The Downham Nursery is situated on the main road into the town and is within walking distance of several new housing developments, which enables many of our children to walk to the nursery. The Nursery School also has its own car park for parents who live farther away.
The School is housed in a large detached house, which has been completely renovated and converted into a light, spacious nursery. It is split over two floors, with rooms equipped for different ages and activities. The nursery resources comply with Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) continuous provision, e.g. small world play, home role play areas, sand and water trays, painting easels, library and quiet areas.
The Nursery has a large enclosed garden situated at the rear of the building. There is a covered area for outdoor play in all weathers, with sand and water trays, painting easels and a ball pit.
There is also a large grass area, with slides, climbing frame and wildlife garden, where the children can plant seeds and bulbs. We also have an area for growing vegetables. The children have Guinea pigs and chickens to look after.
In January 2025 an additional classroom was built in the garden to meet the need for additional places for 3-4 year olds.
Downham Nursery caters for children from 3 months to 5 years and is Ofsted registered, allowing parents to claim the free 15 hours of government grant for children aged 9 months to 5 years. Parents of 3-5 year olds, who are eligible, can register for 30 hours of free funding. Parents can check if they qualify for the 30 hour grant from the following website:- www.gov.uk/30-hours-free-childcare.
The nursery is run by highly qualified and experienced staff and is managed by the Nursery Manager , Mrs Stimpson.
The children are divided into groups according to their stage of development and their age. The babies and children up to the age of two are based in the upstairs rooms but, of course, come down to use the outdoor facilities. Resources for the 3-5year olds are downstairs, where they have free access to the garden.
The Nursery is registered with, and inspected by Ofsted. We adhere to the guidelines for the care and education of children under the age of 5 years as set out in the Early Years Foundation Stage Curriculum.