Open 7.30am - 6.30pm
Before & after school club
Early drop off and late finish
Organic nursery
Based in a charming listed former school building opposite Bishopthorpe library, our nursery boasts four beautiful rooms, each lovingly restored to preserve their original features.
At Little Green Rascals, we strive to create a home-from-home environment, using natural, locally sourced, and organic products whenever possible—ensuring no added nasties in our food or skincare.
Our toys and resources are made from natural and sustainable materials, and even our electricity comes from an ethical supplier. We deliver inspiring and educational activities that nurture a child’s confidence, communication, and relationships.
Outside our nursery, we offer a fantastic bespoke hobbit hill, swings, a climbing frame, and a wide selection of bikes and sports equipment. Open access to our outstanding outdoor spaces, regardless of the weather, has a tremendously positive impact on our rascals. They can ride bicycles and scooters, play in the mud kitchens, or jump in the deepest of puddles!
Our Out of School Club and Holiday Club, hosted at Bishopthorpe Infant School, offers children aged 4-11 adventures from 7.30am-6pm.
Out of School Club morning sessions prepare children for the day ahead, ensuring they are ready and focused for their school activities. After a busy school day, our after-school program includes fun and educational cooking sessions, creative arts and crafts projects, physical activities to keep children active and healthy, a quiet area for children to complete homework, and a cosy space for them to relax and unwind.
During the school holidays our Holiday Club has various arts and crafts activities for children to enjoy along with plenty of outdoor adventures to keep children engaged and entertained throughout the day. Contact us to learn more about upcoming holiday clubs and what’s involved.
View Ofsted report
The Brighter Learning Approach (BLA) is unique to The Old Station Nursery group and is our advanced approach to the Early Years Foundation Stage curriculum and core pedagogy. It differs from traditional nursery teaching methods by providing real-life opportunities to enhance children’s natural curiosity, with emphasis on hands-on experiences, child-led learning, and whole development.
The six core areas promote active engagement and critical thinking whilst encouraging exploration, creativity, and collaboration. Each child learns at their own pace and is challenged and extended at appropriate times.
The best place to see the BLA in action is via our local nursery Facebook page, where each post explains which part of the curriculum the children are working on. Our parents also receive updates on the Parent App too.
Championing children's holistic health and laying the foundations for a happy, healthy and successful life.
Helping the future generation of global citizens to understand the world they live in and to believe they can make a difference.
Enabling early experiences in Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Mathematics (STEAM). Nurturing our next generation of investigators, inventors and innovators.
Enticing children to develop a life-long love of books and reading through engaging and interactive storytelling experiences. Building strong literacy skills while sparking imagination and creativity.
Engaging children in meaningful mathematical learning. Developing knowledge, building skills and exploring concepts, through purposeful play and plenty of practice.
Developing confident communicators by engaging in quality conversations with children every day, in a language rich and communication friendly environment.
At Little Green Rascals Bishopthorpe we have numerous extra clubs that enhance the Brighter Learning Approach, our bespoke version of the Early Years Statutory Framework. We also invite outside professionals to join us who provide additional sessions to our children.
If we’re not in our nursery you might find us in one of Bishopthorpe’s local parks, enjoying the cycle track and boat yards – or even the beautiful Brunswick garden centre.
With the aid of a ‘cool touch’ oven, child-safe equipment and the children’s chef’s hats and aprons we follow a set curriculum to learn about the joys of cooking and gain lifelong skills such as measuring, counting and following set instructions.
Our Bishopthorpe nursery leverages our Forest School area, local parks, rivers, and wildlife to give budding scientists hands-on experiences with nature.
Children learn about metamorphosis and animal care by observing the life cycle of a frog, from frogspawn to tadpoles and adult frogs.
Mini Kixx at Bishopthorpe nursery offers a positive introduction to sport through high-quality football training in a friendly, pressure-free environment.
Designed for our older children, these classes focus on simplicity and enjoyment, teaching essential skills like kicking, dribbling, and basic coordination through age-appropriate activities.
Baby Band is perfect for our tiniest rockstars, providing a joyful introduction to music. With baby-friendly instruments, fun songs, and interactive activities, this program nurtures a love for music while supporting early development.
Led by talented instructors, each session is filled with rhythm, melody, and laughter.
At Little Green Rascals Bishopthorpe, we believe that every child can be a little chef! Our cooking sessions are a delightful blend of fun and learning. Whether it’s preparing a healthy meal or baking a scrumptious dessert, children get hands-on experience in the kitchen.
They not only learn essential skills like measuring, counting, and following instructions but also develop a love for nutritious food.
Cooking together fosters teamwork and creativity, and the joy on their faces when they taste their creations is simply priceless. It’s more than just cooking; it’s about building confidence and making happy memories.
Our Budding Movers program at Little Green Rascals Bishopthorpe is a magical journey into the world of music and movement. Classes are filled with musical instruments, sensory equipment, puppets, and dance.
These sessions are designed to develop coordination, creativity, and confidence in a fun and engaging way. The children are always excited to participate, and parents often notice a boost in their children’s social skills and self-expression.
These classes are a wonderful way for children to explore their musical talents and burn off some energy while having a blast!
At Little Green Rascals Bishopthorpe, we nurture a love for nature with our Budding Gardeners program. Regardless of the weather, our little gardeners eagerly tend to our vegetable planters, often they find it more fun the muddier the gardens are.
They learn about the different stages of plant growth and enjoy exploring the various tastes and textures of the produce they help grow.
These activities teach children about environmental stewardship and sustainable gardening practices. More importantly, they instil a sense of responsibility and wonder for the natural world. Watching their excitement as they harvest their first vegetables is a joy, and it’s a skill they will carry with them for life.
Our Budding Scientists program at Little Green Rascals Bishopthorpe is all about sparking curiosity and imagination. Children dive into exciting experiments and hands-on activities that explore different materials and concepts.
From creating magical potions to embarking on space-themed adventures, our young scientists are always engaged and eager to learn. These activities encourage critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
Parents love hearing their children excitedly share their discoveries and proudly display their creations at home. It’s an excellent way to foster a lifelong love of learning and discovery in a supportive and stimulating environment.
Budding Artists at Flaxton is a big hit with the children, and parents often tell us they prefer the mess on our nursery floor rather than their home carpets! These sessions include a variety of materials like paint, flour, leaves, playdoh, lentils, shredded paper, and glue, to name just a few.
We use all sorts of items that children love to explore, enhancing their creative development and fine motor skills. Our nursery is set up to support messy play, and we ensure everything is cleaned up and tidy before lunch.
Budding musicians can explore different instruments at Little Green Rascals Nursery, as well as enjoying rhythmic games, and participating in interactive sing-along sessions.
They’ll discover the joy of creating melodies, understanding beats, and expressing themselves through music. Each activity is carefully crafted to inspire a love for music and develop their auditory skills in a fun and engaging environment.
At Little Green Rascals Bishopthorpe, we’re passionate about the link between home and nursery; the nursery experience is as much about the parent as it is for the child. commits to verbally updating you about your child’s day at pick-up time and via digital updates on the parent App.
We are here at any time should you wish to call us or want to discuss any area of your child’s care. We aim to look after our parents as well as our children so you can carry on with your day, work and career with a sense of peace.
First and foremost, you and we need to know that your child is safe. Before we can deliver the excellent curriculum that makes our nurseries so special, robust policies and procedures are followed to meet the exacting standards of Ofsted, building and fire regulations, food safety standards and staff DBS background checks and references.
Our staff are trained in numerous areas and we offer further training opportunities for staff who have an interest in a particular area. For example, some of our nurseries have attained Millie’s Mark, an accreditation gained by having 100% of staff on site trained in paediatric first aid.
Only trained staff members have access to open these doors, ensuring controlled entry at all times. Additionally, our doors are equipped with code entry for added security.
Inside the nursery, we maintain a double gate entry system leading to one of our outdoor spaces. This setup provides an additional level of security and peace of mind for everyone in our care.
Our delicious and nutritionally balanced menus are freshly prepared in-house by our fabulous chefs. We use organic dairy, organic or free-range meat, and the best quality locally sourced fruits and vegetables.
We follow the Dirty Dozen and Clean Fifteen concepts when purchasing our farm-sourced produce and feature at least one meat-free day per week.
Every child has a nursery key person who knows them best and who will be the child and parent’s main contact. Your key person at our nursery will update you about your child’s day and is there to answer your questions.
When your child moves to the next age group room, we hold several settling sessions with a new nursery key person. We encourage our parents to view the new room too, and we will work with you to discuss the new routines, just like we did when you first started nursery.
At Little Green Rascals Bishopthorpe we believe in supporting smooth transitions for children as they prepare for school. We actively invite teachers from key primary schools surrounding Bishopthorpe, Acomb and Clifton, allowing the children to meet their new teachers in a familiar environment. This interaction helps build familiarity and comfort, easing the transition process.
Our dedicated team of key workers collaborates closely with teachers to share valuable insights about each child’s development stages and individual needs. This communication ensures continuity and supports personalised care and learning.
To further support our children and families, we offer transition sessions on-site where parents can actively participate and engage with the transition process.
All our nurseries follow the Brighter Learning Approach, our bespoke version of the Early Years Statutory Framework.
Within this, each nursery chooses extra clubs, activities, and enhancements suitable for their space.
We offer flexible childcare with several session options as well as private, part-funded and some fully funded places for eligible families.
Contact us for the nursery fee that is correct for your individual circumstances.
Our youngest babies spend their days learning and exploring with sensory activities in the Wiggly Worms room.
Developing good relationships is crucial at this age, and our fabulous staff are here to help you and your baby settle in comfortably. We tailor our daily rhythm to suit each rascal, supporting their individual settling-in process.
In the Dancing Dragonflies room, children are encouraged to develop independence and curiosity in a language-rich environment. Supported by our dedicated staff, they can spend time in our home corners and play with puzzles to enhance their mathematical abilities.
In the Cheeky Hens room, children further their speech, language, and understanding skills. Creativity and imaginative play are fostered through a wide range of activities and provocations, helping them uncover a deeper knowledge and understanding of the world around them.
Our children aged 3+ are supported by an experienced Pre-School team focused on extending their knowledge and introducing new concepts. With access to a great outdoor space, they can express themselves freely, learn to manage risks, and explore our Forest School area.
At this age we start exploring FAB vocab, giving children the opportunity to learn new and complex works that they may have not used before. This really helps with school preparation and developing a love for language.
In the Little Green Rascals room we promote self-independence, which includes name recognition and placing emphasis on the children learning about emotions.
Bishopthorpe Out of School Club is a 50-place Out of School and Holiday Club based at the local primary school. We welcome school-aged children up to 11 years old from both Bishopthorpe Infant School and Archbishop of York.
There really is something for everyone. We encourage free play for all ages and planned activities which we encourage the children to help us plan. Holiday Club is always an exciting time, and the children love to help us plan some fabulous activities and outings. Contact us to book for this summer.
“I am very proud to be the Manger of Little Green Rascals Bishopthorpe Nursery and Out of School Club. We pride ourselves in creating a home from home environment for our Rascals. It is a pleasure watching them learn and develop each day within a fun, caring and stimulating environment created by our Outstanding Team.”
Lydia Sutcliffe, Little Green Rascals Bishopthorpe Nursery Manager
At Little Green Rascals Bishopthorpe, we are proud to have a very special member of our team –...
At Little Green Rascals Bishopthorpe, we are lucky to have the perfect neighbour—a lovely Public Library right next...
At Little Green Rascals Bishopthorpe, we love encouraging our children to explore their creativity and learn through hands-on...
Please note that this is not a confirmation of your tour. One of our nursery team will endeavour to get back to you ASAP to confirm your date and time. Thank you.
If you are looking to arrange a tour within the next 48 hours, we recommend calling the nursery directly.
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