A new nursery providing early years provision for up to 90 children from age two to school age on a term-time basis has opened at Bitterne Park Primary School.

 

Bitterne Park Nursery welcomed families for the first time this September, with nursery manager Michelle Black saying the team is “very proud of how it’s turned out”.

Already around 50 children have been enrolled.

“Every day we’re getting more and more people coming to the door ... asking for sessions,” said Michelle. “So that I feel [it] will fill up really, really quickly and we’ll be at that 90 [capacity].”

 Staff at Bitterne Park Nursery in the outdoor area, with the 'cave' entrance in the background

Rather than being a commercial enterprise, the nursery is part of Bitterne Park Primary School and managed by it.

“The school is our manager. So yes, we’re one big team now,” explained Michelle.

Facilities include three playrooms, each geared to different age groups, with free flow between them.

The youngest children start their day in a calm, carpeted space, with older children using two other playrooms.

 Time for a cuppa after a busy day? Nursery manager Michelle Black demonstrates the children’s play kitchen.

“And then we have a rather large outside space that we never used to have in our old setting so we’re really pleased with that,” Michelle said. “We have a ‘cave’ where we can do any interventions that need to [happen in] that quiet space.”

Activities are designed to suit each stage of development, from strengthening muscles with Play-Doh to learning how to use scissors safely. “Everyone in all the rooms will do a base on the same thing, but to the development level of each child.”

Many former Riverside Preschool staff now work at the nursery, providing continuity for families. Michelle, who was deputy at Riverside before taking on her new role, said she was particularly excited by the opportunity to design spaces that children and parents would enjoy.

“I’m really excited. I’m just so excited. And I’m very proud of my staff team,” she said. “They are so fantastic. And I’m really lucky that they have applied for a job here and they are doing that. So I’m so pleased that that team is still together because they’re wonderful.”