How has the nursery developed since you took over in 2014?
Four years ago there were 19 families on-roll. We now have 90, and the nursery is choc-a-bloc! Operations director Melanie and I identified quite a few challenges, including the layout of the building, land space and the quality of the provision. We worked hard to turn it around and were over the moon to get an Outstanding rating a few weeks ago.
What makes the nursery unique?
It has four acres of land, one of which is woodland, all on the outskirts of London. We worked with the LA, the Woodland Trust and specialist companies to make the outdoors safe because it had been very neglected. We had to put fencing round the woodland. When we looked at the open space area it was hugely overgrown with brambles, but when we cut them down we discovered Japanese knotweed, and had to have the whole thing excavated. We put about £30,000 into the land before we could use it.
How has the Forest School aspect of the provision developed?
Before this nursery I had two in Kent, and I am a bit old-school. When I first heard about Forest School I thought it was a new fad, another one of these things that comes and goes, but seeing the quietest child become the most conversational, I have been flabbergasted by what can be achieved. It is incredible to watch the children as they are the beneficiaries of all this and the most important souls in the nursery, flourishing inside and outside.
