, and Blue Light card holders.
Funding accepted
Tax-Free Childcare
Good to know
- Registration fee and a refundable registration deposit are payable upon booking.
- Discounts available: 10% for siblings (youngest child), 5% local businesses, and 10% Blue Light card holders.
- Referral discount of 10% off one month's bill available for referring parents.
- Food charges apply for children accessing Early Education Funding or when hourly top-ups are used.
- Late payment fee charged daily; cheque handling and returned cheque fees apply.
Key facts
Age range
0 - 5 years old
Term time / All Year
All Year
Ofsted Inspection
Ofsted rating for Mighty Oaks Day Nursery & Pre School
Last inspected 14 January 2025 · Michelle Heimsoth
Overall effectiveness
Good
What it's like to attend
Staff provide a warm and welcoming environment and spend time getting to know the children to build secure relationships. As a result, children arrive happy, settle quickly and confidently explore the environment. Staff support children successfully during their play and meet their individual needs effectively.
Inspector highlights
- Staff focus effectively on providing a wide range of learning experiences, which build on what children already know and can do.
- Staff make regular observations of children engaged in learning and use this information to identify children's next stages of learning and any gaps in their development.
- Children have good opportunities to develop their physical skills and benefit from lots of outdoor learning experiences, including yoga and ball games.
- Children count and recognise shapes in routines and activities, strengthening their mathematical understanding and staff provide opportunities for independence, confidence, and social skills.
- The provider and staff are reflective practitioners, constantly looking at improvement to enhance children's experiences, and staff receive coaching and professional development.
Areas to develop
- 1provide consistent opportunities for children to explore and try out their ideas to further develop their imagination
- 2provide more support for younger children to develop skills and use tools safely, such as scissors.
Inspection #10380955 · Source: OfstedView full Ofsted report
Inclusion & environment
How they support every child
Outdoor space
Children have good opportunities to develop their physical skills and benefit from lots of outdoor learning experiences. They dress themselves for outside play and follow the 'rules' as they walk from the building to the outside area, gaining a good understanding of how to keep themselves safe.
Parent Reviews of Mighty Oaks Day Nursery & Pre School
5.0
(17)
Dolly
a year ago
Most wonderful nursery there is!! My child is growing in confidence and absolutely adores the staff here, they are just amazing. Always kept up to date with my little ones progress, communication is fantastic! The staff here are nurturing, loving, friendly and incredibly experienced in early years. The children are always happy here and the little trips out make my child's days special! Thank you so much Mighty Oaks, can't praise you all highly enough
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Charlotte Newton
4 years ago
Our daughter has been at Might Oaks for a couple of months. She absolutely loves it. It's a family run nursery, they really do work very hard to make the kids feel loved and secure. They do trips out to the local woodland. They communicate regularly with parents, and provide updates of my daughters progress. Couldn't recommend more highly!
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Rachel Oldham
8 years ago
Both my boys have attended Chapel Gate and now Mighty Oaks over the past 4 years. It is a very well run nursery, the staff are professional, friendly and great with the kids and i have had excellent support with my younger son who has speech and language difficulties. They have great activities every day and my sons especially enjoy their outdoor adventures in the wood and grounds. I have always felt happy to drop my boys off at this nursery and would recommend to anyone considering to go and visit them and judge for yourself.
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Emma Pemberton
8 years ago
I have two children that attend this nursery and my eldest has done for the past 2.5 years. It is a fantastic place with many and exciting opportunities for my boys to explore, learn and develop their life skills. The staff are fantastic - nurturing, attentive and caring. The setting itself offers the best of early years learning, forest school opportunities and Montessori principles. I have seen it change a lot over the years and I can truly say that my boys love it here and I could not be more happier with their care and support that they receive on a daily basis. If you are considering this nursery then I fully recommend it. You need to read past the negative comments about an isolated incident that happened nearly 3 years ago under previous management. Before commenting or making a decision about this setting - come and see it for yourself! You will love it. As parents that use the nursery, we cannot be wrong!
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eleanor pearce
8 years ago
My son who is now two has been attending since he was 8months old. The staff are fantastic and my son has flourished under their care. The new format is really exciting, with traditional approaches alongside Montessori and forest school, making the most of the extensive grounds. Management take staff training really seriously and are always looking at ways to improve the setting. The staff are professional, friendly and really want the best for their charges, they have become like a second family to us.
Read on GoogleReviews from Google for Mighty Oaks Day Nursery & Pre School. See all on Google Maps
Inspection history
Date: January 2020
- January 2025Good
- August 2021Good
- January 2020Requires improvement
Frequently asked about Mighty Oaks Day Nursery & Pre School
About the setting
Mighty Oaks Day Nursery & Pre School is privately owned and registered in 2017. It operates from dedicated first-floor areas within the Bournemouth University Sports Club at East Parley, near Christchurch in Dorset. The nursery is open from 8am until 6pm, Monday to Friday for 51 weeks of the year. There are eight members of staff working with the children, with two holding a level 6 qualification, one a level 2, one unqualified, and the others qualified to level 3.
- URN
- EY550343
- Registered person
- Mighty Oaks Day Nursery & Pre School Limited
- Day care type
- Full day care
- Register
- Early Years Register
- Establishment type
- Childcare on non-domestic premises
Nearby day nurseries in Christchurch
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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