Exploring exciting animal encounters at Hertford Barns Day Nursery
Hertford Barns Day Nursery provides the perfect space for children to thrive in countryside surroundings, set against a backdrop of rolling fields where children point out hot air balloons overhead and wave to farmers passing by on their tractors.
Having recently welcomed a flock of lambs and ewes as a permanent addition to the Cole Green setting, pre-schoolers are able to learn about life cycles first-hand, as well as the importance of caring for other living creatures with activities including bottle feeding and petting sessions. The exciting animal encounters add a valuable new element to the nursery’s Eco-Schools curriculum, with topics covered including biodiversity and global citizenship, for which they have earnt a prestigious ‘Green Flag’, the highest accolade in the international programme which is awarded for exceptional environmental awareness and conservation practices.
At Hertford Barns, children take part in sustainable activities all year round as part of the scheme, from planting and growing herbs and vegetables which are then used as ingredients in meals by talented Nursery Chefs, to crafting with natural and recycled materials. Hertford Barns Day Nursery Manager, Jenny Pratt, explains: “The arrival of the lambs has been an incredible experience for all involved, with valuable life lessons around treating all living things with respect. This will support the children’s understanding of the world, as well as scaffold on their communication and language skills and support personal, social and emotional development.”
Back inside, days are planned around children’s personal interests and designed in line with Early Years Foundation Stage principles to ensure they are prepared with the knowledge and skills needed for their next steps in education. Spacious classrooms inside the stunning barn conversion and historic stable block are home to stimulating learning spaces, state of the art ICT, toys and equipment, messy play stations, ‘role play’ areas and purpose-built facilities including a children’s shaker style kitchen for cooking and baking activities. Here pre-schoolers can design their own menus and showcase their culinary skills, all whilst learning basic mathematical concepts through weighing and measuring, as well as the importance of good nutrition to healthy lifestyles.
The nursery also boasts a comprehensive school readiness programme, with focus areas ranging from phonics to self-care, to ensure children are confident and independent learners, ready to embrace school life. Hertford Barns provides a fully-inclusive service with award-winning meals and is currently taking children from six weeks to nearly five-years-old.
For more information, to arrange a visit or to register for a place please contact the nursery on 01707 392999 or email [email protected]
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