Best Community-Run Nursery 2023 - Sussex Established by Bexhill Family Collective in March 2021, Dragonflies Community Nursery is a community-run nursery located in Bexhill on Sea. The company provides Early Years education to children under five with the goal of nurturing young minds to become future achievers. The nursery is operated by a team of dedicated and passionate practitioners who work hard to provide a safe, happy, and stimulating environment in which children can play and explore. Dragonflies Community Nursery is situated in the heart of Sidley in Bexhill on Sea, within a large purpose-built building that it shares with a children’s centre. The nursery is naturally lit, easily accessible for wheelchair users, and very spacious. Thanks to the support of its community, the nursery benefits from the use of excellent equipment, including a range of quality materials that effectively support children’s learning and development. Dragonflies Community Nursery’s cosy and secure baby room, equipped with its own play and sleeping space, is perfect for children under two years old. Alternatively, the fun-packed toddler room is designed for those aged between two and five, with a range of exciting activities for them to engage in. The nursery welcomes children between 8am and 6pm, offering morning, afternoon, and full day sessions. It also offers breakfast and after school clubs to meet the needs of parents who require flexible arrangements. Throughout their stay, children will be provided with balanced meals, healthy snacks, water, and milk. Furthermore, Dragonflies Community Nursery is passionate about encouraging outdoor play, with a beautiful on-site outdoor space and passionately thought out garden. The children are free to explore the outdoors all day, whatever the weather; where they take part in fun activities and explore the natural environment. Free of charge to children who attend the nursery, Dragonflies Community Nursery also runs a Forest School, which provides a safe play space in a light, clean area of Sidley woods. Run a qualified forest school leader, the school Jul23427 features a fire pit with a fire circle, an arts and crafts corner, a mud and exploration space, and a physical play area. When they attend the forest school, children learn many new and interesting things including firelighting and whittling. With community at its core, Dragonflies Community Nursery is not only committed to providing the best standard of care to the children, but also to supporting their families. The nursery recognises the issues that many parents and guardians are currently facing because of the cost-of-living crisis. It aims to think of practical and emotional ways through which it can support them in these difficult times. This is why it has opened a community pantry, offered a warm space for families to use during the winter months, and provided local people with job opportunities. The Dragonflies Community Nursery team primarily consists of passionate and qualified professionals, but it also invests heavily in young people who are keen to embark on a career in childcare, taking on apprentices and supporting volunteers when possible. Dragonflies Community Nursery is also dedicated to contributing towards inclusivity within its community. Whilst its primary language of instruction is English, the nursery has fostered a highly inclusive environment in which children are encouraged to learn about and explore other languages and cultures. Furthermore, for parents whose main language is not English, it offers access to translation services and resources to help them develop their English language skills. As a result of its outstanding work, Dragonflies Community Nursery has been awarded Best Community-Run Nursery, Sussex, in the Parent and Baby Awards 2023. In the coming months, the Bexhill Family Collective plan build a community garden, which will be used by the nursery children and the wider community to grow fruits and vegetables, learn foraging skills, and host workshops focused on wellbeing and bushcraft. Construction of the garden will commence in autumn 2023, with the potential for volunteers to contribute over winter in preparation for spring. Contact Details Contact: Heather Winchester Company: Dragonflies Community Nursery Web Address: dragonfliescommunitynursery.co.uk
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MTUyMDQwMA==