Giant Steps at River Bourne Farm offers full day care to children aged two, three and four years old, set in the grounds of the community farm. In its last inspection, in October 2018, the early years provision was also rated as “good”. Ofsted inspections rate education providers with either inadequate, requires improvement, good or outstanding.
Giant Steps, which also has a branch in Downton, was inspected on July 9, 2024, and rated good across all criteria. READ MORE: Amesbury Abbey's Scarecrow Trail to take place in September Children “love learning” and are given opportunities to use the farm as a part of their learning. The report states that children were given the chance to visit a recently born alpaca and learn how it is cared for by its mother, and that they are “excited” to put on their wet-weather coats and wellies to visit the farm, singing “Old Macdonald Had a Farm”.
It is added that during these trips, children are provided with “clear boundaries and expectations” to keep them safe. Inspector Jonathan Payne found that children “behave well and build positive friendships with their peers”, as well as being “comfortable in the company of those who are responsible for them”. Children who have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) are said to be given support to catchup with their peers and leaders and staff ensure “all children feel included” through “good relationships” with both children and their parents.
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