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Muddy Boots Nursery School in Poole (BH15)

Ofsted: Good
(Feb 2022)
·
5.0(21 parent reviews) ·Scout Association, 9 Beccles Close, Poole, BH15 4BS · Bournemouth, Christchurch & Poole
Number of places
36 places
Age range
2–4 yrs
Last inspected
Feb 2022
Local authority
Bournemouth, Christchurch & Poole

About this day nursery

Muddy Boots Nursery School, established in 2014, operates from Hamworthy, on the outskirts of Poole, Dorset, offering full-day care for children aged 2 to 4. The nursery is open Monday to Friday, from 8am to 5pm, for 48 weeks of the year.

The dedicated team of 10 staff, including the manager, are highly qualified, with three holding a level 6 qualification, two at level 4, and five at level 3. Children thrive in a loving and caring environment, quickly forming strong bonds with their key persons.

Staff are ambitious for children's achievements, motivating them through praise and encouragement, and supervising them well to meet individual needs. This approach fosters high levels of self-esteem, enabling children to become independent in managing their own needs, such as putting on coats before walks to the beach.

The curriculum is broad and ambitious, with staff using observations and parent input to assess development and plan activities. Daily walks to the local beach provide opportunities for children to explore nature, learn about road safety, and observe their surroundings, building confidence and an interest in the world.

The manager effectively uses additional funding to support children, for instance, by providing small-group sessions for older children to understand emotions and develop vocabulary, further boosting their confidence in communication.

What it's like

Children thrive in a loving and caring environment. They settle quickly, form close bonds with their key persons, and enjoy their time at the setting. Children learn from their positive interactions with the staff, who have high ambitions for children's achievements. Staff motivate them through praise and encouragement.

Loving environmentAmbitious curriculumOutdoor learning

Key facts

Opening hours

8am to 5pm, Monday to Friday

Term time / All Year

Mixed

Established

2014

Ofsted Inspection

Ofsted rating for Muddy Boots Nursery School

Last inspected 2 February 2022

Overall effectiveness
Good

What it's like to attend

Children thrive in a loving and caring environment. They settle quickly, form close bonds with their key persons, and enjoy their time at the setting. Children learn from their positive interactions with the staff, who have high ambitions for children's achievements. Staff motivate them through praise and encouragement.

Inspector highlights

  • Children thrive in a loving and caring environment and settle quickly, forming close bonds with their key persons.
  • Children learn from positive interactions with staff who have high ambitions for children's achievements, motivating them through praise and encouragement.
  • Children develop high levels of self-esteem and are keen to do things for themselves, such as managing their own needs and putting on their coats before going to the local beach.
  • Children enjoy quiet times at the beach, listening to stories and developing their love of books, learning letters, sounds, and rhyming words, building early literacy skills.
  • The manager has made strong links between the nursery and the local community, fostering community spirit in older children, who care for their local park and learn about plant life cycles.
  • Staff ensure children explore malleable materials during circle time, strengthening small-muscle skills for early writing.
  • Staff training has a positive impact on children’s learning, providing opportunities to extend children’s physical development, agility, and locomotion.

Areas to develop

  • 1Support staff further to adapt their teaching to focus on children's individual next steps in learning, to help them consistently achieve the best possible outcomes.
Inspection #10126042 · Source: OfstedView full Ofsted report

Inclusion & environment

How they support every child

Outdoor space

Children take daily walks which help to build their confidence and interest in the world. They visit the local beach, where they explore nature, feel the sea on their skin and investigate their surroundings. They are inquisitive as they find and observe the unusual patterns on seashells.

Parent Reviews of Muddy Boots Nursery School

5.0
(21)
Shea Dyer
10 months ago

We’ve been part of the Muddy Boots Nursery family for two wonderful years, and I can honestly say it has truly been a second home for my boys. From the start, Rachel has been a comforting presence for my oldest. She made his transition into nursery a dream, with very minimal upset, thanks to her gentle care and kindness. Her support helped him settle in happily and confidently. She has been comforting presence for my youngest especially. He was assigned to someone else but of course he stayed with big brother when he first enrolled and he chose her as his person. Stacy, the manager, is fantastic—always approachable, attentive, and willing to answer any questions we have. She genuinely cares about each child and family, and her support has made our journey here so smooth. Mia has been exceptional in sharing updates about their day. She makes us feel like she truly knows where they’re at and what they’re doing every step of the day—whether they needed some extra love or were especially energetic. Her attention and care give us so much peace of mind. What we love most is the emphasis on outdoor activities and community involvement. Whether it’s outings to the beach and park, parties at the elderly home, or gardening projects, these experiences foster a love for nature and community in my boys that we truly cherish. The outdoor time is what initially drew us to Muddy Boots, and it’s been the heart of what keeps us here. Additionally, the whole staff has played a significant role in helping my oldest foster friendships that I am confident he will carry with him into reception. Seeing those bonds grow has been incredibly heartwarming. Thank you to everyone at Muddy Boots for creating such a warm, caring, and enriching environment. We are grateful for the nurturing and fun-filled experiences that continue to shape my boys into happy, confident little individuals.

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Amy Hornsby
10 months ago

All staff are so lovely! My son settled straight in, and looks forward to going to Muddy Boots. They take the children on walks every day and keep them entertained with lots of things to do, playing while learning. We are more that ready for school, thanks to their hard work and care.

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Rebecca Warbis
a year ago

I can’t recommend Muddy Boots in hamworthy enough. My daughters been going her for a year and she loves it. The thing that makes this place excellent is the staff; they are all brilliant educators and each care so much about making the children’s experience really memorable. The updates are really nice to see throughout the day and keep us informed when at work. The walks they go on are so lovely and it’s nice to see the kids learning about different themes each week. The cooking they do is lovely and I love the stations they do crafts at. Thank you Stacey, Rachel, Mia, Susan, Frankie, Courtney and everyone!

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Sarah Potterton
10 months ago

Sent all my 3 children here, eldest now turning 13 this year, by far the best nursery.. amazing experience for all my 3 children, would recommend to anyone! The girls really go above and beyond. Will always help you with everything and anything, so supportive. Honesty so grateful i found this nursery

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Amy Budden
2 years ago

I owe so much to the Muddy Boots team. When my child was asked to leave a previous nursery (due to SEN), Muddy Boots were there with open arms to give him the love, support and encouragement to grow that he needed. Each and every staff member works tirelessly to ensure your children are loved, cherished and blossom within the setting. The daily walks and regular updates always put a smile on my face. Both of my children attended Muddy Boots and I will forever be grateful to everything they do! Highly recommend.

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Inspection history

Date: July 2016

  • February 2022Good
  • July 2016Outstanding

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