Nursery chain opens new eco-build setting
Laura Marcus
Wednesday, July 6, 2016
Childbase Partnership has opened an innovative purpose-built nursery on the site of Cranfield University in Milton Keynes.
Cherry Trees Day Nursery was founded in the university grounds in 1996 and has now moved to its new location, expanding to become a 120-place setting.
Due to it being in a new building, the nursery qualifies as a new registration and will have to be re-inspected by Ofsted. It previously achieved two consecutive Ofsted ratings at the original 50-place nursery.
The new site is four times the size of the old property, and has a large communal atrium (below) for all ages to socialise and conduct individual projects.
It features new technology like bi-lingual language systems, which make books, posters, stickers and cards, and more effectively support children with English as a second language as well as introducing languages to all the children.
Children can also operate an outside camera to study garden activity, such as their glass-sided bird nesting box or ladybird habitat pole.
The garden has a tree house, shells in sand, a construction area and a grand prix cycle track with a garage.
Manager Emma Jestice said, ‘We have to engage a child’s natural curiousity and wonder at the earliest opportunity and our wonderful play and learning spaces inside and in the garden are doing just that; inspiring staff and children alike and providing endless opportunities for fun and learning.
‘All children and babies are encouraged to explore and investigate, and to question and contribute in a process that not only builds self-esteem but helps practitioners identify particular interests and talents.’
The new nursery also has state-of-the-art insulation, under floor heating and is powered by Green Electricity generated by the sun, wind and sea.
‘Big windows provide plenty of natural light and with the use of eco-friendly initiatives involving general and, in particular, nappy waste – which will continue to be diverted from landfill with the use of energy from waste processes – we are aiming for 100 per cent recycling and a greatly reduced carbon footprint,’ added Ms Jestice.
The opening brings the nursery group’s total number of settings to 44 and total places to 4,097 – with new builds, extensions and amalgamations resulting in an increase in places from 3,979 in October 2015.
- Childbase Partnership is also the UK’s 10th largest employee-owned business.
