Nursery Advice
Claim Your Nursery

The Folly Nursery in Ilminster

Ofsted: Outstanding
(Feb 2024)
·
3.8(6 parent reviews) ·Church Road, Ilton, Ilminster, TA19 9EY · Somerset
Number of places
39 places
Age range
0–4 yrs
Last inspected
Feb 2024
Local authority
Somerset

About this day nursery

The Folly Nursery and Pre-School in Ilton offers an enriching environment for children from infancy up to primary school age, set against the backdrop of the South Somerset countryside. The nursery provides flexible attendance options, allowing children to attend from two to five full days per week, with all meals included.

The facility is designed to foster a positive and relaxed atmosphere, where children can engage in stimulating, challenging, and satisfying experiences. The curriculum, based on the Early Years Foundation Stage, supports individual development and natural progression.

The Folly Nursery champions every child as a capable, confident, and resilient learner, acknowledging their unique developmental paths and learning rates. The nursery staff are highly qualified and dedicated, fostering a supportive environment that prioritises praise and encouragement to build a positive attitude towards learning.

The Folly Nursery is committed to fair treatment for all children, regardless of their background or abilities, valuing every child and family within its community. The well-equipped and spacious rooms further enhance the high standard of education provided.

Our ethos

The Folly Nursery's curriculum is based on the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) and champions every child as a capable, confident, and resilient learner, acknowledging their unique developmental paths and learning rates. They are committed to fair treatment for all children and value every child and family within its community.

What it's like

Children are extremely confident and happy. The manager and staff plan a highly ambitious curriculum, planning step by step to prepare children extremely well for school. They remain impressively engaged and focused, excited to take part while developing essential skills, which underpins their future learning highly successfully.

Rural settingAll meals providedEarly Years Foundation Stage curriculum

Pricing & funding

Fees are structured around full-day sessions, with different rates for children under two and those aged two and over. Fully funded sessions are offered but incur daily charges to cover meals, snacks, consumables, and extra activities. Parents can also pay for early drop-offs and extra time blocks.

Good to know

  • Full day sessions run from 7.45am to 6.00pm.
  • Funded sessions of 8.00am-6.00pm include meals, snacks, nappies, wipes, and extracurricular activities.
  • An early drop-off service is available from 7.45am.
  • Fully funded sessions of 9.15am-4.30pm require a daily charge for meals, snacks, nappies, and wipes.
  • Extra 45-minute blocks can be added to fully funded sessions.

Key facts

Opening hours

7:45am - 6:00pm

Age range

Babies to primary school age

Term time / All Year

All Year

Session types

Full day

Food

All meals and snacks included

Ofsted Inspection

Ofsted rating for The Folly Nursery

Last inspected 15 February 2024

Safeguarding effective
Overall effectiveness
Outstanding
Quality of education
Outstanding
Behaviour and attitudes
Outstanding
Personal development
Outstanding
Leadership and management
Outstanding

What it's like to attend

Children are extremely confident and happy. The manager and staff plan a highly ambitious curriculum, planning step by step to prepare children extremely well for school. They remain impressively engaged and focused, excited to take part while developing essential skills, which underpins their future learning highly successfully.

Inspector highlights

  • The manager and directors focus strongly on the well-being of their staff, ensuring a positive impact on children.
  • The management team ensures that staff continually update and extend their knowledge and skills through well-targeted training.
  • Staff use their extensive observations to know exactly what their key children need to be learning next and the manager closely monitors any gaps to quickly ensure that they close.
  • Children become highly independent learners. They make predictions and persevere when something does not work, solving problems by finding an alternative way.
  • Children of all ages behave extremely well and have excellent relationships. Young children are very happy to have their nappy changed and feel secure to fall asleep because staff meet their individual needs very successfully.
Inspection #10311668 · Source: OfstedView full Ofsted report

What parents say

Verbatim quotes recorded in the Ofsted inspection

Parents cannot praise the staff highly enough.

They confirm the excellent and comprehensive exchange of information and state that they are never rushed at drop off and collection.

Parents comment on the excellent progress their children are making, particularly in their social and language skills, as well as their understanding of the world.

Inclusion & environment

How they support every child

SEND provision

The manager closely monitors any gaps in children's learning and works with the special educational needs coordinator and parents to quickly ensure that they close. Leaders target funding extremely well and are persistent in ensuring that children receive any additional outside support to make the best progress they can.

Outdoor space

Older children plan and work together harmoniously to build their own playhouse for the garden. Staff are having training to further enhance the experiences they can offer children in their forest school, as they recognise the major benefit this has on children's well-being and development.

Parent Reviews of The Folly Nursery

3.8
(6)
Robert Bedford
a year ago

The folly is a safe and exciting space for our children. The creativity and care of the staff is what makes this place shine. The verbal and digital communication between staff and parents is superb regarding accidents and general updates throughout the day. There are ongoing projects where the children raise animals or build structures together and see the fruits of their labour. The staff are genuine, professional and attentive and I have absolutely no concerns when leaving or picking up my children from their care. A outstanding Ofsted rating has been recently attained reflecting the opinions voiced here.

Read on Google
Ben Sharp
a year ago

Absolutely amazing staff so friendly, understanding and made our son feel sk welcome looking forward to him starting and enjoying this wonderful nursery.

Read on Google
Alex Chilcott
3 years ago

Henry is very happy in his lovey new nursery, always very happy to see the staff on drop off 👶 💙

Read on Google
Chloe
2 years ago

Came to visit this nursery waited 3 weeks to see it to then be told by email the next day there was no spaces till September what a waste of my time

Read on Google
Mark Robson
2 years ago

The Folly is great. Our little one loves it there

Read on Google

Reviews from Google for The Folly Nursery. See all on Google Maps

Inspection history
Improved from Good → Outstanding in 2024

Date: April 2018

  • February 2024Outstanding
  • April 2018Good

Frequently asked about The Folly Nursery

Nearby day nurseries in Ilminster

Other Ofsted-registered day nurseries close to The Folly Nursery.

Are you the owner of this nursery? Claim this listing to manage photos, hours and contact details.

Claim listing

Share this nursery

Send to a partner, friend or family member.

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