Open all year round
Open 7.30am - 6.00pm
Outdoor learning
Early start
Harpole Day Nursery is a nurturing haven within the small Northamptonshire village, providing exceptional childcare in a warm, home-from-home environment. With a capacity for up to 34 children daily, our smaller size ensures personalised attention and tailored learning experiences. At Harpole, we pride ourselves on our close-knit community, where every child is cherished and supported by our dedicated team.
Our nursery features thoughtfully planned rooms, crafted to stimulate and inspire children at every stage of their development, designed with your child’s growth in mind.
Beyond academics, we prioritise the holistic development of each child, nurturing their social and emotional well-being. Our ethos of kindness and inclusion permeates every aspect of our nursery life, ensuring every child feels valued and respected. We understand the importance of preparing children not just for school, but for life, fostering resilience and a love for learning that extends beyond our walls. As part of our commitment to preparing children for life, we offer unique experiences that include regular visits to the local community, picking strawberries at Grange Farm in Harpole and enjoying playtime at Harpole Playing Fields, enriching their educational journey and nurturing a love for learning.
At Harpole, we are more than just a childcare provider; we are a supportive community where families and children thrive together. Book a nursery tour today and see first-hand how we nurture the future generation and prepare them for the first step in their educational journey.
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 Harpole Day Nursery, children experience a seamless integration of indoor and outdoor learning, making the most of our expansive outside space.
During your visit, you’ll witness how our environment encourages this smooth transition. We also provide a range of extracurricular clubs each week, enriching our Brighter Learning Approach, tailored from the Early Years Statutory Framework.
At our children’s nursery Budding Artists are encouraged to explore their creativity through activities such as painting, drawing, and crafts. With a host of resources available, children are encouraged to experiment with colours and textures, and create imaginative masterpieces that showcase their unique talents.
At Harpole Day Nursery, we nurture vegetable gardens where children explore the wonders of growth cycles, uncovering a variety of flavours and textures first-hand. Through their roles as Budding Gardeners, they cultivate a deep understanding of the environment and gain valuable skills in sustainable gardening.
At Harpole Day Nursery, our Budding Movers dive into a variety of activities including dance, sports, and beyond. These engaging experiences are adored by both children and practitioners, seamlessly integrating movement with structured learning to enhance coordination, build confidence, and foster a sense of joy at nursery.
In their early years at Harpole Day Nursery, our Budding Scientists thrive on exploring the world around them. Children engage in hands-on experiments with various materials, honing their problem-solving skills. This journey encourages them to ask questions, fostering a natural curiosity about their environment and laying a solid foundation for future scientific exploration and learning.
At Harpole Day Nursery, we cultivate Budding Chefs by imparting basic cooking and food preparation skills to children. They participate in hands-on activities, exploring simple recipes, experimenting with ingredients, and developing essential culinary abilities.
At Harpole Day Nursery, we encourage musical exploration through our outdoor music area, which features a variety of instruments. Children actively participate in hands-on experiences and experiment with diverse sounds and rhythms. With guidance from our dedicated team, they cultivate a passion for music and enhance their confidence in musical abilities, fostering a harmonious environment for creative expression and learning.
Twice a month at Harpole Day Nursery, we host Boogie Beats dance sessions where children groove to lively rhythms and learn fun dance moves. These sessions not only promote physical activity but also foster coordination and a love for movement in a vibrant and engaging atmosphere.
On alternate weeks, we host special story time events that captivate children with enchanting tales. These sessions stand apart from our regular story times, offering unique opportunities for children to immerse themselves in imaginative storytelling led by our dedicated team. Each event sparks a love for books and nurtures early literacy skills, creating memorable experiences beyond their daily routines.
At Harpole Day Nursery, we prioritise communication with families. We use Parentzone for daily updates and photos, keeping you informed about your child’s activities and care. We enhance this with verbal handovers, fortnightly newsletters, and active Facebook updates as well as regular parents’ evenings and catch-ups to ensure ongoing partnership and feedback.
Parents play a crucial role in our community, participating in staff recruitment and shaping our nursery’s direction through reviews and events. Together, we foster a supportive environment where every child’s growth and development are nurtured with strong home-nursery partnerships.
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.
When it’s time to eat, we all sit together with the children – just as you might do at home, as a family. For us, mealtimes are about more than nutritious food (although that is incredibly important). They are a time to swap stories, strengthen bonds, and deepen relationships – to feed your child emotionally and physically, as well as supporting children’s language and communication skills. Our menus feature a variety of dishes from diverse cultures, expanding children’s palates. Emphasising fresh, whole foods, we ensure balanced growth and development while prioritising safety with rigorous allergy protocols and tailored meal plans.
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 Harpole Day Nursery, we prioritise preparing children for school with a thoughtful transition process. Children participate in stay and play sessions two weeks before their transition date, allowing parents to meet staff, explore the new environment, and ask questions.
Staff complete a detailed transition document between rooms to ensure continuity of care and understanding of each child’s needs.
Our small, two-room setup encourages playground interaction, fostering familiarity among children and staff, easing the transition. This approach supports emotional and social development, laying a strong foundation for their educational journey and ensuring a seamless transition to school.
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.
Harpole Day Nursery enjoys multiple clubs including Budding Gardeners, Budding Movers, Budding Scientists, Budding Chefs, Budding Musicians, Budding Artists, Boogie Beats and Storytime. We also hold open days where parents and carers are encouraged to come along and meet other parents to build their own personal friendships and networks ahead of primary school.
Harpole Day Nursery commits to providing a simple fee structure so you can manage your nursery costs.
At this nursery, we provide private and government-funded sessions for eligible parents. Contact us for the nursery fee that is correct for your individual circumstances.
In our Baby Room, we prioritise creating a safe and nurturing environment where infants thrive on their own schedules. We respect each baby’s feeding and sleeping routines, encouraging exploration through both structured activities and independent discovery.
Personal comfort items from home are welcomed, ensuring a sense of familiarity. Our Nursery Cook prepares freshly made purees once babies transition to solid foods, fostering healthy eating habits early on. As they grow more mobile, structured activities introduce them to various learning areas, and mealtimes become social events around a communal table.
Our Toddler Room is where two-year-olds explore and make sense of their world through engaging activities. From sensory play with sand and water to imaginative play and discovery zones filled with natural resources, every moment is a learning opportunity.
Access to a secure outdoor area promotes physical literacy and large motor skills development. Each child’s individual sleep needs are respected, ensuring they recharge for afternoon activities filled with continued exploration and growth.
In our Pre-School Room, older children explore various activities tailored to their interests, preparing them for school. They engage in creative arts and crafts, active play with sports equipment, and quiet reading with a selection of books.
Throughout the day, children come together for structured sessions before splitting into smaller groups by age and key persons. Activities include art, puzzles, construction, and imaginative role play, fostering creativity and social skills crucial for school readiness. Outdoor time features vegetable planting and large-scale loose parts for imaginative play, enriching their preparation for the next educational phase.
The new funding term is starting again in January and it’s important to understand the different kinds of funded childcare available to you and when you need to apply before the deadline closes on 30th November.
We have online experts who are on hand to answer any questions you may have via a web chat service, whether you’re a new or existing nursery parent.
Find out how you can save money on nursery fees through funding.
"Welcome to Harpole Day Nursery. My name is Lauren and I am the Nursery Manager. Our nursery has a warm, family, home from home feel where your children are cared for by friendly and enthusiastic practitioners. Each Individual room is focused on the individual age and stage of each child's development. We pride ourselves on the nurturing size of Harpole as well as our exceptional nursery team. I look forward to welcoming you to Harpole to begin your journey with us in creating brighter futures together.”
Lauren Freund, Nursery Manager, Harpole Day Nursery
Harpole Day Nursery has received a ‘Good’ Ofsted grading, following their recent inspection.
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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