14 Sep Experience the natural environment
“The outdoor space was the first thing that drew us to Little Pippins. It just looked so lovely and we wanted our daughter Mabel to experience the natural environment as part of her learning.”
That’s what led to parents Katie and Jim choosing Little Pippins for their daughter when they were looking for a place for her in 2025.
The couple first became aware of Little Pippins when they drove through the village of Skelton-on-Ure and saw the signs advertising that a new nursery was about to open.
Rather than a purpose-built development, Katie and Jim liked the way we had utilised the spacious rooms of the former Newby Hall Primary School and its extensive grounds to create a nursery that’s perfect for the more natural, holistic Montessori method of teaching.
The Woodland School is integral to daily life at Little Pippins with our staff taking every opportunity to utilise the spacious grounds and embrace some learning in the great outdoors.
This includes going out on walks, scavenging, finding mini-beasts, making natural objects, cooking, making dens and much more.
Mabel started at Little Pippins a year ago, when she was 11 months old, attending three days a week which allowed Katie to return to work as a community nurse.
“With Mabel starting nursery at the same time as her brother was starting primary school it was a bit of an anxious time but Mabel settled really quickly,” said Katie, who appreciates the Tapestry app that staff create to update parents on what the children have been doing.
“It’s re-assuring to see these regular updates of the children doing activities,” said Katie.
“Staff take the time to send photos and videos of things that Mabel has individually taken a real interest in. I really like how personalised the care feels there and that fits with the individualised Montessori approach to learning.”
Little Pippins has four different learning rooms which the children progress through as they grow older, with each transition managed carefully. Katie says she feels the more natural, less rigid approach to learning works well for Mabel.
She adds: “Mabel likes that and it shows that Little Pippins is centred on what works best for each child.”