The Old Barn Day Nursery, Narborough

Wellbeing at The Old Barn is supported through the everyday moments of nursery life. Nutritious, balanced meals are enjoyed together at relaxed, social mealtimes, where children are encouraged to explore their food and develop growing independence. Free-flow access to the garden also gives children regular opportunities to move between indoor and outdoor play throughout the day.

The GrandirUK App keeps families connected with updates on their child’s learning, activities and wellbeing. We also invite families to be part of nursery life through Stay and Play sessions, parents’ evenings and special celebrations throughout the year.

Our lending library extends this connection beyond the nursery, giving families opportunities to choose and enjoy books together at home.

Boogie Mites and Sing and Sign sessions are a regular part of nursery life at The Old Barn, giving children opportunities to explore music, movement, rhythm and early communication through engaging, interactive activities.

Children also head out into the local community, with visits to nearby shops and other places around Narborough. These outings give children opportunities to explore their local area, experience familiar places beyond the nursery and become more confident in different environments.

All playrooms at The Old Barn are on the ground floor, creating an open, accessible layout throughout the nursery. Each room is thoughtfully arranged with age-appropriate resources and has direct access to the garden.

• Little Roosters: Our room for babies and younger toddlers, with spaces and resources suited to their early development.
  
  
• Little Chicklets: Our toddler room, with plenty of opportunities for play, learning and exploration.
  
  
• Barn Owls: Our room for older toddlers, with resources and experiences that encourage growing curiosity and independence.

Children move into their next room when they are developmentally and emotionally ready, with our team and families working together to plan each transition around the individual child.

Outdoor space

Outdoor play is a central part of nursery life at The Old Barn. All of our playrooms have free-flow access to the large garden, giving children opportunities to move between indoor and outdoor experiences throughout the day.

The garden is divided into areas for different ages and stages. Babies and under-twos have their own dedicated garden, with a tunnel and resources that encourage movement and exploration. Wetsuits are also provided so children can enjoy the outdoor space throughout the year.

Our over-twos have a spacious garden with climbing frames, ropes and balance equipment, providing different physical challenges as children grow. A growing garden gives children opportunities to plant, tend and observe changes over time, while the mud kitchen provides plenty of scope for messy, imaginative and hands-on play.

Care at The Old Barn is shaped around the individual child and supported by strong relationships with families. Our team keep communication open and honest, sharing meaningful updates and working together with families to provide a consistent approach between nursery and home.

Throughout the nursery day, we take each child’s routines, interests and stage of development into account, adapting their care and experiences rather than expecting every child to follow the same pattern.

Our Early Years curriculum at The Old Barn is shaped around each child’s interests, age and stage of development, giving them opportunities to explore, make choices and develop across all areas of learning.

We draw inspiration from Hygge and elements of the Curiosity Approach, creating an environment where children are encouraged to follow their curiosity, explore their own ideas and develop growing independence and creativity.

We believe the environment around a child can shape their nursery experience. Our renovated barn in Narborough is bright, open and arranged across one level, with an approach inspired by Hygge and elements of the Curiosity Approach.

Natural materials, uncluttered spaces and time to explore at their own pace give children opportunities to follow their interests, investigate ideas and make their own discoveries. As an Eco School, we also encourage children to notice, explore and care for the natural world around them.

For families with more than one child, having siblings at The Old Barn means one drop-off and pick-up in Narborough. With every playroom on the ground floor, brothers and sisters can each enjoy a space suited to their own age and stage while still having opportunities to see each other and spend time together in the garden.

Sibling places are subject to availability, but where we have space in the appropriate room, we will always do what we can to find places for brothers and sisters together.

Led by Nursery Manager Mia, our experienced Early Years team work closely together to provide familiar faces and consistent care throughout children’s time at The Old Barn. They take time to get to know each child as an individual, sharing knowledge and working together as children move through the nursery.

Our on-site SENCo practitioners work with children, families and the wider nursery team to understand individual needs and help provide appropriate, tailored support.