Welcome To our nursery

A 50 place, beautiful nursery based at Manor Farm Chilcompton.

We take children from 6 months to 5 years.

Based in a converted barn on a working farm we benefit from an idyllic rural location, where children can take advantage of being in the beautiful countryside with access to rolling fields and the opportunity to experience a working farm. We enjoy visiting the baby claves and cows, collecting eggs from our chickens and seeing the tractors. 

The nursery is full of natural light and natural resources, with a real home from home feel.

We strive to create a nurturing, inspiring setting where children feel they can be themselves, have a voice and gain confidence and skills to equip them for life. We are inspired by a range of people, approaches and sources including: Planning in the moment, Anna Ephgrave, The Curiosity Approach, Alistair Bryce Clegg, Reggio Emilia and The Forest School Approach.

 
 

“We have a big heart & a huge sense of family.”

Jessica Baxter, Owner

 
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Our Vision & Values

We believe that all children are individual, capable and competent learners. They are naturally inquisitive, curious, active and adventurous. When children feel trusted and loved by their key persons, every child will reward us with an invitation into their imaginations and learning through play comes naturally.

All children who come to us experience high quality teaching from a passionate, caring and enthusiastic team of highly skilled staff.

The care we offer is warm and nurturing, helping children feel happy and safe. Children at our nursery thrive from the varied learning experiences on offer and the enabling environment we provide.

We have many high-quality resources including loose parts and we use the moment planning method.

Through our unique online learning journals, parents are able to actively be part of their child’s learning.

 

Our Approach

Play based learning - We believe in not sitting down to teach, but find moments in play to naturally extend learning and development.

Child led activities - Rather than pre-planning activities, we let the children lead and then extend their ideas.

 Child centred – Our planning structure is built around the needs and interests of the children. Our staff carefully and sensitively interact in children’s play and identify teachable moments. 

Authentic resources – We try to find real items to encourage the children’s curiosity during their time at nursery and we love loose parts. We do not have lots of manufactured of plastic items.

Nature and outside play – We are big believers in children having plenty of fresh air and the benefits of this on children’s health and wellbeing. We encourage children to access the garden as an extension of the nursery rooms and we go on regular outings.

A sense of family – We encourage a sense of family within our nursery and firmly believe we are extension of the children’s homes.

 
 

Our Learning Environment

We have 3 main rooms: You will find our quiet and cosy baby room where we take children from 6 months until 18 months / 2 years and our Preschool where children are 3-4 years in the Barn, and our 2-year-old room in the calf shed. We pride ourselves on having a beautiful, calming and inspiring learning environment throughout for the children to explore. Our resources bring out the children’s curiosity and we use many loose parts and natural open-ended resources to challenge the children’s creativity. We believe children learn best when they are able to feel safe, relaxed and happy and always through play. Our skilled practitioners will help to support and scaffold your child’s uniqueness and develop them to be everything they want to be.

 

 

Our garden

We offer a free-flow approach into the garden for all children. We have a beautiful garden that over spills onto rolling fields, with no ceiling on outside space. We are lucky enough that we can use the entire farm radius so the children will benefit on many aspects of being at such a great location. We access the outside in all weathers so wellington boots are a must! We are big believers in the benefits of the outdoor classroom and learning through nature, fresh air and the seasons.

We have large raised beds in our garden where the children are able to grow their own vegetables and we benefit from using meat and eggs sourced from the farm itself in our kitchens.

 

Contact Us

 

How to Find Us

The Learning Tree Chilcompton
Manor Farm 
Church Lane 
Chilcompton
BA3 4HP

01761 322011