Click the image below to watch our Nursery and Kindergarten video.

The Nursery stands within the peace and tranquillity of Winterfold House and its grounds of some 40 acres. It is located in a large family house which is literally ‘built of wood’ with its own garden and orchard. The Nursery caters for children from the age of six weeks to three years and there is a ratio of one staff member to three children. The staff are well qualified and experienced and most have worked at the nursery for several years.

The Nursery has been beautifully designed to accommodate all the needs of the babies and children. The whole day is structured to provide times of physical activity, creativity, intellectual stimulation and rest. There are separate areas for sleeping, resting, playing and eating and each age group has its own designated room.

The Baby Department is located in quiet rooms upstairs and the babies are separated from the older children for most of the day. To increase each child’s sense of security and emotional stability the same nursery nurses work permanently in the baby unit. Babies move downstairs at approximately 15 months. This room follows a more structured routine and encourages each child’s individuality with a wider range of activities. They are encouraged to take part in as many things as possible and they are provided with a nourishing hot lunch, cooked on the school premises, which is usually followed by a nap.

The other children are located in large purpose-built rooms which overlook either the playing fields at the front of school (with a separate activity room) or the orchard and paddock. All of the older children have access to the garden and a covered outdoor play area.

Our main aim is to nurture. Children will be supported through their early developmental stages without pressure or over stimulation. Emphasis is placed on encouraging and developing mobility, fine skills and language and we aim to provide the children with interesting activities appropriate to their individual needs. Physical development is enhanced by musical games as well as freedom to manoeuvre and to develop gross motor skills in a safe environment. The children play outside for some of each day. Both cognitive and physical skills are encouraged with specially chosen equipment and toys. Language development is encouraged by as much one to one contact as possible as well as the use of books, rhymes and action songs. Health and development are closely monitored and regarded. A daily report sheet will be sent home at the end of each session so that parents know what their child has done during the day.

There are opportunities to play outside every day in our Adventure Playground and additional activities take place in the newly developed Outdoor Learning area which was opened in the Spring of 2020. All children, including Babies, are taken out on frequent walks around the school grounds and will need warm clothing and boots, if appropriate.

Food

The weekly menus for the Lent Term 2023 can be viewed HERE