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Olive Barn Day Nursery

Ofsted: Good
(Apr 2025)
·Unit L, Blois Meadow Business Centre, Steeple Bumpstead, CB9 7BN · Essex
Number of places
42 places
Age range
0–4 yrs
Last inspected
Apr 2025
Local authority
Essex

About this day nursery

Olive Barn Day Nursery, located in Steeple Bumpstead, Essex, offers quality care and education for children aged 6 months to 5 years. Established in early 2023, the nursery operates from a charming barn, fostering a safe, stimulating environment where children can thrive, develop confidence, and become independent.

Open year-round, 51 weeks a year, from 8 am to 6 pm, Monday to Friday, the nursery provides flexible care options including all-day and extended school day sessions. They require a minimum of two sessions per week to secure a place.

Emphasising a holistic approach to early years education, Olive Barn boasts a highly trained and dedicated team, offering nutritious homemade meals and a rich outdoor experience. The nursery features a spacious garden with various play equipment, including a mud kitchen and vegetable patch, encouraging outdoor adventures and Forest School activities.

Indoor learning spaces are designed to be cosy and calming, with accessible resources and creative stations. The nursery also values strong partnerships with parents, facilitating communication and progress sharing through an online app.

They actively support children's health and well-being, providing quality resources and extra-curricular activities.

Our ethos

Olive Barn Day Nursery emphasises a holistic approach to early years education, incorporating Forest School activities and encouraging outdoor adventures in their spacious garden. They aim to foster a safe, stimulating, cosy, and calming environment where children can develop confidence and independence, supported by strong partnerships with parents.

What it's like

Children thrive in Olive Barn Day Nursery due to staff's welcoming approach and tailored settling-in sessions. This fosters enthusiastic engagement in play, with children demonstrating confidence and strong bonds with their key persons. The nursery also supports emotional regulation and good communication skills, helping children to form friendships and express themselves effectively.

Forest School activitiesHomemade nutritional mealsLarge outdoor gardenHomely and calming environment

Pricing & funding

Funding accepted

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

This nursery doesn't publish its fees online. Contact them directly for an up-to-date price list and availability.

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Key facts

Opening hours

8:00am - 6:00pm, Monday - Friday, 51 weeks a year

Session types

All Day Session (8.00am - 6.00pm), Extended School Day Session (8.00am - 3.30pm)

Age range

6 months to 5 years old

Term time / All Year

All Year

Food

Homemade nutritional meals

Established

2023

Ofsted Inspection

Ofsted rating for Olive Barn Day Nursery

Last inspected 28 April 2025 · Lynn Hartigan

Overall effectiveness
Good

What it's like to attend

Children thrive in Olive Barn Day Nursery due to staff's welcoming approach and tailored settling-in sessions. This fosters enthusiastic engagement in play, with children demonstrating confidence and strong bonds with their key persons. The nursery also supports emotional regulation and good communication skills, helping children to form friendships and express themselves effectively.

Inspector highlights

  • Children are offered a broad curriculum, planned according to individual interests, promoting independent learning.
  • Parents speak positively about the professional, warm and dedicated staff, effective communication, and their inclusion in decisions.
  • Children relish their time outdoors, with free-flow access to the garden and activities that support all areas of learning.
  • A thorough recruitment and induction process ensures suitable staff, whose welfare is fully considered and supported, leading to a valued and happy team.
  • Children's physical skills and spatial awareness are developing well through activities like making obstacle courses, demonstrating curiosity and perseverance.

Areas to develop

  • 1consider how to ensure the curriculum offers enough challenge for the most able children, so that it consistently builds on what they already know and can do
  • 2improve the organisation of mealtimes to ensure that all children are fully engaged at these times
  • 3improve nappy changing areas to ensure children's dignity at all times.
Inspection #10388662 · Source: OfstedView full Ofsted report

What parents say

Verbatim quotes recorded in the Ofsted inspection

"Parents say that their children settle quickly, are happy to attend, and make good progress."

"Parents say they appreciate the effective communication."

"Parents say they are included in all decisions made regarding their child's experience at nursery."

Inclusion & environment

How they support every child

Outdoor space

Children relish their time outdoors. They make decisions where they want to play and can flow freely from indoors to the garden. Consideration is given to the curriculum outdoors, to ensure activities continue to support all areas of learning.

Inspection history

Date: April 2025

  • May 2025Good
  • April 2025Good

Frequently asked about Olive Barn Day Nursery

About the setting

Olive Barn Day Nursery registered in 2023 and is situated in Steeple Bumpstead, Essex. The nursery employs 17 members of childcare staff, with 10 holding appropriate early years qualifications at level 2 or above. It opens Monday to Friday, from 8am until 6pm, all year round, and provides government funded early education for all eligible children.

URN
2722980
Registered person
The Barn Nursery Ltd
Day care type
Full day care
Register
Early Years Register
Establishment type
Childcare on non-domestic premises

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