Laurel Farm is ‘outstanding’ say Ofsted

Inspectors were full of praise for the early years setting nestled in the Cam Valley in Somerset.

“Children positively thrive in this beautiful and well-designed kindergarten. They all make excellent progress, as staff take time to get to really know and understand the children. Staff design a highly sequenced and ambitious curriculum that enables all children to flourish”.

‘Children are extremely happy and calm, as they feel very safe and valued. Staff are exceedingly consistent in helping children to understand rules and expectations. Children behave extraordinarily well and manage risk safely’.

“The Kindergarten honours the social and emotional stage that each child is at and nurtures their individual personalities. They are free to make their own discoveries and express their creativity. They are encouraged to contribute their ideas, which underpins how their education develops and helps them to become more confident and, gradually, more independent. They are empowered by the trust that is given to them and take pride and ownership in their education. As a result, children flourish here – naturally and intrinsically.”

“The Kindergarten’s playroom is a warm and welcoming environment. The children thrive from having a balance of gentle adult-led activities such as painting, sewing, weaving, baking, singing, preparing food and tool use, mixed with free play with the use of dolls, a play kitchen, dress up clothes, wooden vehicles, a dolls’ house, books and natural resources. Every day before lunch the children spend at least an hour and a half in the woodland where they have their special snack around the fire. They learn to build fires, sculpt with clay, weave and do other forest-school related activities. They have a mud kitchen, tyre swing, rope swing, natural stream and dens to play in.”

Inspectors considered the kindergarten provides a “highly sequenced and ambitious curriculum that enables all children to flourish”. Children develop “excellent language skills” and learn about the world around them. Children also collect eggs from the children and use fleece from the sheep on the farm to create wool, which they dye and use to make collage pictures.

Laurel Farm is a beautiful setting for children aged 2.5 – 6 years. Located 15 minutes from Bath and 20 minutes from the centre of Frome, it is based on a 7 acre small holding with animals, fields, a vegetable patch and a growing woodland for the children to explore.

Laurel Farm Kindergarten

Read Ofsted's inspection