Down On The Farm
GoodBirth to 8+Open for decades
A pre-school in Hereford for children from birth to 8+, open 08:00 to 17:00, 5 days a week. They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask. Rated Good by Ofsted in September 2025. Open since 2007, with 17 places.
Places, hours and the day
Who they take, when they are open, and what a day there includes.
Where it is
HR2 8EDWhat the inspector found
One grade is one visit. A run of them tells you whether it has been good for years or has only just got there.
Ofsted inspector, 19 September 2025 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
The nursery is located on a working farm, providing children with rich opportunities to explore the natural world and take part in daily farm life. Children arrive happy and eager to begin their play. They develop secure relationships with the caring and attentive staff team, which knows them and their families well. Staff support children to learn familiar routines to help them feel safe and confident. Children behave well and understand what is expected of them, such as using good manners and helping tidy away toys before mealtimes. Staff use kind and gentle words to help children move calmly between activities. They support children to manage their feelings, such as offering a cuddle when a child feels frustrated.
All children make good progress. Staff deliver an ambitious curriculum that builds on what they already know and can do. They plan activities around children's interests and next steps in learning. Children have daily opportunities for fresh air and exercise outside in the nursery gardens and surrounding farm environment.
Babies develop their core strength in readiness for crawling and walking. Staff sit alongside them to support their play. They encourage babies to stand at a low-level tray to explore different textures, such as soil. This helps them to build physical strength, balance and curiosity.
What Ofsted told them to improve
To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should:
- enhance partnerships with parents to regularly gather up-to-date information about children's interests and development, and use this to better inform planning to help children make even better progress n strengthen the planning and delivery of group activities to ensure that they are developmentally appropriate and effectively meet the needs of all children.
- 19 September 2025Good Safeguarding: Yes
- 14 November 2019Good
- 29 October 2015Good
Rated Good or Outstanding at 3 of the last 3 graded inspections.
Still missing for Down On The Farm
- What it costs
- Funded hours
- Youngest age taken
- Meals
- Nappies
- Waiting list
No dataset holds any of this. Two parents telling us the same thing puts it on the page for whoever looks next.
What to ask them
None of this is in any national dataset and this setting has not published it, which is exactly why it is worth asking.
- What does it cost, all in? What is on top: meals, nappies, late pick-up, and what happens if you are late.
- Can I use my funded hours here? Whether they stretch them over the year, and the minimum days you have to book.
- Is there a place for my child's age? Baby rooms fill first and waiting lists are common.
- Who would my child's key person be? And how long have the staff been there. No dataset holds this and it matters more than anything above.
- Can I visit at a busy time? Mid-morning on a weekday tells you far more than an empty room after hours.
Pre-schools within a couple of miles
This one is first. Tick it and one or two others to see them side by side.