At The Nursery School Company we have play at the very heart of our ethos. Our settings have been thoughtfully designed to allow children the opportunity to enjoy learning. We designed our innovative and exciting curriculum to give children the widest range of opportunities. The success of our approach can be measured in the children’s high level of achievement.
Our Approach
Our educational approach has been brought together using twenty years of experience in the early years. We use the Forest School approach to inform and underpin our outdoor curriculum. We also take influences from other early years philosophers including High Scope, Reggio Emilia and the Montessori method.
Whilst we draw on these methods, we are constantly evolving to ensure that the latest scientific findings reflect the modern world and the educational experiences the children are exposed to. For example working to provide STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths) influences whilst also ensuring that we put emotional well-being at the heart of early years practice.
Maria Montessori
Children are given the freedom to work at their own pace making their own choices and correcting their own mistakes. Montessori method allows children to learn the way they learn best, by doing things for themselves. During independent activities children are encouraged to choose work that appeals to their interests. The teacher will also introduce new work to the children according to their abilities and stage of development.
High Scope
High Scope is an approach to early years education that has at its core the belief that children gain confidence, initiative and a lifelong love of learning when involved in well-supported activities of their own choosing. A consistent and flexible daily routine which provides for child and adult initiated activities.
- Opportunities to choose, plan, carry out and reflect on their activities
- Opportunities for children to engage in the active participatory learning process
- Adults who value and appreciate children and provide a creative and supportive learning climate
Forest school
Forest School is a child-centred inspirational learning process, that offers opportunities for holistic growth through regular sessions. Forest school supports play, exploration and supported risk taking. It develops confidence and self-esteem through learner inspired, hands-on experiences in a natural setting. Its roots reach back to the open-air culture seen as a way of life in Scandinavia where Forest School began.
Reggio Emilia
The Reggio Emilia sees children as curious individuals with the power and potential to develop and learn from their environment and the relationships they build with others. Children are viewed as strong and intelligent individuals who should be given every opportunity to reach their potential.
Children are viewed as having unlimited potential and being eager to interact with and contribute to the world.
The learning process is considered to be of much higher importance than the final product. Teachers create in-depth projects based on observations, information from parents and the interests of the children.
Our Aims:
- Provide families access to an exceptional early years education.
- Support children to be independent learners having the opportunity to be imaginative and critical thinkers.
- Develop close relationships with families to enhance childrens sense of belonging.
- Lay the foundations for future learning.
- Support children to develop high standards of behaviour, respect and tolerance for others.
Founder's Welcome
Catherine Harvey
Ba Hons in Early Childhood Studies, EYPS, DipNEBOSH
As I sit down to write this, I reflect on how much has changed since that freezing lockdown morning when The Nursery School Company was just a vision taking shape. I remember sitting at the kitchen table, surrounded by notes, ideas, and the beginnings of a plan, while my youngest daughter, Hattie, happily created a playdough masterpiece with slightly wilted Valentine’s roses. At the time, the world felt uncertain, but one thing was clear to me: now, more than ever, children needed a nurturing, inspiring environment where they could thrive.
From those early plans, The Nursery School Company was born. What began with our very first nursery in Worthing has flourished into three, soon to be four, thriving nurseries, alongside our Forest School and The Nursery School Company Food, all built on our deep commitment to providing an exceptional, bespoke early years experience.
Children require consistency, love, support, and opportunities to be happy and develop in their own holistic way. This is what we bring you at The Nursery School Company. With our highly qualified educators, our thoughtfully designed nurseries, and the wonderful experiences we provide, we nurture children’s understanding of the real world, extending learning and following their excitement and wonder.
With over 20 years of experience in early years education, including founding a chain of outstanding nurseries in the Midlands, I have dedicated my career to crafting bespoke early childhood environments that prioritise quality, care, and attention to detail. As both a professional and a parent, I know how important it is to find a nursery that is not only safe and nurturing but also enriched with the small but meaningful touches that show true dedication to each child’s well-being.
I am incredibly proud of what we have built at The Nursery School Company and the community we continue to grow. We offer something truly special, and I warmly invite you to visit us to see (and feel) why.
Thank you!