Business Details
27 Years
experience
Trusted Child Care & Early Education in Gnosall
St Lawrences Day Nursery has been providing exceptional childcare services since 1999, founded by Claire Oldroyd, an experienced nursery owner and manager. Our commitment to maintaining a stable, dedicated team ensures continuity of care, with some staff members having remained with the nursery since its inception. We prioritise holistic child development through stimulating environments tailored to individual needs, combining structured learning with creative exploration. Our approach integrates parental collaboration through daily communication books, regular feedback sessions, and community engagement activities. With separate facilities for babies (6 weeks-12 months), toddlers (12 months-3 years), and pre-school children (3-4 years), we offer age-appropriate curricula focusing on physical, cognitive, and social development.The nursery's 'Stay and Play' sessions, monthly coffee mornings, and open-door policy foster strong parent-carer relationships. Our outdoor learning initiatives include vegetable gardening, animal care, and local community visits, while partnerships with external professionals like dentists and farmers enhance educational experiences. Safety and security protocols align with statutory requirements, ensuring a secure environment for all children. The 2021 establishment of our dedicated pre-school facility expanded our capacity to prepare children for formal education through problem-solving activities and structured learning frameworks. Regular newsletters, digital communication channels, and termly parent-teacher meetings maintain transparent information flow for families.
Services
Baby Care
Toddler Provision
Pre-school Education
After-school Club
Holiday Activities
Parent Workshops
Outdoor Learning
Community Visits
Details
- Year established: 1999
Highlights and features
- We maintain a stable team with staff members from our 1999 founding still employed
- Our curriculum combines structured learning with outdoor exploration and community engagement
- Daily parental communication through home-to-nursery books and keyworker system
- Specialised facilities for different developmental stages from infancy to pre-school
- Regular partnerships with external professionals enhance educational experiences
What people say
Best nursery around
Outstanding service
Wonderful team
Special environment
Positive environment
Services
Baby Care
Our baby room provides home-from-home care for infants aged 6 weeks to 12 months. With a 1:3 staff-to-child ratio, we follow individual routines while introducing sensory activities and early motor skill development through age-appropriate equipment. Daily communication books and verbal handovers ensure parents remain fully informed about their baby's progress. The dedicated outdoor play area allows safe exploration of natural environments.
Pre-school Education
Our pre-school programme prepares children aged 3-4 years for formal education through structured learning across all seven curriculum areas. Children engage in problem-solving activities, outdoor learning sessions, and community visits while developing school-readiness skills. Specialist sessions with external professionals and practical experiences like vegetable gardening and animal care enhance educational outcomes. Regular progress assessments inform individualised learning plans.
After-school Club
We provide supervised care for children aged 4-11 years during school terms, operating from 8:00-9:00am and 3:30-6:00pm. The programme combines homework support with recreational activities and outdoor play. Regular themed events and access to our extensive outdoor facilities ensure children receive balanced care that complements their school education while accommodating working parents' schedules.
Holiday Activities
Our holiday programme offers structured activities for children aged 4-11 years during school breaks. Each holiday features a timetable of educational visits to locations like Wacky Warehouse, Stafford Castle, and ice cream farms, combined with creative workshops and outdoor games. The action-packed schedule ensures continuous engagement while developing social skills and providing safe, supervised childcare during school holidays.
Parent Partnerships
We maintain comprehensive communication channels including daily interaction books, regular parent-teacher meetings, and monthly coffee mornings. Our open-door policy allows spontaneous discussions, while digital updates and newsletters keep families informed about nursery activities. The 'Stay and Play' sessions and annual open days foster stronger family connections and ensure parents remain integral to their child's developmental journey.
People
Claire Oldroyd
Owner and Manager
Claire established St Lawrence's Day Nursery in 1999 and expanded with the pre-school in 2021. With three decades of childcare experience, she leads a dedicated team that maintains exceptional standards through continuous professional development and nurturing relationships with children and families.
Questions
What age ranges do you cater for?
We provide care for babies from 6 weeks old through to children aged 11 years, with distinct programmes for different developmental stages.
How do you support children's learning through play?
Our curriculum integrates sensory activities, outdoor exploration, and structured play sessions that develop motor skills, creativity, and social interaction.
What qualifications do your staff hold?
All staff possess relevant childcare qualifications with ongoing professional development, selected for both expertise and nurturing approach to childcare.
How do you involve parents in their child's development?
We maintain daily communication through keyworkers, home-to-nursery books, regular feedback sessions, and termly parent-teacher meetings with progress updates.
What outdoor activities are available?
Children access dedicated play areas, vegetable gardens, and participate in local community visits including library trips, farm experiences, and nature walks.
