14 Sep Left a lasting impression
Alice first came across Little Pippins when she moved to the village of Skelton-on-Ure with husband Stephen and their baby daughter Freida. If it was convenience that first led them to have a look around the nursery, it is the staff that have left a lasting impression.
“What really makes Little Pippins wonderful is its passionate and dedicated team who all seem so happy in their work,” says Alice.
“Freida’s keyworkers and other team members make us feel so reassured that she’s having the best time and the head teacher Mrs Jackson is always on hand, gets involved in the activities and knows the names of all the children, which is so important.”
Little Pippins uses the Montessori teaching method to deliver the Department of Education and Skills Early Years Foundation Stage Framework.
The Montessori method is based on the belief that children learn best by doing and that happy self-motivated learners form positive images of themselves as confident, successful people able to fulfil their potential.
Using specially designed resources to foster independence and a love for learning from an early age, this includes spending time outdoors doing activities, enjoying nature and the open air.
Like all children under 18 months old, Freida started in the Little Pips room with a ratio of three babies to one teacher. She then progressed to Little Buds with the same ratio and a focus that further enhances the children’s learning journey.
Alice said she and her husband didn’t know a lot about the Montessori method before visiting Little Pippins. They took time to understand a bit more and the use of outdoor space was something that chimed with their beliefs.
“It’s set in such lovely grounds with space for the children to enjoy as they learn,” says Alice. “The numbers are just right so children learn to socialise and to share without being crowded.”
Freida attends nursery two days a week while both her parents are at work. They enjoy the updates on how Freida’s two days a week pan out, which always involves learning and fun.
“The activities the team come up with often focus around a theme or wider event, and there’s always so much thought that goes into them. It’s so great to see what Freida and her friends are getting up to,” said Alice.
“They also just get the class out in nature for walks a lot which they enjoy. Often Freida and I will bump into her gang when out for a walk ourselves on a non-nursery day.”