HOW DID YOU BECOME THE WINNER OF THE BEST RURAL EDUCATION/TRAINING AWARD AT THE RURAL BUSINESS AWARDS?
One of our parents put us forward and I thought it would be really nice for staff to have someone who wasn’t just me saying ‘well done’. It can mean so much more to hear you are doing a good job from someone from outside. The minute we heard who else was in our category we Googled away and they were all so strong, we were really shocked to win. Now we are planning an evening in the new café we are about to open so we can celebrate with staff and really let our hair down.
HOW DID YOU FIRST DECIDE TO SET UP A FARM NURSERY?
I was a textile designer and had just had my sixth child when I realised I didn’t like the local nurseries. Six years ago, being outside all the time at nursery was much less encouraged than it is now. My husband was a farmer and he said, ‘Why don’t you sort it out yourself?’ I’m not sure he really meant that I should open a 30-place nursery on his farm, but that’s what I did! Now we offer 88 places across five rooms.
WHY IS THE FARM ENVIRONMENT SO WELL SUITED TO CHILDCARE?
There are such a lot of learning opportunities on a farm. We try to mesh the farming calendar with the EYFS, for example, using lambing season to learn all sorts of literacy, maths and health and hygiene skills. We get lambs who can’t drink from their mothers, so we look at measuring out the right amounts of milk, putting it in bottles, matching up the right lamb to the right amount, sterilising bottles and talking about the process. There is also a great sense of achievement for children, and a farm can really boost their resilience. My husband might drill a whole field but nothing will come up, or the pigeons eat everything. The children advise him to just have another go.
WHAT IS IN THE PIPELINE FOR THE NURSERY?
We have been approached by a local farmer who wants to set up another Mini Explorers nearby. It will be really nice to give this opportunity to more children.