Official Opening of Lightwater Village Nursery

Dr Al Pinkerton MP, Louise Ashbery, Deputy Mayor for Surrey Heath and GLF Schools’ CEO, Julian Drinkall, were among guests attending the official opening of Lightwater Village Nursery today.

Francesca Hooker, new Headteacher at Lightwater Village School and Nursery welcomed guests which included many families from the community. Mrs Hooker said, "I am proud of the extraordinary Early Years provision at Lightwater, our nurturing staff create calm and inviting environments that promote focused learning. With their wealth of experience, they guide each child on their unique developmental journey, ensuring that every moment spent with us is filled with discovery and joy.”

The Nursery currently accommodates 47 children aged two to four, with a further 24 places reserved for children starting during the course of the year. An exceptional outdoor space, complete with mud kitchen, gravel pit and age-appropriate bikes, encourages children to explore and connect with nature.

The Early Years Foundation Stage outcomes at the school are significantly above the national average, 80 per cent met the GLD (Good Level of Development) at the end of reception, and 89 per cent of Year 1 pupils met the phonics mark, also significantly above the national average.

Al Pinkerton, MP said he was “delighted and thrilled” to be involved in the official opening of the new nursery and thanked staff for their hard work and dedication. Commenting that “It is a vital provision for this village and beyond. I wish you every success with the nursery and look forward to coming back in the future”.

Julian Drinkall, CEO GLF Schools, commented “I am delighted to join our parents, carers and esteemed guests to see the new nursery at Lightwater in action today. GLF’s nursery strategy emphasises the importance of ensuring our youngest children have access to high quality early education and are ready to start school. Our vision is to provide a continuous journey for children aged 2 – 11 starting at Lightwater Village Nursery, moving into the Infant School and through to Hammond Junior School. I am pleased that GLF Schools can now offer this provision for the Lightwater community.”

Deputy Mayor for Surrey Heath, Louise Ashbery was also able to take a closer look at the array of experiences on offer to children who are now part of the Lightwater Village School family. She commented, “It was a pleasure to be here this morning to help inaugurate the Lightwater Village Nursery, staffed by the most incredible and dedicated Early Years educators.”

The school’s early years phase leader, Sarah Smith, has been a driving force behind the successful opening of the new facility at the school. “One of the most remarkable aspects of our nursery is the exceptional outdoor provision. Imagine your child exploring a vibrant world of learning opportunities every day,” said Miss Smith. “This week the children have been able to harvest courgettes and peppers from the vegetable patch while learning about the changing seasons.”

To visit the new nursery, or to reserve a place, please contact nursery@lightwatervillageschool.org .