As well as observing and learning about milking cows, the two- to five-year-olds on the nursery's books have seen calves being born, helped to rear lambs, cared for rabbits and grown their own vegetables.
All this is a great learning experience according to Barn Owls' proprietor Kim Houghton, who set up the nursery in a purpose-built extension to her farm home in September 2004.
The nursery recently won third place in the National Day Nurseries Association Mark Warner Nursery of the Year Award, voted for by parents.
They praised the caring and dedicated staff and the environment, with many outdoor activities and focused around nature and the farm.
Houghton, who has six children aged from three to 13, had volunteered at a local playgroup for many years before taking the plunge and setting up her own nursery, spurred on by the closure of the only nursery in the area offering full-time places.
Her plan was supported by a survey of local parents identifying a definite need and the project was backed by Dorchester's early years team.
A successful bid for 21,000 from the New Opportunities Fund provided the cash to cover staffing costs and new equipment for the first year.
Some parents travel 20 miles to bring their children to the nursery, which makes optimum use of its setting, building curriculum activities like numeracy into outdoor pursuits such as planting wild flowers and hunting for bugs.
"They learn so much without realising it," says Houghton. "The farmyard is close to the house and the children get to see a lot of what is going on. They know where milk comes from. Some children don't realise that it comes from cows."
The farm also has a swimming pool and children take swimming lessons with a qualified instructor.
Houghton does all the catering and there is an emphasis on homegrown, organic food. The children are also very much involved in preparing meals.
"It's healthy, nutritious, good food and I think that helping children get involved in preparing food gets them interested," she says. "It's the foundation for a lot of things including attention span and behaviour."
One of the biggest challenges, Houghton admits, will be to keep the nursery going but maintain the small intake. There are 28 children on the books in total, but only 16 attend on any given day and Houghton is keen not to expand too much.
"The biggest challenge will be to sustain it, keep it running and keep it small," she says. "One of the things parents like is that small numbers means a lot of individual attention."
With an ongoing debate about low levels of training among nursery staff, Houghton is a firm believer in qualifications. Her nursery manager Ruth Butler has 20 years' childcare experience and is qualified to NVQ Level 3.
Sharon Cook, Butler's assistant, also has an NVQ Level 3 and is part way through a degree in childcare.
Houghton hopes to undertake training herself when she can fit it in.
She keeps up to date on policy development and has followed the debate around the Government's 10-year strategy for childcare.
While there is much to be welcomed she is concerned about the extent that existing childcare providers will be involved in the Government's vision for children's centres in every community, a concern echoed across the sector.
"They need to listen a lot more to private nurseries and existing providers," she says. "I don't know whether they have listened to enough people and audited what's out there."
BACKGROUND - OTHER AWARD WINNERS
- Carol Jane Montessori in Enfield, Middlesex, was declared nursery of the year at the National Day Nurseries Association annual conference. Parents praised the quality of care and homely atmosphere
- Second place went to Little Scholars Day Nursery in Wrexham, which provides childcare and education on site at the North East Wales Institute of Higher Education
- The NDNA Nurofen for Children Nursery Carer of the Year Award went to Florence Purvis from Adbolton Kindergarten in Nottingham and five people from the nursery sector - Margaret Allen, Sylvia Archer, Tina Jones, Colleen Sims, and Phil Rhodes - were recognised for their voluntary contribution to NDNA work.
