Learning through play, in a calm and purposeful environment.

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Otters Nursery School is a family run childcare setting offering early years care from birth to five within the beautiful surroundings of the Hampshire Countryside. Otters is under new management and is owned and managed by husband and wife team, Vicky and Andy Grayson, alongside their two additional setting managers Vicky Calver and Emma Parker.

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Following a successful visit in September 2024, Otters was graded 'good' in all areas by Ofsted and continues to undergoing a rapid period of improvement. We are excited about the future.

 

 "Managers are highly committed to continually improving children's care and learning. In the short time the nursery has been under new ownership, they have worked with staff and the local authority to make changes that have significantly improved outcomes for children. For example, they have successfully improved children's safety, ensuring the premises is safe and that children are well supervised at all times."

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(Ofsted 2024)

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Our indoor space comprises of three spaces:

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• Cubs - Our dedicated baby room with sleep area

• Little Otters - our toddler room

• Otters - home to our pre-school children (aged 3 and 4)

 

Our cosy rooms enable our children to fully explore the Early Years Foundation Stage Curriculum. Our vision is to ensure that the environment works hard to flexibly accommodate children's emerging needs at every step of their development and our team work hard to ensure that children are engaged in play at all times.

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Our rooms each feature a home corner / role play, cosy corner, creative/mark making area, loose parts play / awe and wonder and small world where our children explore the areas freely at their own pace. Our highly skilled practitioners use Family to record children's steps of development and to communicate with parents and carers.

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Outside, we have two large, natural gardens surrounded by beautiful meadows where the children can explore our construction area, mud kitchens, wooden climbing frame, slide, den building area and climbing tree. We also have wonderful covered decked areas for plenty of learning outside - enabling free-flow play.

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At Otters Nursery School the child is at the heart of all we do - that’s why we pride ourselves on our highly reflective approach, parent partnerships and well-considered, ever-evolving environment.