Open 51 weeks
Open 7.00am - 6.00pm
420sq metres of space
Organic nursery
At Little Green Rascals Elvington, we are pioneers of the Organic Day Nursery concept, dedicated to nurturing children naturally. Surrounded by roaming animals and Winn Wood at our doorstep, we create a comforting, home-like environment. We prioritize natural, locally sourced, and organic products to ensure our food and skincare are free from additives.
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.
We know the importance of outside space and he benefits of learning in the local environment has 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 that provide an outdoor curriculum which promotes wellbeing and outdoor experiences for all children.
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, on the grounds of York Maze. Come find us and explore what we have to offer!
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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 Elvington 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.
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 Club 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.
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.
At Elvington we find that cooking together fosters teamwork and sparks creativity, and the smiles when they taste their creations are truly heartwarming.
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.
Our nursery group is 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.
We provide an organic menu that’s designed around nutrition and providing a balanced diet for the little ones. All meals are cooked by our on-site chef from scratch with fresh ingredients.
We offer a three-week rotating menu that ensures variety and balance in every meal. We prepare breakfast, morning snacks, and afternoon snacks on site.
Our chef Neil also offers cooking classes to inspire a love of food, and provides a parent breakfast for our busy families.
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 Elvington we believe in supporting smooth transitions for children as they prepare for school. We actively invite teachers from key primary schools to visit us, 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.
We also love to celebrate these important milestones with transition celebrations at the end of the summer term, marking the children’s growth and readiness for their next educational journey.
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.
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 aged 3 and above 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!
We’re excited to extend our ‘Free December’ offer to new families who register and start at our nursery by the 30th of September 2024. If you secure your child’s place before the 30th of September 2024, you’ll enjoy December 2024 free of charge—a perfect holiday gift for your family. Don’t miss out on this limited-time opportunity. View terms and conditions.
“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
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.