Ofsted Outstanding
Open 7.30am - 6.30pm
420sqm space
Organic nursery
At Little Green Rascals Elvington, we are pioneers of the Organic Day Nursery concept, which is dedicated to nurturing children naturally. Surrounded by roaming animals and Winn Wood at our doorstep, we create a comforting, home-like environment. We prioritise natural, locally sourced, and organic products to ensure that our food and skincare products are additive-free.
Our toys and resources are sustainable, reflecting our commitment to environmental stewardship. We also use electricity from ethical suppliers. Our focus is on enriching and educational activities that build children’s confidence, communication skills, and relationships.
Located in a beautiful farmhouse amidst trees and open farmland, our nursery spans 420 square meters of indoor and outdoor space.
Inside, we offer a secure and inspiring environment with dedicated areas for home corners, small-world play, role-play settings, malleable play, and construction zones. Comfy corners are available for quiet time or snuggles, aligned with the Early Years Foundation Stage curriculum.
As part of their outdoor learning experiences, the children regularly visit a forest school in the farmland we’re situated on, where they enjoy exploring the woodland, developing confidence, and discovering the wonders of nature through hands-on activities.
We know the importance of outside space and the benefits of learning in the local environment on children. We have a beautiful, enclosed forest offsite which boasts a number of large natural areas for exploration. We have qualified forest school leaders who provide an outdoor curriculum which promotes wellbeing and outdoor experiences for all children.
Starting school is a big adventure, and at Little Green Rascals, we make sure every child is ready to embrace it with confidence! Our Next Stop School program focuses on developing essential skills through fun, engaging activities, while supporting families every step of the way, ready for the transition to the local schools.
Outside, our landscaped gardens provide daily access for our Rascals to ride bicycles and scooters, engage in mud kitchen play, explore willow tunnels, experiment with giant musical instruments, climb wooden play structures, and jump into puddles of all sizes!
We’re based between the village of Elvington and York, in the grounds of York Maze. Come find us and explore what we have to offer!
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The All Aboard Approach 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 All Aboard Approach 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.
At Little Green Rascals Elvington we have numerous extra activities that enhance the All Aboard 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.
Cookery
Forest School
Mini Kixx
Baby Band
French Lessons
Woodwork
Physical Activities
Gardening
Science
Art
Music
Organic
At Little Green Rascals Elvington, we nurture budding chefs with hands-on cooking with our in-house chef. From crafting wholesome meals to baking delicious treats, children explore the joy of food preparation.
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.
At Elvington we find that cooking together fosters teamwork and sparks creativity, and the smiles when they taste their creations are truly heartwarming.
At our Elvington nursery, children engage in hands-on experiences with nature using our Forest School area, local parks, rivers, and wildlife.
They learn about metamorphosis and animal care by observing the life cycle of a frog, from frogspawn to tadpoles and adult frogs.
Mini Kixx at Elvington nursery introduces children to sport through high-quality football training in a friendly, pressure-free environment.
These classes, tailored for older children, focus on simplicity and enjoyment, teaching essential skills like kicking, dribbling, and basic coordination with age-appropriate activities.
Baby Band at Elvington nursery is perfect for our tiniest rockstars, offering a joyful introduction to music. This program, featuring baby-friendly instruments, fun songs, and interactive activities, nurtures a love for music while supporting early development.
Each session, led by talented instructors, is filled with rhythm, melody, and laughter.
Our Elvington nursery offers an engaging French program, introducing children to the basics of the language through fun activities, songs, and interactive games.
Experienced and enthusiastic instructors create a playful and nurturing environment where kids can explore new words and sounds.
The Woodwork session at our Elvington nursery offers young children a hands-on introduction to the world of woodworking. Through age-appropriate projects, children develop fine motor skills, creativity, and problem-solving abilities.
Using child-safe tools and materials, our experienced instructors guide the little carpenters in crafting simple wooden creations.
Each session is designed to be fun and educational, fostering a sense of accomplishment and boosting confidence as children see their projects come to life.
Our Budding Movers program at Little Green Rascals Elvington is a lively blend of music and movement. With musical instruments, sensory play, puppets, and dance, children embark on a journey of coordination, creativity, and confidence.
These sessions are designed to inspire joy and exploration, enhancing social skills and self-expression along the way. It’s a wonderful opportunity for children to discover their rhythmic talents while enjoying the natural flow of movement.
Little Green Rascals Elvington cultivates a love for nature through our Budding Gardeners program. Rain or shine, our young gardeners joyfully tend to organic vegetable patches. They learn about plant growth stages and delight in tasting the fresh produce they help nurture.
These activities teach environmental stewardship and sustainable gardening practices, instilling a sense of responsibility and wonder for the natural world.
Harvesting their own vegetables brings a sense of accomplishment and connection to the earth that lasts a lifetime.
Our Budding Scientists program at Little Green Rascals Elvington sparks curiosity with hands-on experiments and exploration. Children dive into scientific concepts, from natural phenomena to creative innovations.
Through activities like potion-making and space-themed adventures, young scientists develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills in a supportive environment.
Parents love seeing their children excitedly share their discoveries and proudly showcase their scientific creations at home.
Budding Artists at Little Green Rascals Elvington is a favourite for creative expression. Using paints, natural materials, and recyclable items, children explore their artistic talents in a colourful and eco-friendly setting.
These sessions encourage imaginative play and fine motor skill development, fostering a love for artistic exploration and environmental consciousness.
Our nursery embraces messy play with easy cleanup, ensuring a bright and cheerful environment for all budding artists to thrive.
Budding musicians can explore different instruments at Little Green Rascals, 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 Elvington, our Forest School sessions offer children the chance to explore nature, build dens, and enjoy outdoor play in all seasons. These hands-on experiences encourage curiosity, independence, and a love for the natural world. Being outside regularly helps children feel calm, confident, and connected to their environment.
At Little Green Rascals Elvington, being organic is part of everything we do. From the food we serve to the products we use. Children enjoy helping in the garden, learning where food comes from and how to care for the natural world. Meals feature organic ingredients every day, supporting healthy habits from the very start.
Choosing a nursery is a big step for families, and we believe parents should feel just as supported as their children. Little Green Rascals Elvington keeps families involved through regular updates on our parent app and conversations at pick-up time, so you’re always kept informed about your child’s day.
Whether you’d like to discuss your child’s care, development or daily routines, our team is always on hand to help. By building strong relationships with families, we can create a positive experience both at nursery and at home.
Creating a safe, secure environment is the foundation of everything we do at our nursery in Elvington. It allows children to explore, learn and grow with confidence, while giving families peace of mind.
We follow robust policies and procedures across every aspect of nursery life, helping us meet the standards set by Ofsted and other relevant health, safety and safeguarding requirements.
Our team receives regular training in areas including safeguarding, health and safety, food hygiene and paediatric first aid, alongside ongoing professional development that helps us maintain high standards of care for every child.
Our organic menu is designed to provide children with a balanced diet, with all meals freshly prepared from scratch by our on-site chef using fresh ingredients.
Alongside a varied three-week rotating menu, children can take part in cooking classes with Chef Neil, helping to inspire a love of food from an early age. We also offer a parent breakfast for busy families and are proud to hold a 5‑star Food Hygiene Rating, the highest rating awarded by Environmental Health Officers for food safety standards.
Every child at Little Green Rascals Elvington has a dedicated key person who gets to know them well and supports them throughout their time with us.
Your child’s key person will keep you updated on their progress and daily experiences, while also being on hand to answer any questions you may have. As children move through the nursery, we offer settling sessions to help them become familiar with their new room, routines and key person.
We also encourage families to visit new rooms and discuss upcoming changes with our team, helping children and parents feel prepared for each new stage of their nursery journey.
Preparing for school is about more than a child’s final term at nursery. Through our Next Stop School programme, we support children and families as they get ready for the move to primary school.
Children take part in school-readiness activities, teacher meet and greets, and graduation celebrations, while parents are supported through learning journey updates, parent evenings, one-to-one discussions and home link learning kits.
As a thank you for being part of our nursery family, children leaving for primary school in June, July, August and September will receive a £30 Clarks voucher towards their first pair of school shoes.
All our nurseries follow the All Aboard Approach, our bespoke curriculum inspired by the Early Years Foundation Stage. Alongside this, each nursery offers additional clubs, outdoor activities and experiences tailored to its children and environment.
Children can enjoy a range of extra-curricular activities including Forest School, French, football, yoga, music and Science Tots, giving them opportunities to explore new interests and experiences beyond the core curriculum.
We offer flexible childcare options to help families find an arrangement that works for them. This includes private, part-funded and fully funded places for eligible families.
View our Fee Schedule and Funding Guide for full details, or speak to our nursery manager to discuss availability and the options available for your family’s circumstances.
Here our youngest babies spend their days learning and exploring with sensory activities. Developing good relationships is important at this age, and our staff are there to help you and your baby settle with us.
Supported by staff, the children are encouraged to develop independence and curiosity. The children love to climb the indoor climbing frame, play in home corners, or play with puzzles to stretch their mathematical abilities.
In this room our children are encouraged to further their speech, language and understanding skills. We encourage creativity and imaginative skills with daily messy play activities and focussed topics help to uncover a knowledge and understanding of the world around the children.
Our children spend their days supported by an Early Years Teacher, where they are encouraged to develop into independent learners who are keen and ready for school, come the following September. Free-flow access at this age means we can spend all day long in our gardens!
“I have over 20 years’ experience in early years now and I still feel that it is extremely important to read and research as best practice evolves - this is something I am very passionate about. I feel very privileged to be a part of Little Green Rascals and the vision that they have, which is truly outstanding.”
Andrea Simpkin, Little Green Rascals Elvington Manager
Yes. Nutritious meals and snacks are prepared fresh on-site at our Elvington nursery. Children enjoy a varied menu made with high-quality ingredients, and many families tell us how much their children enjoy mealtimes. We can also accommodate allergies, dietary requirements and special diets, working closely with families to ensure every child can eat safely and confidently.
Children at our nursery in Elvington are welcomed into a warm, familiar environment where the whole team takes the time to get to know them. Many families tell us their children quickly build strong relationships with staff, helping them feel comfortable, confident and excited to come to nursery each day. We support every child at their own pace and work closely with parents to make the transition as smooth as possible.
Yes. Families at our Elvington nursery may be eligible for government-funded childcare, including up to 30 hours of funded childcare for eligible working parents of children aged 9 months to 4 years. Funding eligibility and availability can vary, and our team is always happy to help you understand the options available and answer any questions you may have.
School readiness at our Elvington nursery is supported through our Next Stop School programme. It helps children develop the confidence, independence and communication skills they need for their next step. We support each child at their own pace, encouraging curiosity, self-expression and a love of learning while helping them build the skills they’ll use when they move on to school.
Children at Little Green Rascals Elvington enjoy a wide range of activities and enrichment opportunities designed to spark curiosity and encourage new experiences. Alongside everyday learning and play, children can take part in activities such as Forest School, French lessons, football, yoga, music and Science Tots. These experiences help children explore their interests, develop new skills and build confidence in a fun and engaging way.
We support each child’s individual development by creating learning experiences that reflect their interests, strengths and stage of development. Alongside classroom-based learning, children can benefit from experiences such as Forest School, which encourages curiosity, independence and problem-solving through hands-on exploration. We work closely with families to support each child’s progress, helping them develop new skills and confidence at a pace that feels right for them.
We believe the best outcomes for children come from working closely with their families. At our Elvington nursery, we take the time to build strong relationships with parents, sharing regular updates, celebrating milestones and supporting children both at nursery and at home. Whether we’re helping a child settle in, supporting a new stage of development or navigating challenges together, our team is always on hand to offer guidance and support.
Little Green Rascals Organic Day Nursery Elvington provides Full time care for children aged 0 – 5 years.
Little Green Rascals Organic Day Nursery Elvington is open Monday to Friday, 7:30am–6:30pm.
“Staff expertly lead activities that promote children's listening and concentration skills.” - Ofsted
Little Green Rascals Day Nursery Elvington raised £175 for Children in Need through a Pyjama Day and Parent...
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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.