Since buying the former Jigsaw nursery in Rednal, Birmingham inFebruary, Catriona Savage has overseen an ambitious makeover of itsoutdoor area.
Now trading as My First Friends Day Nursery, the site boasts 120 squaremetres of hard play area, including a multi-coloured 'Playtop' surfaceand grass, and a separate 'secret garden'. Funding was supplied byBirmingham City Council with work completed by a local landscapingcompany in March - much to the delight of children and families in thearea, and staff.
Ms Savage says, 'I was attracted to the site because it waspurpose-built and offered so much space. I immediately recognised thatit had the potential to deliver the Early Years Foundation Stagebrilliantly. It was successful under its previous owner, and it is now acase of taking it forward under the new framework.'
The nursery currently provides 120 places and boasts around 90 per centoccupancy. Many of its 44 staff work on a flexible basis and are mothersthemselves, with their children attending the nursery.
'We are geared to giving staff the hours they need to fit in with theirown childcare and family commitments, and not many work full time,' saysMs Savage. 'We feel that the employees who have their own children hereare a great advertisement for the nursery.'
The outdoor area is supporting an individual approach to every child'slearning - whether it is developing spatial awareness, understanding theenvironment and talking about it, or encouraging physical fitness.Meanwhile, the garden can be used as an outdoor classroom all yearround.
Ms Savage says the design means that all of the nursery's rooms can beoutside at the same time, pursuing their own activities. 'We are luckyto have enough space to provide this flexibility. The children love thefact that they can see each other.'
The great outdoors is also helping staff to be creative. 'It isencouraging them to reflect more closely on the children's physical andemotional needs,' says Ms Savage. 'They are now able to fully integratethe outdoors into their planning and we are all involved in an ongoingprocess to maximise its use in line with the changing seasons. Childrenare learning about conservation, cultivation and preservation. Forexample, they recently set up a water butt and planted a herb garden. Wealso have large square planters in which they've grown vegetables suchas lettuce and radishes, and flowers including sunflowers andpansies.
'We are looking forward to the autumn and winter months. We will beoutside, whatever the weather.'