No two days are the same at Croesyceiliog's Building Blocks Day Nursery as KATH SKELLON finds out.

BUILDING Blocks Day Nursery in Croesyceiliog is quite literally a ‘home from home’.

The children play happily in the impressive outdoor area and inside the well-equipped nursery under the watchful eye of a dedicated team of staff.

For manager Joanne Boycott the nursery is more than just a place of work and has a special meaning as it was built by her father for her mother Kath Boycott two decades ago.

“My mum was a teacher and wanted to open a children’s nursery,” explained Ms Boycott.

“The former scout and guide hut used to be on this site before we built the nursery that is here today.

“I have seen changes over the years. We built an extension in 2000 to add a conservatory and cater for babies to two year olds on the first floor with the two year olds and above on the ground floor.

“It’s gone from strength to strength.

“It feels like a home from home. The children absolutely love coming here and it’s a rewarding place to work.”

Now firmly at the heart of the community in Croesyceiliog, Ms Boycott and her staff are making preparations to celebrate the 20th anniversary on Friday by holding a birthday party for former and current children, staff and parents.

She said: “It’s lovely that we are a family-owned nursery and still going strong. I have seen a lot of nurseries open and close. We opened this nursery because of our love for children.”

The nursery is a hive of activity on the morning I arrive. The children are bursting with enthusiasm and playing happily in the outdoor area, which features an undercover area and large tree surrounded by big cushions for the children to sit on.

There is also an area for planting vegetables that is used to teach the children about sustainability.

Ms Boycott said: “They really enjoy planting vegetables, fruit and flowers.”

The nursery was recently awarded a healthy sustainable award for its work.

Ms Boycott added: “We are teaching them about growing and observing plant growth. They learn how to look after them. We cook with them once a month, using the vegetables.

“They take it in turns to take out the recycling.”

The parents of children help with many of the nursery’s initiatives by fundraising. They recently bought miniature fruit trees for the children to water and care for.

Ms Boycott beamed with pride as she added: “They are really hands-on children and love to get involved in things like that.”

The vast outdoor area allows the children to get plenty of exercise through obstacle courses and riding their scooters.

She said: “The children get so much enjoyment in the garden.

“They go out in all weathers in their wet weather gear.

“We take them on walks to the woodland and to the shops in the community.”

An initiative aimed at encouraging the children to develop their motor muscle-skills is to paint and spray on paper or a board outside.

“It helps to prepare their skills for writing,” said Ms Boycott.

Indoors the entire building is decorated in brightly-coloured artwork created by the children.

Ms Boycott explained said that every age group has two areas; a wet area for painting and playing with sand and water and a base room for maths, construction and building.

The babies have plenty of exploratory play which helps them to learn more using their senses.

Building Blocks Day Nursery also features Welsh resources. A recent inspection by Estyn praised the nursery for the children’s exceptional Welsh language skills.

Ms Boycott said: “A lot of the parents have commented on how much the children are using Welsh at home.”

There is also a breakfast club and after-school club for children who attend Croesyceiliog Primary.

She added: “It has been a busy term. No two days are the same.”

When asked what she hopes the children leave the nursery with, she replied: “I hope they learn the basic skills and leave here as confident children who are a bit more independent and excited about progressing to primary school.

“We have achieved so much in the last year and it has been a great build-up to our 20th birthday.”

FACTFILE: Building Blocks Day Nursery

Ynys Lane, Croesyceiliog, Cwmbran

Manager Joanne Boycott

Established in 1995, is privately owned and Estyn-funded.

It caters for up to 60 children aged from birth to eight years-old and offers wrap around care for children until the age of eleven.

Last inspection

Mrs Janet Heather Marsden carried out an inspection January of this year on behalf of Esytn. She sound the nursery’s performance to be good and praised several areas. Mrs Marsden said children’s Welsh language skills are exceptional for their age and starting point, almost all the children are very happy and enjoy their time at nursery and make good progress across all areas of learning. She added that the outdoor learning area is used very well to develop children’s natural curiosity and that there are very good opportunities for children to make choices and plan their own learning.