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Rocking Horse Montessori Nursery

Ofsted: Good
(May 2024)
·
5.0(8 Google reviews) ·1 The Stables, Carla Beck Lane, Skipton, BD23 3BU · North Yorkshire
Number of places
46 places
Age range
0–4 yrs
Last inspected
May 2024
Local authority
North Yorkshire

About this early years setting

Rocking Horse Montessori Nursery is located in Carleton, near Skipton, and provides care for children from birth to four years old. Following a Montessori approach, the setting reopened in 2022 after a refurbishment. Its interior is described as open-plan with natural materials and wooden toys, and it has an eco-friendly focus on sustainable practices. The nursery has outdoor classrooms for activities, and meals are prepared on site. It operates all year round, from 7.30am to 6pm, Monday to Friday.

An Ofsted inspection in May 2024 rated the nursery as Good. The inspector noted that leaders plan an ambitious and well-sequenced curriculum and that children are encouraged to be competent movers. Staff form positive relationships with children, who are reported to feel happy and safe. The report highlights that staff sing with children at every opportunity. The special educational needs coordinator is recognised for being passionate and ensuring children with SEND receive the support they need to make good progress.

Our ethos

Grounded in a Montessori philosophy, Rocking Horse Montessori Nursery fosters cognitive, physical, and emotional development through child-led activities, natural materials, and outdoor learning. They are committed to an eco-friendly approach, reducing waste and incorporating sustainable practices, while providing high-quality childcare and early learning opportunities.

What it's like

Staff greet families warmly on arrival and form positive relationships with key children, who feel happy, safe and secure. Staff plan activities to encourage a positive attitude to learning, and children display high levels of involvement and determination.

Montessori ApproachEco-FriendlyForest SchoolNutritious Meals

Pricing & funding

Fees are structured by age band: babies, toddlers, and preschool children. Charges apply for full day, morning, or afternoon sessions, with additional rates for early drop-offs, late collections, or extra hours. Funded sessions incur a daily food fee depending on the session type.

Funding accepted

15 hours — working parents (9 months–2 yrs)15 hours — universal (3–4 yrs)30 hours — working parents (3–4 yrs)Tax-Free Childcare

Good to know

  • Food fees apply to funded sessions: £3.78 for morning or full days, £1.62 for afternoon sessions.
  • Preschool rates are effective from April 2025.
  • Baby and toddler rates are effective from September 2025.

Key facts

Opening hours

Monday to Friday, 8:00 am to 5:30 pm (Early start from 7:30 am, late collection until 6:00 pm available with advance booking)

Food

Nutritious lunches and teas prepared fresh daily by the cook, with alternatives for dietary requirements. Snacks include baked buns, loaves, and biscuits. Parents can provide packed lunches for funded sessions instead of paying the food items fee.

Age range

5 months - 5 years

Term time / All Year

All Year

Ofsted Inspection

Ofsted rating for Rocking Horse Montessori Nursery

Last inspected 8 May 2024

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

Staff greet families warmly on arrival and form positive relationships with key children, who feel happy, safe and secure. Staff plan activities to encourage a positive attitude to learning, and children display high levels of involvement and determination.

Inspector highlights

  • Leaders plan a clear and ambitious curriculum, ensuring learning is carefully sequenced to build on children's existing skills.
  • Children have opportunities to move their bodies in different ways and become competent movers.
  • Staff ask questions to help children think about what they have been learning, giving them time to answer.
  • Staff sing with children at every opportunity, helping them to develop a love of stories, songs, and rhymes.
  • The special educational needs coordinator (SENCo) is passionate about supporting children and ensuring early identification of additional needs.

Areas to develop

  • 1embed the arrangements for using strategies, such as signing and visual representation, so that all staff can consistently support children's developing communication and language skills.
Inspection #10334940 · Source: OfstedView full Ofsted report

Inclusion & environment

How they support every child

SEND provision

Children, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), make good progress from their starting points. The special educational needs coordinator (SENCo) is passionate about supporting children and ensuring early identification of any additional needs. She has high expectations of children and works effectively with parents and other agencies to ensure children receive the support they need. Children with SEND make good progress.

Outdoor space

The inspector observed the quality of education being provided, indoors and outdoors, and assessed the impact on children's learning.

Google Reviews of Rocking Horse Montessori Nursery

5.0
(8 Google reviews)
Alex Scott
3 years ago

We’re so happy to have found this nursery, our daughter loves her time here and settled in really well thanks to the thoughtful care and support of Maria and her team. The setting is brilliant (great outdoor play area and lovely indoor space) and the variety and quality of activities is fantastic. The communication is also really good, we love getting the updates and photos through the day.

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Kate Sanders
3 years ago

We were really nervous about our son starting nursery as he is a very anxious little boy but the experience has been wonderful. He loves going to pre-school and we have really noticed him calming down and concentrating more. The staff are absolutely brilliant with him and it is a really great setting. I couldn't recommend it more and am so much more confident about him starting school next September now. Our daughter is hopefully starting in January as well.

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Mark Joyce
3 years ago

Our one year old has been going here for a month now and he absolutely loves it. We searched far and wide for the right place for him & we are so happy when we found this nursery. Maria and the team are creating a truly unique and special environment for children & we couldn’t be happier sending our little boy here. Mark & Alainnah J

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Hayley Coutts
3 years ago

My daughter loves every second at Rocking Horse. The staff are attentive and caring. The calm, nurturing and educational atmosphere is the perfect mix. The activities and equipment are perfectly pitched to support development.

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Jenna Cusworth Bolger
3 years ago

Delighted to have discovered this gem. Staff are lovely and attentive and my daughter has a wail of a time there. Maria clearly knows what’s she’s doing. Highly recommend!

Read on Google

Reviews from Google for Rocking Horse Montessori Nursery. See all on Google Maps

Inspection history

Date: May 2023

  • June 2024Good
  • May 2024Good
  • September 2023Requires improvement
  • May 2023Requires improvement

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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