Holly Cottage Day Nursery

Welcome to Our Website

Holly Cottage provides a high standard of child care and a stimulating environment for children aged 3 months to 5 years. We aim to recognise the children's individual needs and understand the various stages which children pass through in their development.

We provide a non-sexist, non-racist environment. We will respect all cultures, religions and customs. Our toys, activities, topics/themes and menus reflect this.

In providing a happy, homely and stimulating environment, the children will move forward gaining the necessary skills and knowledge suitable to each age group and their stages of development, with the help and encouragement of the Nursery staff.

Holly Cottage was opened on the 5th September 1998 and is owned by Melissa, Kevin and Kenneth Brant. Melissa, who is a mother of three children, opened the Nursery originally as a place for her children to attend.

An appropriate learning syllabus/curriculum has been devised for each age group to help staff enhance development and for children to move 'forward at their own pace.

We have a comprehensive insurance covering public liability, employer's liability, personal accident for children and staff and personal belongings.

French Club

Le Club Francais is a national fun French club where children are taught French in small groups. They learn through games, crafts and varied activities. The French teacher visits our Nursery every Friday for Pre-School.

Music & Dance (Jo Jingles)

This is an independent company that visits the Nursery (no extra charge). The teaching methods include music and movement, using hand puppets, colourful books and instruments. They work with the 17 month to 5 year olds on Tuesdays. The aim is for the staff and children to enjoy singing and dancing using lots of expression.

Soft Play & Imagination Room

Holly Cottage has a purpose built soft play area. Apart from a small reception area the room is padded throughout. If the weather is bad in the morning or afternoon a group of children use this room for free-play. They use the soft toys and play equipment, allowing them to use their imagination and let off steam. During the day all the groups use this room for planned activities. For the babies we have tiny tot modules, which are soft toys that can be fitted together in various different ways to form one stable, secure unit. Enabling the children to crawl, jump and move about safely. For the rest of the nursery we have:

Ludokit, which is a range of different soft shapes. The children can have fun with building games and develop their motor skills.

Bloc - Modules, These are larger soft blocks in varying shapes that can be used alone or with other modules. The possibilities for these blocks are endless. They allow the children to invent movement games, allowing them to discover the flexibility in their bodies.

Hexagblocks are flat sloping harder blocks that are fantastic for obstacle courses. They teach the children balance and help build up their confidence. Quadro is interchangeable climbing apparatus that has a slide that leads to a ball pond. Although the climbing frame allows the children to be daredevils in a safe environment, the ball pond is just for fun. When you're under 5 that really is the whole point of the day.

We also bring balls, bean-bags, skipping ropes etc into the room, to improve catching, throwing and counting skills.

I am sure you will agree the uses for this room are unlimited.

Outdoors at Holly Cottage

The nursery is situated in rural surroundings and woodlands. We have access to Gorrick Woods and Bramshill Forest, where the children and staff take regular walks and have picnics. We also have access to Ludgrove where we visit the farm.

The Nursery garden is a delight to play in and explore, with Guinea Fowl wandering freely. We encourage all children to care for the Nursery environment. This includes treating the garden kindly, tidying toys after play session.

We have three fenced off garden areas, and two playing fields that all the age groups use.