About Us
Quality childcare provision for children ages 4 months to 11 years.
Our forest-skills inspired outdoor space fosters exploration and curiosity. We welcome you and your children to come and experience it for yourselves.
We believe in play-based education using a heuristic approach: “Play is the highest expression of human development in childhood, for it alone is the free expression of what is in a child’s soul.” (Friedrich Froebel)
Open 7.30am to 6.30pm for day care and school wrap-around care.
Tax-free Childcare and funded Early Education offered for 2*, 3 & 4 year olds (*if eligible)
For more information about help towards childcare fees please visit the Childcare Choices and Bradford Council websites via the links below:
Childcare Choices Bradford Council
“Hickory House has been a wonderful nursery for my 3 children. As a family we've been with the nursery for 8 years. Throughout that time Hickory have cared so well for my boys, with lots of interesting activities, fun and laughter. My children have always enjoyed going, learnt so much, gained confidence and made lots of great friends.”
Meet the Staff
Our dedicated team of carers have many years of experience working with children to help them develop their skills and support their learning under the guidance of our Early Years teachers, Suzanne and Poonam. Suzanne worked as a Reception Teacher in primary schools for 15 years and Poonam spent 10 years assessing EYP candidates.
Flexibility
Flexible, family- focussed approach adaptable to the routine, needs and interests of the children
Homely
Nurturing, homely environment whilst also providing a stimulating high-quality environment with excellent educational resources
Bespoke
Bespoke care to ensure children can participate in activities, the community and be with their siblings
Independence
Offer children choices and help them express their views and thoughts
Quality
High-quality education and care across all age groups led by Early Years Practitioners
Inquisitive
Challenging environment with the aim of encouraging children to be active, inquisitive learners who are school-ready
Resourceful
Suite of online packages to support learning and care
Partnerships
Partnership-approach with parents, carers, settings and other agencies to ensure smooth transitions and that needs are met
Relationships
Encourage mutual respect and relationship-building and value cultural differences, yet uphold British values
Development
Build their confidence, self-esteem to help foster independence
Curiosity
Encourage curiosity and develop a thirst for learning, improving knowledge and understanding of the world
Future Thinkers
Encourage a responsible lifestyle by being healthy, growing plants, recycling waste etc.
Working in Partnership
We strive to build a strong relationship between ourselves and parents as we understand and value the essential role that parents play in their child’s life.
“Parents report how well their children are supported and say that they can clearly see the progress they are making,” Ofsted, April 2022
Family
Home visits upon enrolment to build trust with the children and families.
Settling in sessions and stay and play sessions offered as needed.
Flexible, family-focussed approach to childcare.
Adaptable to the routine, needs and interests of the children and families.
Wrap-around care to enable older siblings to be catered for at their level in the same place as their younger siblings.
Children
Regular communication using daily baby books and weekend books.
Parent newsletters and questionnaires to communicate and inform our improvement plan.
Parental involvement in education with Home Learning Board and ideas.
Early Essence and weekend books encourage parental input to their child’s progress.
Parents evenings and open days.
Specialists
Co-operatively developing Individual Care Plans and working with Special Education Needs Specialists
Parents are supported with their own needs for example first time parents, parental bereavement or teen parenting
Support to claim tax free childcare and childcare funding for 2 to 4 year olds
''All three of my children have attended Hickory, and have loved it. The children built up such a positive rapport with their keyworkers, they felt like friends. They offer a huge range of activities and the outdoor space is amazing. I would definitely recommend Hickory to new parents!''
Joy Of Learning
“Children are busy, active learners and enjoy exploring the accessible learning environment. The environment encourages them to explore and be curious, and promotes their independence,” Ofsted, April 2022
Building Curiosity
By investigating and exploring the world around them, we hope to encourage their natural curiosity and creativity
Future Learning
We focus on developing their communication, language, physical, personal, emotional and social skills as we firmly believe these are fundamental for their future learning and underpin broader areas of learning.
Experiencing Community
We are often seen out and about in the community ensuring children enjoy the facilities and exploit learning opportunities on offer in Ilkley.
Extracurricular Activities
We organise trips and invite professionals in so we can deliver extracurricular activities, such as tennis, to give the children a diverse programme of learning. We feel this makes us stand out from other settings.
Safe and Settled
Care Routine
“The key-person system and effective settling-in arrangements for new starters help children to form strong bonds. This helps children to settle and feel safe and secure,” Ofsted, April 2022
Sleep and rest are recognised as an essential part of a child’s daily routine and, as such, we create a conducive, restful environment with low lighting and soft music as needed.
Sleep preferences are accommodated; we offer coracles, beds and cots to meet individual needs
Each child has dedicated clean bedding and fleece blankets to snuggle up in
Similarly preferences for potty training are observed and child toilet seats and potties are available
Meals
Healthy and nutritionally balanced snacks and meals prepared in-house
Multi-cultural food is cooked
Specific dietary requirements are met such as halal, vegetarian, allergen free
Mealtimes are used to sit and chat about healthy eating and to encourage social etiquette and relationship building
Drinking water is always available
We have the top rating of 5 in the Food Hygiene Scheme
Children learn hygienic practices such as washing their hands, cleaning the table etc.
Children are helped to brush their teeth
Child Safeguarding
Suitability of staff is rigorously tested and all staff undergo DBS ( DBS Check )
Staff are given safeguarding and first aid training as a minimum with additional training based upon needs of the children and setting
The setting and places we visit are risk assessed regularly
Each child is allocated a key worker who works in partnership with parents to ensure smooth transition
Support for key milestones e.g. weaning, potty training, transitions to school
This close supervision helps to give children a good sense of well-being, especially when new to the setting
Fire drills are practised regularly to build children’s awareness
Infection control is managed by regular cleaning and sterilising of resources
Enquire
We were judged Outstanding in the area of Behaviour and attitudes and Good in all other areas in our latest inspection in April 2022 - please follow the link to read our report:
Children
118 Skipton Road
Ilkley
West Yorkshire, LS29 9HE
Tel: 01943 609199