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Park Hall Forest School

Ofsted: Good
(May 2022)
·Park Hall Working Farm, Burma Road, Oswestry, SY11 4AS · Shropshire
Number of places
30 places
Age range
2–5 yrs
Last inspected
May 2022
Local authority
Shropshire

About this day nursery

Park Hall Forest School provides a unique outdoor early years experience, fostering a love for nature in a secure and nurturing setting. The curriculum emphasises free play and exploration within their natural surroundings, aiming to enhance children's activity levels, motivation, and focus.

They cater to a broad age range, starting with Nurture Thursday sessions for children around two years old and extending to Flexi-Schooling options for ages four to eight. This allows children to mix traditional schooling with forest sessions or enrich their home education.

The school prides itself on a high staff-to-child ratio and a child-led approach, allowing children to learn at their own pace and explore their interests without strict timetables. Activities are divided between two forest areas and indoor spaces at Park Hall Countryside Experience, where children can also interact with animals.

The school is registered with Ofsted and adheres to the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) requirements. They also offer holiday clubs during school breaks, providing extended childcare from 8 am to 5 pm, alongside bushcraft programmes for skill development.

Their philosophy centres on enabling children to assess risks, use tools safely, and develop independence and initiative through hands-on outdoor learning.

Our ethos

Park Hall Forest School's philosophy centres on providing a unique outdoor early years experience that fosters a love for nature through a child-led approach. They enable children to assess risks, use tools safely, and develop independence and initiative through hands-on outdoor learning, adhering to EYFS requirements.

What it's like

Children demonstrate good knowledge and skills, building on their ability to play and construct within a group. They learn about respect for others, develop vocabulary, and apply skills in areas like mark-making and mathematical concepts. Physical development is central to the setting's approach, enabling children to navigate environments safely and skillfully.

Forest SchoolOutdoor EducationChild-led LearningFlexi-SchoolingHoliday Clubs

Pricing & funding

This nursery offers full-day, half-day, and holiday club sessions, with options for early care. Funded hours can be used to cover sessions, with specific hourly equivalents specified for each session type. Additional charges include a nappy fee, optional contributions, and specific activity clubs.

Funding accepted

Tax-Free Childcare15 hours — universal (3–4 yrs)30 hours — working parents (3–4 yrs)

Good to know

  • Sessions can be funded: Full Day (6 hours), Half Day (3 hours), and Early Care (1.5 hours).
  • Nappies are charged per day attended each half term, up to a maximum of £15 per half term.
  • A sibling discount is available for the Holiday Club.
  • Optional contributions are requested up to a maximum per half term.

Key facts

Opening hours

Monday - Friday 08:00 - 15:30 in term time; Holiday Club 08:00 - 17:00 on selected dates

Term time / All Year

All Year

Established

2020

Waitlist

Join our waiting list

Ofsted Inspection

Ofsted rating for Park Hall Forest School

Last inspected 31 May 2022 · Scott Thomas-White

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 demonstrate good knowledge and skills, building on their ability to play and construct within a group. They learn about respect for others, develop vocabulary, and apply skills in areas like mark-making and mathematical concepts. Physical development is central to the setting's approach, enabling children to navigate environments safely and skillfully.

Inspector highlights

  • Children demonstrate good knowledge and skills.
  • Staff foster children's self-regulation and resilience.
  • Children show a real enjoyment of learning.
  • Relationships between staff, children and families are mutually respectful.
  • The leader has designed an ambitious curriculum with a strong focus on children's personal, social and emotional development.

Areas to develop

  • 1utilise the monitoring systems in place to refine practice further by addressing minor variations and to build on the already good quality of teaching.
Inspection #10239287 · Source: OfstedView full Ofsted report

Inclusion & environment

How they support every child

SEND provision

The curriculum is ambitious for all, including children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). Staff know children's needs very well, and they plan a curriculum that helps to close gaps in knowledge. Children with SEND first learn to listen, then apply their learning to the concept of following rules in woodwork.

Outdoor space

Children are highly skilled in their physical development, safely clambering, climbing, and manoeuvring through the environments. The forest school ethos is used to either build on children's outdoor learning experiences from home or provide them with the opportunity to gain experience of learning outside.

Inspection history

Date: May 2022

  • July 2022Good
  • May 2022Good

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