Who We Are at Muddy Nurseries
Muddy Nurseries began with a very simple but powerful belief: childhood matters. Not just as preparation for school, not just as a stage to manage, but as a time in life that deserves to be protected, respected, and filled with meaning.
We are a group of nurseries, (Little Ferns in Wendover, Sunshine Montessori in Wheeler End, Little Tots Montessori in Reading & Little Tots Montessori in Stoney Heath) each with its own character, community, and rhythm, but all shaped by the same shared vision. Across every setting, you will find the same approach, the same care, and the same commitment to doing what is right for children — not what is easiest, fastest, or most convenient.
When a family joins us, we don’t just see a place to fill. We see a child at the very beginning of their story. A parent placing enormous trust in us. That responsibility sits at the centre of everything we do.
More Than a Building. More Than Childcare.
To us, a nursery is not just rooms, resources, or routines. It is a place where children build their first friendships, learn who they are, and begin to understand the world around them. It is where confidence grows quietly, where independence takes its first small steps, and where children learn that their voice matters.
Yes, we provide structure and learning opportunities. Yes, we have organised days and thoughtful planning. But what families often notice first is something less visible — the atmosphere.
They notice that adults are down at children’s level, listening properly.
They notice that children are not rushed from one thing to the next.
They notice warmth, laughter, calm support, and genuine relationships.
That feeling doesn’t happen by accident. It comes from a team who care deeply, who reflect on their practice, and who understand that how a child feels each day shapes how they learn.
Our Approach to Children and Learning
We see children as capable, curious, and full of potential. Our role is not to direct every moment, but to create the conditions where learning happens naturally — through play, exploration, conversation, and real experiences. Some learning looks obvious: painting, building, climbing, storytelling, cooking, exploring outdoors. Other learning is quieter but just as important: negotiating with a friend, learning to manage frustration, asking a question, trying again after something doesn’t work.
We support the whole child — socially, emotionally, physically, and cognitively. We understand that before a child can concentrate, they must feel secure. Before they can take risks in learning, they must feel safe in relationships. That is why connection always comes first.
Our environments are designed to invite curiosity. Materials are accessible, open-ended, and purposeful. Adults observe closely, step in thoughtfully, and know when to guide and when to give space. We do not rush children through childhood. We allow time for deep play, for wonder, for repetition, and for joy.
Our Values in Action
Our values are not words on a wall. They shape how we speak, how we listen, how we make decisions, and how we treat every person who walks through our doors — children, families, colleagues, and the wider community.
Kindness sits at the heart of everything.
With children, it means patience, empathy, and understanding on their hardest days. It means helping them learn to notice feelings — their own and others’ — and to treat people gently.
With parents, it means reassurance, warmth, and knowing that behind every question is care.
With colleagues, it means supporting one another, offering help, and assuming positive intent.
In our community, it means modelling compassion and showing children what it looks like to care about others beyond ourselves.
Respect means we see and value every individual.
We respect children’s voices, their pace, their interests, and their right to be heard.
We respect families’ knowledge of their own children and work in partnership, listening openly and communicating honestly.
We respect one another as professionals, recognising different strengths and perspectives.
We respect our community, our environment, and the role we play within it.
Striving for the exceptional means we never settle for “good enough.”
For children, it means creating rich, meaningful experiences that challenge and inspire them.
For staff, it means ongoing reflection, learning, and professional growth.
For families, it means high standards of care, communication, and trust.
For our wider community, it means being a setting that contributes positively, leads with integrity, and continues to grow and improve.
These values guide not just what we do, but how we do it — every interaction, every relationship, every day.
A Partnership with Parents
We know that starting nursery is a big emotional step. There is excitement, but also worry. There are brave smiles at the door and questions that sit quietly in the background.
We see that. We understand it.
We want parents to feel just as welcome and supported as their children. We aim to build open, honest relationships where families feel comfortable asking questions, sharing concerns, and celebrating milestones with us. We believe children thrive best when nursery and home work together, with trust and communication at the centre.
Holding Childhood Carefully
At Muddy Nurseries, we are not simply filling days while parents work. We are part of children’s earliest memories. We are present for first friendships, first achievements, first moments of independence.
We take that role seriously.
The first five years of life are a time of extraordinary brain development. Connections are being built at a faster rate than at any other stage of life. These early experiences — the cuddles, the conversations, the play, the reassurance, the chance to explore safely — quite literally help shape how children think, feel, learn, and relate to others.
When a child feels secure, their brain is free to explore. When they are listened to, neural pathways for communication strengthen. When they solve problems through play, their thinking deepens. When they experience kindness and respect, they build the foundations for empathy, confidence, and emotional resilience.
Just as importantly, we help children learn that it is okay to get things wrong. To try, wobble, struggle, and try again. Mistakes are not something to avoid here — they are part of learning. When a tower falls, when a shoe won’t go on, when a plan doesn’t work, children are supported to pause, think, and have another go. In those moments, they are building perseverance, problem-solving skills, and the belief that they are capable even when something feels hard.
This is why the small moments matter so much.
The adult who notices.
The time given to try again.
The calm voice when feelings feel big.
The freedom to play, imagine, experiment, and discover.
These everyday experiences are not just “nice extras” — they are the building blocks of confidence, curiosity, resilience, and a lifelong love of learning.
Every day, in ways both seen and unseen, we are helping children grow into capable, thoughtful, and secure individuals. We are showing them that they are valued, understood, and safe to be themselves.
That is who we are.
And that is the heart of Muddy Nurseries. 🌱