Welcome to the enchanting Woodland Nursery at Pownall Hall School, where we cater to children aged 0-2 years with a cosy Hygge-inspired setting. Our nursery is designed to feel like a home away from home, with dedicated staff members who are expertly trained to care for babies and toddlers. Rest assured that your child is in safe hands, as our team is highly qualified and undergoes rigorous biannual paediatric first aid training. We prioritise meaningful adult-child interactions by maintaining a high adult-to-child ratio, recognising the importance of fostering these connections in early childhood development.
Following the Early Years curriculum, we offer a wide range of activities to promote your child’s physical, social, and emotional development. You will receive regular updates on your child’s progress through observations, daily feedback, parent-teacher meetings, and their first school report—a precious keepsake for years to come.
Our dedicated team of practitioners adopt an “in the moment” approach, following the children’s interests and actively participating in their learning adventures. By considering each child’s current passions and recent experiences, we create personalised learning opportunities within the framework of the Early Years Foundation Stage curriculum. The curriculum encompasses seven key areas of development:
To enhance this curriculum, we provide an array of open-ended, natural resources and “loose parts.” These materials inspire creativity, imagination, and engagement as children freely transform them into whatever they desire, encouraging limitless possibilities for exploration and discovery.
At Pownall Hall School, we celebrate each child’s growth and achievements, ensuring that their time in the Woodland Nursery is filled with joy, learning, and love.
Each child is assigned a ‘Key Person’ who acts as their primary caregiver, overseeing their development and providing comfort and support. We believe in fostering strong relationships with both children and parents, making you feel like part of our extended family.
At Pownall Hall School, we go beyond the EYFS framework and offer children specialist teaching in French, P.E., Music, Forest School, Multi Sports, and Yoga. These specialisms allow for a deeper understanding of the world and provide a gentle preparation for life within the main school.
We embrace Hygge (pronounced hue-guh), the Danish way of living. A concept all about creating warmth and comfort, and contentment in everyday moments. At Pownall, we have perfectly adapted our learning environment to promote emotional well-being, togetherness and friendship.
We cherish our time outdoors and are truly privileged to have immediate access to our fantastic outdoor space. Spending ample time outside enables us to immerse ourselves in nature daily, igniting the spirits of our budding Explorers, Adventurers, and Scientists. Furthermore, we are fortunate to have access to a variety of first-rate school facilities spanning across acres, including the Forest School and sports hall, among others.
Welcome to the Robin Room at Pownall Hall School, where your child’s journey on the Pownall Pathway begins. From 6 months old until their second birthday, children thrive in our warm and inviting environment, carefully crafted with inspiration from the Danish concept of Hygge.
The Robin Room embraces natural, calming colours and soft textures, creating a cosy space that feels like a home away from home. Our focus is on providing a nurturing atmosphere where children can explore, learn, and grow. The room consists of two areas: an ‘active room’ for play and sensory activities, and a ‘cosy room’ for quiet time, stories, and rest.
Our dedicated Robin Room staff prioritise meeting each child’s individual needs and strive to maintain a routine that aligns with what your child experiences at home. During your initial meeting, we take the time to learn about your child’s preferences, routines, and important details to ensure a seamless transition into our Woodland Nursery.
Hello, I’m Miss Olivia and very proud to be Robin Room Lead! I have worked with children since I was 18, starting as an apprentice working with children aged 0-4 years. I then went on to work within a SEND school with children and young adults aged 5-19 years old. Working within education has always been my passion and I feel very lucky to work within such a magical setting here at Pownall. I love creating strong relationships with every child and their family, to support their development in a calm and nurturing environment!
Miss Olivia Morton – Robin Room Lead/Deputy Head of EYFS
“My expectation for Nursery was for a positive, supportive, safe and healthy environment for my child, allowing me to continue with my day without worry. The Robins have surpassed this, with my son and I feeling like we are part of a family. I am excited to continue our journey of development and growth with the Robins.”
“My son attends the Robins 4 full days a week, since January, when he turned 1 years old. He is my first child, and the thought of returning to work combined with settling him in nursery was stressful to say the least.
From the moment I met the team at Robins, my son and I were made to feel comfortable, secure and part of a unit. My son can take some time to get used to new things, and the team were fantastic in responding to his needs. The Robins family adjusted his settling in period, and accommodated an extended period of settling which really helped. This personal approach has continued since. I am confident my child is encouraged to be part of a Robins family, creating a home away from home for him, whilst also being recognised as an individual.
The communication with the team is more than was expected. The team upload updates and photos on tapestry, and I have felt encouraged and comfortable to do the same. Often the team will respond outside of working hours, reflecting a genuine interest in the children. My day is made less stressful knowing the Robins team provides healthy meals, and alternatives to accommodate my sometimes particular child! My son has a dairy allergy and the team ensures his needs are met whilst he has the same experiences as the others (he will get a dairy free alternative on birthdays etc).
The quality of play is fantastic, interactive and child led, and I have noticed my son develop rapidly since attending Robins. The team provides plenty of outdoor time which is important to us. I am clear who our key person is, and it’s genuinely lovely to see the relationship between the two. When Miss Sam is away, the team will ensure my Son is supported.”
As your child celebrates their second birthday, they will transition to our Owl Room, progressing along their Pownall journey. The Owls environment offers a serene setting with cosy corners, comforting textures, and intriguing objects that foster curiosity and meaningful discussions. Here, children can freely explore and engage in fun activities, or simply unwind in a snug space.
Early years is a real passion of mine and I love being part of the Pownall family. Having worked in early years for over ten years, I hold a wealth of experience. Creating safe, secure and enabling environments for children to explore, learn and grow is fundamental and done through playing and exploring by providing curiosity and wonder to all.
Miss Kerry Molter – Barn Owl Room Lead
My name is Georgia Flynn and I am very lucky to be Head of Early Years at our beautiful school. This means I oversee the youngest children of our Pownall family as they start their journey along the Pownall Pathway, a real privilege.
I have wanted to be a teacher for as long as I can remember and as an only child I spent lots of time ‘teaching’ my teddies and dolls, so an Early Years Degree with Qualified Teacher Status felt like the natural path to follow when I had completed my A Levels. I couldn’t wait for my first teaching post which was at a State School in Stockport where I taught in a Foundation Unit made up of 90 Nursery and Reception children.
I joined Pownall 16 years ago as a Reception Teacher and I have been lucky to have had a number of different roles during this time. As well as teaching Reception I have taught Form one and Kindergarten at Pownall, this gives me a good sense of where the children are coming from and going to so I can really make sure they are prepared. In addition I have spent 3 years as a Learning Support Teacher where I worked solely with children who might need some extra support. I loved this special role and I will continue to support these children and their families alongside working in all of the Early Years rooms.
I have my own family with four children, who are also proud members of the Pownall family. I am sure you will see them around as they also love to help out in the EYFS!
In our spare time we love to visit the beach with our dog Polly who is happiest chasing the waves.
I look forward to getting to know you all better and sharing this special time with your children. Please don’t hesitate to get in touch.
Mrs Georgia Flynn – Tawny Owl Room Lead
“There have been a range of events at nursery that have been geared towards inviting families in and sharing activities with parents which has been lovely and helped us to learn more about the school and get to know staff beyond Owls and Robins.”
“We recently joined the Owl room from Robins and I was a little nervous (not that my daughter was!) because I had been used to such a nurturing and personal feel in Robins. I need not have worried because the transition to Owls was seamless. Staff already knew my daughter well from their close links with robins and she felt like part of the furniture since day one! I like how the staff are familiar to us and my daughter and we always know who greats us in the morning.
What blew us away compared to other nurseries we visited was the space. Owls is a large space full of exciting things to play with. I like how Owls follow the children’s interests and this is made clear when writing about an activity that has been carried out. That must feel so nice that at 2 your voice is being heard.
There is a real caring and nurturing atmosphere and the staff are clearly committed to helping the children to develop and grow. It is a pleasure to walk in at pick-up and see a group of happy children who have obviously enjoyed their day at nursery.
We are extremely pleased with our experience of the Owl Room so far and it is a credit to all the staff who work there.”
