Business Details
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Your Trusted Partner for Early Years Education & Childcare
Established in Congresbury over 30 years ago, Secret Garden Nursery & Pre-School has become a trusted provider of early years education and childcare. Our converted barn premises offers distinct age-specific environments including Baby Barn (6 months+), Fledglings Barn (2 years+) and School Barn (3-5 years), each designed to support key developmental stages. Our team of qualified professionals holds advanced paediatric first aid certifications, food hygiene qualifications and safeguarding accreditations, ensuring children receive expert care aligned with the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) framework. We provide tailored learning experiences through our Tapestry online journal system, enabling parents to track their child's progress.Our homely environment features two outdoor spaces, on-site kitchen preparing fresh meals daily, and a comprehensive curriculum covering all seven EYFS learning areas. With structured routines incorporating music, movement and literacy activities, we prioritise both educational development and emotional wellbeing. Our transition programme supports families through settling-in periods, while regular parents' evenings and community trips enhance engagement. The nursery's commitment to quality has been maintained across three generations of ownership, combining continuity with modern pedagogical approaches.
Services
Early Years Education
Baby Care
Toddler Programmes
Preschool Preparation
Nutritious Meals
Outdoor Learning
Parent Workshops
Transition Support
Allergy Management
Special Educational Needs Support
Highlights and features
- 30+ years of specialist early years experience in Congresbury
- Fully qualified team with advanced paediatric first aid and safeguarding certifications
- Purpose-designed barn premises with age-specific learning environments
- Daily fresh meal preparation by on-site cook with allergy management training
- Proven transition programme supporting children's emotional development
Associations and certifications
- Ofsted
What people say
Exceptional staff
Wonderful learning environment
Excellent communication
Creative outdoor activities
Smooth transition process
Services
Early Years Education
Our EYFS-compliant curriculum delivers structured learning across seven developmental areas. Qualified educators create individualised plans using Tapestry tracking system, with daily activities covering literacy, mathematics and creative arts. Children engage in seasonal outdoor exploration and themed projects that develop cognitive and social skills.
Baby Care
Specialised care for 6-24 month-olds in our first-floor Baby Barn. Features include sensory play areas, sleep pods with home-routine support, and transition programmes. Practitioners document nappy changes and feeding patterns, while daily walks explore our natural surroundings. Key person system ensures consistent emotional support.
Nutritious Meals
Daily-prepared meals using local ingredients from Kenn beef, Wrington lamb and Nempnett Pastures poultry. Our cook creates four-week rotating menus accommodating allergies, with children involved in food preparation activities. Hydration programme encourages regular water consumption through named bottles and accessible drinking stations.
Parent Engagement
Regular parents' evenings, photo days and 'Stay & Play' sessions foster home-nursery partnerships. Tapestry system enables real-time progress updates, while transition meetings support room changes. Emergency contact available outside hours for urgent family needs.
Outdoor Learning
Two garden spaces facilitate year-round outdoor education. Children explore natural environments through structured walks, seasonal activities and sensory play. The rear garden hosts small group sessions, while the main decked area provides all-weather access to physical play equipment and gardening activities.
People
Hollie
Nursery Proprietor
Early Years Professional with BA Hons in Early Years and Level 3 childcare qualifications. Holds advanced safeguarding certifications and paediatric first aid training. Leads strategic direction while maintaining hands-on involvement in curriculum development and staff mentoring.
Emma
Nursery Manager
Level 5 qualified manager with 20 years' experience. Specialises in safeguarding leadership and food safety compliance. Oversees daily operations, staff training programmes and parent liaison. Maintains current certifications in allergy awareness and advanced child protection.
Bobbie
Deputy Manager
SENCO and health & safety lead with Early Years Foundation Degree. Coordinates special educational needs provision and staff safeguarding training. Manages risk assessments and maintains compliance with regulatory standards while supporting daily nursery operations.
Liz
Nursery Cook
Level 3 food hygiene certified chef preparing fresh meals daily. Develops allergy-friendly menus and implements hydration strategies. Collaborates with staff to incorporate cooking activities into learning programmes while maintaining strict food safety protocols.
Reanne
Room Leader
CACHE Level 3 qualified educator managing School Barn room. Plans EYFS-aligned activities and conducts key person assessments. Coordinates transition programmes and outdoor learning sessions while maintaining detailed child development records.
Questions
What age groups do you cater for?
We care for children from 6 months to 5 years across three dedicated spaces: Baby Barn (6-24 months), Fledglings Barn (2-3 years) and School Barn (3-5 years).
How do you support children's learning and development?
We follow the Early Years Foundation Stage framework, with individual learning plans tracked through Tapestry. Daily activities cover all seven developmental areas, incorporating outdoor exploration and seasonal themes.
What are your opening hours?
We operate Monday-Friday 8:00am-6:00pm. Emergency out-of-hours contact available. Sessions can be tailored to family needs with flexible start/end times.
How do you handle dietary requirements?
Our on-site cook prepares fresh meals daily using local ingredients. We accommodate allergies and special dietary needs with individualised meal plans and strict cross-contamination controls.
What transition support do you offer?
We provide three settling-in sessions before full attendance, with flexible timing to match home routines. Room transitions occur between 18-24 months following joint parent-staff assessments.
How do you communicate with parents?
We use Tapestry online journals for daily updates, host three parents' evenings annually, and offer regular 'Stay & Play' sessions. Key workers provide daily handovers and maintain open communication channels.
