The Cottage (2 - 3 years) 

The Cottage is located in a quiet area of Wingate, close to a local park and managed woodland. The Cottage boasts a home from home style setting, with a small kitchen area for an onsite cook to make delicious home cooked meals. It has a bathroom with a changing area, built specifically for very young children and of course, room to play.

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The cottage is set in grounds that enable young children to explore and discover nature, alongside our skilful and knowledgeable adults. There is a bird garden with feeders that the children can help to fill, alongside a beautiful bird hide, from which to observe the birds.

At Wingate Childcare, we believe every child has the right to the best start in life, and thrive on promoting outdoor learning and seizing every opportunity to spend time in nature. We feel the cottage would be an incredible addition to our successful and outstanding provision, with rich opportunities to support the development and progress of each child in our care. We believe this new and exciting venture will provide endless opportunities to promote the Prime areas and Characteristics of Effective Teaching and Learning throughout the year.

Our approach is child-led, allowing children to decide how they want to play, explore, and learn — whether it’s building dens outdoors, experimenting in nature, getting messy with creative projects, or enjoying a quiet story corner indoors. Being outdoors is at the heart of our day, giving children freedom to explore and connect with the natural world, but children are never required to be outside if they do not wish to. For us, it’s about building confidence, trust, and a love of learning at each child’s own pace.

 

We focus on the whole child, supporting emotional wellbeing, social skills, physical development, and curiosity. Through play, exploration, and everyday experiences, children develop confidence, resilience, problem-solving skills, and a lifelong love of learning.

 

Families are an important part of life at The Nature Cottage. We keep you connected through our online system, sharing observations, highlights, and achievements. We also welcome parents and carers to chat with practitioners, celebrate milestones, or join in special activities.