Established in 1994 by sisters Tina Carnegie-Dielhenn BA (Hons) and Lynda Bocarisa, Whipper-snappers is a privately owned full daycare nursery and out of school provision for babies and children aged from 0-12 years. Our purpose is to provide a fun, engaging and loving environment for early learning for all children in our care. Located in a rural location on the outskirts of Felsted, Essex, our welcoming restored barns are set well away from the road in approximately five acres of land, overlooking open countryside.

We aim to enhance the development and education of all children in our care through the provision of research-informed practice. Children are held at the heart of Whipper-snappers. Therefore, we work together as a team with shared values, seeking to develop, encourage and maintain high standards in care and education for the benefits of all the children and their families.

Whipper-snappers takes pride in employing a staff team of the highest calibre. All our practitioners:

• are committed and passionate about the role of nurturing and educating children
• build strong relationships with both the parents and the child to understand their interests and stage and respect them as individuals
• plan through a child-centred approach with individualised planning that follows the child’s interests and stages of development
• plan for the individual child’s next steps in learning by providing environments, resources and challenging activities
• plan ‘in the moment’ but consider the next steps and opportunities for the child’s progression
• extend the child’s knowledge using Sustained Shared Thinking and observations
• make a judgment on when to step in to extend and introduce further learning
• are paediatric first aid trained
• attend training that ensures current and relevant knowledge

Our chef and his team prepare fresh local produce in our on-site kitchen to provide a balanced, varied and nutritious menu served to the children in the comfort of their barn. Dietary requirements are catered for.

Whipper-snappers are committed to values, which ensure each child can flourish in an environment of opportunities that enables them to develop personality, talents and ability because:

• Everybody is treated with fairness and consideration
• The same opportunities are given to all
• Everyone is included and respected
• We lead by example
• We are pro-active in self-development and evaluation
• Childhood is a precious time that should be filled with fun, joy, happiness and security
• Learning is at its best when through a child’s play and solid connections with nature and the natural environment
• All children have the right to the highest quality of care and educational experiences
• All children are respected as individuals
• A child’s Cultural Capital is celebrated and developed

Families are, of course, the primary carers and educators of young children. Therefore, we work as a team in a partnership with you to meet individual needs. When a child first starts, a key person will ensure their emotional well-being during the transition into and throughout the Whipper-snappers journey, so a positive and happy experience is created for both parent and child. We welcome parent’s comments and encourage them to contribute to their child’s learning and development.

It is our vision that each child will leave Whipper-snappers as a confident, resilient, robust, happy and adventurous individual who is ready for the future.