Silks Farm Day Nursery, Somersham

Wellbeing at Silks Farm is supported by the space children have to move, explore and spend time outdoors. Free-flow access to our seven acres of grounds gives children opportunities for active play, fresh air and quieter moments throughout the nursery day.

Our nursery chef prepares nutritious, home-cooked meals, with individual dietary requirements and allergies carefully considered. Our fees are all-inclusive too, including essentials such as nappies and puddle suits, making it easier for children to get involved in everything from mealtimes to muddy mornings outdoors.

We work closely with families, sharing what children are interested in so our team can build on those interests through their nursery experiences. The GrandirUK App keeps families connected with regular updates about their child’s day and upcoming nursery events.

Families are also invited to spend time with us through open mornings and events such as our Christmas craft Stay and Play sessions, creating further opportunities to be part of nursery life.

Creativity is a big part of nursery life at Silks Farm, with experiences ranging from planting flowers and painting to plenty of other opportunities to make, explore and get hands-on throughout the day.

Our rural location means we bring different experiences to the nursery too, welcoming visitors such as ZooLab and local fire crews. These visits give children opportunities to encounter animals, meet different people and discover more about the world beyond Silks Farm.

Our playrooms at Silks Farm are designed to give children plenty of space, thoughtfully chosen resources and opportunities to follow their interests, with direct access from each room into our outdoor areas.

• Robins: Our room for babies and toddlers, with a milk kitchen and direct garden access for the older children.
  
  
• Hedgehogs: Our toddler room, opening onto the garden and paddock, with a dedicated sensory room and a bathroom designed to support potty training.
  
  
• Rabbit: Our preschool room and largest playroom, with direct access to the over-2s garden.

Children move into their next room when they are developmentally and emotionally ready. With many long-serving members of the team, children can also encounter familiar faces as they progress through the nursery.

Outdoor space

Silks Farm is set within seven acres of grounds overlooking Fenland farmland, giving children an unusually generous outdoor environment to explore. Free-flow access throughout the day connects our playrooms with the outdoors, while the paddock provides space for natural play and den-building and the over-2s garden includes construction, sand and water play.

Our mini woodland extends these experiences further, with a mud kitchen and Sow and Grow space for hands-on exploration. Along the Forest Trail, fruit trees give children opportunities to pick seasonal fruit and explore the changing natural environment around them.

We also have a dedicated Forest School area, where daily Forest School sessions give children regular opportunities to explore, investigate and learn outdoors in a space specifically designed for this part of our curriculum.

Continuity of care is an important part of life at Silks Farm. Our long-serving team provide familiar faces year after year, taking time to get to know each child’s routines, interests and individual needs.

These consistent relationships help our team understand each child well, so they can adapt their care and experiences as their needs change, whether that means offering extra reassurance or introducing new opportunities and challenges.

Our curriculum at Silks Farm brings together Forest School sessions and the Reggio Emilia approach, with plenty of opportunities for children to learn through play, follow their interests and explore the natural world around them.

Alongside this outdoor, child-led approach, our GrandirUK education programmes bring a broad range of experiences into the nursery day, giving children opportunities to explore different areas of learning as they develop at their own pace.

We believe children are capable learners, with their own ideas, interests and questions worth exploring. At Silks Farm, the Reggio Emilia approach and daily Forest School sessions give children the space, materials and freedom to take those ideas further.

Across our seven acres of Cambridgeshire farmland, an interest can travel from the playroom to the mini woodland in a single morning. Children have plenty of opportunities to make choices, try things for themselves and develop growing independence through hands-on exploration.

For families with more than one child, having siblings at Silks Farm means one journey to St Ives Road for drop-off and pick-up. Brothers and sisters can each enjoy a playroom and outdoor space suited to their own age and stage, while still having opportunities to see each other and spend time together across the wider grounds.

Shared spaces such as the paddock and Forest Trail give siblings further opportunities to enjoy some of their nursery experiences together.

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 Ronnee, our experienced team bring continuity and a broad range of Early Years knowledge to Silks Farm. Many members of the team have been with the nursery for years, providing familiar faces and consistent relationships for children and families.

The team includes Level 3 qualified SENCos, bringing additional knowledge to the support available for children with special educational needs and disabilities. We also support students and apprentices as they develop their Early Years knowledge, gain practical experience and build their careers with us.