The co-founder of a new nursery in Coventry says that early years education is at risk of becoming a “waiting room for school” for the next generation, unless more funding is delivered to support the sector.
The Browns Preschool has opened its doors at Arthur Wilson House on Humber Road to cater for up to 50 children aged 2 to 4, to help buck a national trend of some nurseries closing or cutting back on tailored learning due to funding pressures, according to one of its founders, Helen O’Toole.
It comes as recent research from the Early Years Alliance (EYA) claims that one in ten early years settings have warned they are at risk of closure due to rising costs; while a separate EYA survey revealed that 41 per cent of early years settings said they are likely to reduce the number of funded places they offer to combat external financial pressures.
The Browns Preschool builds upon Helen and her brother Brendan O’Toole’s success with their other nursery in Exhall, The Early Learning Camp, which has a “Good” Ofsted rating and has been operating since 2018.
The siblings were joined by the Deputy Lord Mayor of Coventry, councillor Roger Bailey, who formally opened the nursery with a ribbon cutting ceremony.
Helen said: “Parents deserve more than childcare, but a place that feels like an extension of the home where their children can explore and learn what they are interested in at their own pace, rather than being thrust into a one-size-fits-all environment that is dictated by financial pressures which is beyond some nurseries’ control.
“Our nurseries pride themselves on providing a tailored learning environment, and when we noticed there was a particular need for more childcare places on the outskirts of Coventry due to new housing developments around Allard Way and Station Grange in Whitley, we wanted to act to try and meet this demand.”
The Browns Preschool is situated in the old Ben Day Care Centre, which has undergone a £60,000 refurbishment to create an environment that promotes curiosity-led learning with a mixture of learning zones.
Indoors, children have access to imaginative role play, construction, sand, creative and art materials, loose parts, books and story spaces, as well as areas designed for both active exploration and quiet regulation.
The nursery also has plans to develop a dedicated sensory room, designed to offer a welcoming space for children with special educational needs and a place of support for local families.
Outdoors, children benefit from a thoughtfully planned space that places nature-led learning at the heart of everyday experiences, including access to a mud kitchen, den-building and an allotment and growing area to provide hands-on experiences to understand where food comes from.
There is also has a separate dining room that encourages conversation and helps children to develop confidence, communication skills and a healthy relationship with shared meals.
The nursery will be funded via government-funded places, as well as fees from parents as part of a carefully developed business plan; and will employ an initial eight early years professionals, with room for further expansion.
Helen added: “The varied environment we have created lays the foundations for our ‘in the moment’ planning. Rather than pre-planning activities for children, our practitioners tune in to what children are already exploring and extend learning as it happens to help build confidence.
“If a child is quiet or unsettled, for example, we don’t rush them towards group activities or particular expectations. Instead, practitioners observe what naturally draws the child’s attention and gently extend play from there, whether through small world play, sensory exploration, books or quiet creative experiences.
“Or when a child displays a clear interest in a topic, our staff will also pursue this curiosity in ways that will develop maths, English and critical thinking to set them up for their school journey.
“We’re really excited to be able to open The Browns Preschool, because we believe that when the right support is in place, it demonstrates that early years settings can provide tailored and meaningful experiences for children, rather than nurseries simply being a place where they are safe.”
