Introduction
Little Owls Nursery is located within the grounds of Hawthorns, in a purpose built unit on a secure site. We accept 2 year funded, 3 and 4 year funded, 30 hour funded and fee paying children from 2 years until school age. We are able to care for up to 26 children per session.
We offer term time only pre-school care, with flexible hours. Our morning session runs from 9am - 12pm, and the afternoon from 12pm - 3pm. Children may also stay all day. We also offer an early drop off and late pick up option, a charge is made for this.
Our nursery is overseen by the Early Years Lead at Hawthorns and the school SENDCO. Our staff are qualified to Level 3 in childcare, and have worked at Little Owls for over five years.
We are proud of our Ofsted 'good' rating and look forward to welcoming you and your child to our nursery.
Meet the Team
Nursery Teacher - Miss K Gammage
I am a qualified primary teacher with a specialism in Early Years. I have been at Hawthorns since graduating in 2018 and have previously taught in Year 1 and Year 2 here. This year I am thrilled to be joining the Little Owls Nursery team on a Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday and teaching in Reception on a Thursday and Friday. I am a mum of three boys aged 11,18 and 21, and enjoy spending family days together as often as we can. I also have a rabbit called Iris.
Deputy Manager - Mrs C Nicholls, Deputy safeguarding lead, H&S lead
I have worked at Little Owls for the last nine years as an Early Years Practitioner, and I am now the Deputy Manager. I have always been interested in Makaton, recently I have attended Makaton courses which I have introduced into the nursery setting.
I have three children, one at work, two at High School. In my spare time I enjoy walking my dogs, reading and watching movies. My favourite colour is purple.
Nursery Practitioners
Miss S Prince,
I have been working at Hawthorns for 10 years now and love what we do at Little Owls. I'm really interested in behavioural psychology, over the years there's not much I haven't seen from both a practitioner point of view and as Mum of boys!
I also enjoy spending time outdoors no matter the weather.
Mrs A Walker,
I have a level three qualification in Early Years and have worked at Little Owls for nine years. I am especially interested in communication development in children. I live in Durrington and I have a daughter at High School. I enjoy being outdoors, gardening and solving puzzles - from jigsaws to escape rooms.
Miss L Farrier
I qualified as an Early Years Practitioner in 2019. I love animals, I have a dog called Oscar, who I enjoy taking for long walks I also have guinea pigs and a rabbit called Buddie. In my spare time I like riding my bike and spending time with my friends and family. My favourite colour is green.
In addition the nursery are supported by
Early Years Lead - Mrs L Boakes
SENDco/DSL - Mr C Allwright
Staff are qualified to Level 3 in Early Years Childcare, hold current Paediatric First Aid certificates, level 2 Food Hygiene certificates and undertake annual safeguarding training.
In addition, staff have qualifications in Makaton sign language, Autism Awareness and have attended CPD courses in a variety of subjects including speech, language and communication, behaviour management, attachment theory and working with children with English as an additional language.
The Nursery
Little Owls has been established for over 10 years, and is located within the grounds of the school, with it's own purpose built rooms and secure outside play areas. Our grassed front garden contains climbing and balancing play equipment with a climbing frame and slide. Our paved back garden is used year round, where children have access to our story shed, home play area, ride on toys, water table, mud kitchen and a large collection of small world and construction toys. We grow our own fruits and vegetables together too.
In addition, we have use of the school hall and equipment, regular use of the on-site 'forest area' and direct access to Longcroft park through a school gate.
Indoors, children are able to independently access many resources, and have opportunities to paint, draw and stick with glue. Children have access to messy play, with things like water, sand, play doh, cornflour and shaving foam. Our well resourced book room provides a quieter space to play, and has a large collection of games and puzzles.
Children are encouraged to independently use the toilets - which are child size and there is a safe area for nappy change too.
Children have free-flow access to play indoors or outside, and come together during the session for an adult led activity. We sit together at snack time to share our food and have a drink and a chat.
We end the session together with a story or songs.
(Parents are invited to join us weekly for song sessions, and termly for our themed Come and Play sessions.) Suspended currently due to COVID-19.
Fees 2021/2022
Morning Session 9am - 12pm - £14.70
Afternoon Session 12pm - 3pm - £14.70
All day 9am - 3pm £29.40
2 sessions £29.40
3 sessions £44.10
4 sessions £58.80
5 sessions £73.50
Early drop off/Late pick up by prior arrangement only. A fee will be levied for this, based on duration.
All payments to be made in advance.
Fees subject to annual review.
Inset days
2nd September 2021
Closed for home visits 3rd/6th/7th September
Nursery opens Wednesday September 8th 2021
1st November 2021
4th January 2022
28th February 2022
6th June 2022
Term dates follow WSCC
