In brief we are a private farm-based nursery setting for a total of 45 children (including 9 under twos) which will offer your child a small and friendly place to learn, grow and develop. We realise the first steps out of the home environment for a child can be daunting, therefore our nursery aims to become a wider part of your family rather than a place of business!
In addition to adhering to the high standards set out by Ofsted and following the Early Years Foundation Stage - Grassroots was created to offer parents a down-to-earth, choice of child care - where the stimulating environment and farm setting are the basis for our activities.
Grassroots opened in January 2015 and operates 50 weeks of the year between the hours of 7.30am and 6pm; giving working parents reassurance that their child is benefitting from a wide range of experiences every day, whilst being cared for by qualified staff. Unlike many nurseries, we do not charge for Bank Holidays and have also embraced the funding schemes (15 & 30 hours) now on offer to eligible families.
The nursery is primarily split into three areas; Butterflies (0-2yrs), Barn Owls (2-3yrs) and we our newer addition of a Forest School lodge. Each area free-flows to its own garden space. This enables the children to perform many of their learning-through-play experiences in or outdoors, whilst the wider environment is the perfect place to grow fruit and vegetables, learn about the food we eat, where it comes from and of course, how it tastes. With our great on-farm setting we are perfectly poised to demonstrate field-to-plate!
We are proud to say that all of our rooms are staffed by qualified practitioners with extensive experience - four of which boast additional strings to their bow such as Forest School Leader Status and we also have staff with EYPS (Early Years Professional Status). This means we can deliver a programme of events and day-to-day activities that are tailored to individual's needs and which meet each stage of development - whether you require a nursery with professionals to care for your baby or prepare your child for school... Grassroots are a tight-knit team dedicated to work with you.
Forest School, farm and beyond...
Outdoor play will always be positively encouraged - wellington boots will be an essential part of everyday life at Grassroots where the countryside becomes our classroom. As well as boasting 100 acres here on our doorstep we also have nursery animals including lambs, donkeys, cows,and chickens. All of this sits happily alongside more typical 'nursery activities' such as creative/messy play, role play, construction, baking, dance and games. Its all about child initiated experiences here at Grassroots, which encourages active imaginations and the development of skills and basic concepts. Toys and equipment have been specifically chosen to encourage each age group to explore and experiment using materials that are new and exciting, which for the older children includes holistic learning in preparation for a successful transition into full time school.
Why not come and have a look for yourself - we are always happy to show you around...
