Hopscotch Day Nursery Group, in partnership with Haven House, would like to welcome you to 'Harbourside', Hopscotch's tenth nursery. This unique setting with visible harbour views, emphasises the outdoor environment, leveraging its location next to the beach and the Hill Head Haven nature reserve.
Freya Derrick MBE, Founder of Hopscotch, stated, “Our vision is simple: to provide a day nursery with a dedicated ethos and commitment to early years education in an outdoor, natural environment. We focus on nature, sustainability, and environmental responsibility in this area of special scientific interest (SSI).”
Drawing inspiration from countries like Sweden and Norway, recognised global leaders in early childhood development, children at this nursery spend the majority of their time outdoors. Freya continues: “The nature reserve and coastline serve as their classroom, where they will learn and grow immersed in natural cycles - from daily tides to seasonal changes. When weather conditions are not ideal, a stunning indoor facility ensures children continue to benefit from this unique setting.”
Freya Derrick MBE, Founder of Hopscotch, stated, “Our vision is simple: to provide a day nursery with a dedicated ethos and commitment to early years education in an outdoor, natural environment. We focus on nature, sustainability, and environmental responsibility in this area of special scientific interest (SSI).”
Drawing inspiration from countries like Sweden and Norway, recognised global leaders in early childhood development, children at this nursery spend the majority of their time outdoors. Freya continues: “The nature reserve and coastline serve as their classroom, where they will learn and grow immersed in natural cycles - from daily tides to seasonal changes. When weather conditions are not ideal, a stunning indoor facility ensures children continue to benefit from this unique setting.”
Hi, my name is Lisa. I am the manager at our Harbourside setting. I started working in early years in 2012, having been inspired by our experience with our son’s nursery, and seeing first-hand the impact of high-quality care and education in the formative years. After completing my Level 3 qualification, I progressed through positions including room leader, deputy nursery manager, acting manager, and nursery manager. Between 2019 and 2023 I completed my Foundation Degree in Early Years Care and Education, followed by my BA Hons in Education Studies and whilst it wasn’t without its challenges, I relished the chance to be back in the classroom! I found my passion for outdoor learning in 2020 whilst managing a Forest School setting, and quickly recognised how impactful the approach is, and how it resonated with both my professional and personal values.
When I was presented with the opportunity to become involved with the Harbourside project, I knew this was the chance to create something really quite special. I felt an immediate connection with Freya’s creative vision to offer a place from which children can learn whilst immersed in nature, experiencing natural phenomena first hand, and developing an authentic and long-lasting love of the world within which we live. We are currently enjoying the process of designing a unique and inspiring curriculum which will not only facilitate the expected learning and development of children as they progress through the setting, but also embed an appreciation of the changing seasons, an understanding of how to protect and sustain the environment, an awareness of how to approach and manage risk, and the belief that the most joy can sometimes emerge from the least ideal conditions. Having formed some of my most cherished childhood memories playing along the Solent, and having relived these with my son, I’m eager to play a part in creating the same treasured memories for other children. I look forward to meeting you, and to joining with you on this exciting journey. If you are interested in applying to work at our nursery then please do get in touch with our recruitment team at Head Office on: [email protected] or visit our Careers page. |
Harbourside photo gallery |
Reviews
Harbourside TeamRegister your interest
Contact Us |
Nursery Fees
|
© Hopscotch Day Nurseries. All Rights Reserved