Discover our Woking Nursery

Discover our Woking Nursery. 

Our Woking Nursery opened its doors in June 2017. Our spacious, state-of-the-art nursery can accommodate children between 3 months to 5 years old. It is conveniently located at Woodham House on Carlton Road, just off Chertsey Road and only 7 minutes from Woking train station.

Fun fact! Before becoming Fennies Woking, the building was home to Gordon Ramsay's cooking school. The space has been meticulously renovated with our children in mind, featuring bright, open classrooms and plenty of room for discovery and exploration. 

Our Woking Nursery offers a nurturing environment designed for early years learning and development. Spread across three floors, the nursery features spacious classrooms, beautiful outdoor spaces and an out-of-this-world parent room for our parents to unwind and grab a coffee!

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Take a tour of Fennies Woking here! Watch Now!

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Get to know the Woking Nursery team

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We see working with children as the most special job in the world! We get to shape the minds and hearts of the next generation. At Fennies Woking, we aim to meet industry standards and set new early-years education benchmarks. 

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We have a wonderful team at Fennies Woking and a central education team who visit the Woking nursery regularly. Meet the people who make our Woking nursery so special… 

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Rosie, our Nursery Manager with 20 years of experience in childcare, began her journey as a Practitioner after university, progressing through various roles to eventually become a Nursery Manager. One of her favourite roles was serving as a Special Educational Needs Coordinator, where she ensured inclusivity for all children—a passion she continues to hold dear. Rosie believes every child deserves access to an engaging nursery environment that celebrates their individuality and provides additional support whenever necessary, from the baby room to preschool.

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Throughout her career, Rosie has always emphasised the importance of building partnerships with parents by sharing news, achievements, birthdays, and family celebrations. She takes pride in herself and her team for creating strong family links by opening the nursery doors for special events such as sports days, Christmas concerts, and preschool graduation ceremonies. Through these efforts, Rosie ensures that every child and their family within their Woking setting receives the best possible start to their learning journey.

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Natalie, our Deputy Manager, has worked in childcare for 16 years. She began as a Practitioner and steadily progressed to become an Assistant Nursery Manager. Throughout her career, Natalie has worked in various settings. 

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Natalie is passionate about helping children reach their full potential. She believes every child deserves to grow and learn in a safe, loving environment where they can unlock their imaginations and pursue their aspirations.

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Lydia, our Creators Room leader, has been an integral part of Fennies Woking for five years. Her journey began as an Unqualified Practitioner, and over time, she has demonstrated exceptional dedication, culminating in completing her Level 3 qualification through Fennies' apprenticeship program.

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With a lifelong aspiration to teach, Lydia's passion for supporting children with special educational needs is evident. Before joining Fennies, she served as a learning mentor and was deeply committed to this cause. At Fennies, Lydia has taken on the role of a SENDCO, diligently working to nurture and empower those who learn differently. She finds great fulfilment in providing educational support to every child under her care.

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Recognising the significance of parent partnership, Lydia emphasises the importance of building strong connections with families to facilitate smooth transitions for children into the nursery environment. She enjoys working with a great team, from her colleagues in the rooms to the management team, who deliver to ensure the staff's wellbeing is a top priority within the setting.

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Lydia's commitment extends beyond the children she cares for; she actively mentors and guides her team, drawing from her journey as an unqualified practitioner. Her passion lies in fostering a supportive and nurturing environment where staff members can flourish. Lydia is dedicated to developing the skills of early years professionals, ensuring that every child receives the best possible start in their educational journey.

Paula, our Regional SENCO and Inclusion Manager, provides extensive support for children with additional needs and those who speak English as an additional language (EAL). She collaborates with our SENCO in Woking to ensure the appropriate support is given to each child. Additionally, Paula enhances our staff’s understanding through meetings, enabling us to better support and develop children with EAL and special educational needs.

Ruth, our Educational Advisor,, plays a crucial role in inspiring and guiding our staff to create engaging and exciting environments for the children. She is a strong advocate for our "Book of the Month" initiative, which fosters children's imagination and literacy skills by introducing them to diverse stories and expanding their understanding of the world.

Majka, our Art Specialist introduces an "Artist of the Month," with this month's focus on Vincent van Gogh. Inspired by his work, we've engaged the children in various creative activities such as making sunflowers with coloured playdough and lolly sticks, painting flowers, and creating collages for self-portraits. These projects help children explore their artistic skills and learn about influential artists.

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Spaces for Play and Learning

Our Woking nursery has carefully designed spaces that nurture children at each stage of development. All of our furniture within the rooms has been created by Community Playthings. They design child-centred furniture with safety features like pinch-free hinges and rounded corners, fostering aesthetic harmony and creating serene spaces for children to learn and play. Committed to sustainability, their products are crafted from renewable resources, including solid wood finished with water-based coatings, ensuring safety and environmental responsibility, with a focus on avoiding harmful chemicals like styrene, phthalates, and BPA. Our nursery features dedicated rooms for different age groups:

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In our Explorers Room, children aged three months to two years begin to crawl and stand. They explore the world using their senses. At this age, children begin to establish communication and language. To accommodate these changes, our Explorers rooms incorporate innovative sensory development resources that encourage exploring movement and communication. Within this nurturing environment, children take their first steps, form their first friendships, and begin to communicate. 

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This room is perfect for little learners, with soft furnishings for tummy time, a dedicated milk kitchen area, and nappy changing areas. 

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We have a ratio of 1:3, so each child can form close bonds with their assigned key person. Our fantastic team of educators works closely with our parents to keep the children’s routines and sleep patterns aligned with those they have at home.

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Fennies Woking’s Explorers Room allows children to grow by exploring the world around them, discovering new skills and inventing a sense of identity and independence.

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In our Discoverers Room, children aged two to three years are at the age at which children's personalities start to take shape. As they discover their own likes, dislikes, and abilities, children begin to display their need to communicate proudly. They also have increased movement, curiosity, and a strong desire to discover the world around them independently. This is a pivotal stage, and our educators focus on supporting children’s independence in all areas of learning and development. 

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Our Practitioners provide comfort and support as children learn to regulate their feelings and behaviour. Flexible routines within the room encourage communication and independence, allowing children to discover their interests with open-ended play. 

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The children explore the indoor and outdoor environments with various open-ended, natural materials that inspire discovery. 

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In our Creators Room, children aged three to four have laid the foundations for utilising their natural abilities at this stage. They begin to use their language and communication skills to socialise and create relationships. They also start to develop their self-care routines and independence. Our children in our creators' rooms learn to self-serve their food at mealtimes.

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 The resources in this room allow children to develop their understanding of self-care by washing and drying their hands and dressing themselves independently. The toys in this room, all stored at the child’s level, promote decision-making skills and independent learning. 

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Our skilful educators support your child as they move through this exciting phase of development. We plan experiences that engage your child in literacy, maths, understanding the world, and expressive arts. 

Specially created spaces where our children can enjoy quiet time, read a book or talk to their friends. 

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The children are busy getting ready for school in our Inventor's room, which is our preschool room for children aged four plus. 

Our educators work closely with local schools to ensure a seamless transition. Many of our activities at this stage revolve around ‘transition preparation’. Educators allow children the space to invent ways of independently taking on tasks and preparing for their day. These rooms offer real-life resources that encourage children to solve problems and develop complex role-play skills. 

Carefully planned days focus on different areas of interest for your child to investigate and provide opportunities to develop skills in Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Maths (STEAM). 

A day in the inventor's rooms is filled with bespoke experiences that support children’s communication, social, and physical abilities to equip them for the next phase of life and learning. Educators are tuned in with their development, identifying their strengths and working with each child on their areas to improve and ensure a seamless transition to school.  

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At Fennies Woking, our extensive gardens encourage and empower children to explore the outdoors. Our gardens enable children to seamlessly transition between indoor and outdoor spaces, and our preschool rooms are designed with free-flow access.   

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We place great value on the advantages of outdoor learning. It provides a canvas for their imaginations to soar and nurtures their mental well-being by offering a refreshing escape, channels their boundless energy into active play, and plays a pivotal role in their physical development. 

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Hear from our parents!

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When selecting a nursery for your child, the decision can feel overwhelming. However, discovering the right fit can make all the difference. But don't just take our word for it- one of our parents shares why their family loves Fennies Woking.

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“The Fennies building stands out for its immaculate facilities and comprehensive amenities, ensuring our child's safety, stimulation, and happiness. They meticulously cater to every meal, offering high-quality food that meets our standards.

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While these factors alone would suffice, what truly sets Fennies apart is its exceptional staff and management. Our son has epilepsy and special educational needs (SEN), and when he experienced a Grand Mal Seizure one Friday afternoon, their response was nothing short of life-saving. The comfort and care extended to us during this critical moment, coupled with all staff members' professional and composed demeanour, further solidified our respect and trust in them.

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If you're seeking a nursery that genuinely prioritises your child's well-being, Fennies is an outstanding choice.” - Google Reviews. 

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Curriculum and Learning Approach

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At Fennies Woking, we nurture each child's unique potential through an engaging, play-based curriculum tailored to their developmental stage. By understanding each child's strengths and interests, we customise their learning journey to meet their individual needs. Our child-led approach prioritises what each child enjoys, creating meaningful and engaging learning experiences. Placing the child at the heart of everything we do, we ensure their interests guide our educational activities and developmental goals.

In our Explorers, Discoverers, and Creators rooms, we focus on the prime areas of learning: personal, social, and emotional development; communication and language; and physical development. These areas build the foundation for a strong start for children under five. In our Creators room, we expand our focus to include the specific areas of learning such as mathematics, literacy, understanding the world, and expressive arts and design, aiding the transition into our Inventors room.

For example, if a child shows interest in construction, we design activities around this theme. We foster personal, social, and emotional development through turn-taking, sharing, and cooperative play. Communication and language skills are enhanced by discussing building projects, introducing vocabulary for size and shape, and encouraging dialogue during play. Physical development is promoted through fine motor activities, such as manipulating various shaped blocks.

In the Creator's room, we might add animal pictures and build habitats, discussing the animals' diets and homes to develop an understanding of the world. Measuring structures incorporates mathematical concepts, and creating drawings or collages of buildings fosters expressive arts and design. By labelling buildings and noting sizes, we integrate literacy into these activities.

Many children begin their journey in our Explorers rooms and progress through to our Inventors room, benefiting from this comprehensive, interest-driven approach to learning and development.

All our staff work closely together as a team when transitioning children between rooms within the nursery. We ensure that each child transitions at their own pace. If a child finds the transition challenging, we communicate this with their parents and extend their settling-in period to ensure a smooth and comfortable adjustment to their new environment. 

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“We have had one child in particular who has shown significant growth at Fennies Woking. He began in our Explorers room, where he bonded with his key person, who supported his physical development from sitting and crawling to walking. She also fostered his communication and language skills through babbling and enhanced his personal, social, and emotional development by helping him learn to play alongside others and understand emotions through role-modelling positive actions.

At around two years old, he transitioned to our Discoverers/Creators room. Initially, he struggled with the change, so we continued to use our key-person approach to provide stability and security. By 30 months, we noticed developmental delays and sought advice from Paula, our Regional SENCO and Inclusion Manager. She recommended early intervention activities to address the areas where he was behind.

A staff member from his current room moved to the inventor' room to ensure a smoother transition, providing him with a familiar face. Once in the Inventor's room, the staff member used his interests to support his learning and development. With Paula's support, we requested early help from the speech and language team of our local authority. This assistance helped improve his speech and social skills, enabling him to interact confidently with other children.

We conducted formal assessments every six months to track his progress. By working closely with his parents, we implemented consistent strategies and routines at both the nursery and home, ensuring he felt confident and safe. In his final year with us, he formed strong bonds with other children and made remarkable strides in his development.

His progress was made possible through the dedicated support of his key person in each room, personalised learning, strong parent partnerships, and early intervention from Paula. This holistic approach placed him at the centre of his learning, understanding his needs and interests, and fostering his growth and confidence.”-  Lydia, Creators Room leader

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Meals and Nutrition

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Our excellent on-site chef at Fennies Woking, Josh, cooks nutritious meals to fuel your child throughout the day. Josh holds a level 2 in food hygiene and has extensive training in managing allergens and intolerances. 

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Our menus are rotated twice a year in accordance with the changing seasons. We are proudly accredited with EYA (Early Years Alliance), which prioritises your child’s well-being above all else. The EYA believes that good nutrition is one of the fundamentals of children’s well-being and that a consistent, evidence-based approach is essential to establishing healthy eating practices. 

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Hear from Janet, a Registered Nutritionist at the EYA!

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“Knowing that Fennies have a long-standing relationship with the Early Years Alliance nutrition team means that there is a focus on a wide variety of aspects across the nursery that will help to provide a well-rounded experience for your child, including a balanced and varied menu, a relaxed, sociable and positive environment to eat in, tailored support for children with dietary needs, and engaging food-related activities like cooking, gardening, and storytelling. Your child will be supported to serve and feed themselves and join in with mealtime set up and clear away when it is age-appropriate.” - Janet, Registered Nutritionist at the EYA.

Building relationships with our families 

At Fennies Woking, we know how vital it is to integrate parents into everyday nursery life, so we regularly organise Grab and Go breakfasts and Stay and Play sessions. Seamless communication with parents is crucial, and we have a fantastic parent app called Famly that keeps you updated on your child’s activities, nap times, and what they have eaten throughout the day! 

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We also understand that parents need a space to connect and recharge. On the second floor of our nursery, we have a wonderful space dedicated to parents, where they can grab a cup of coffee and some well-deserved time to recharge! 

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We understand the challenges of parenting, and we host the Fennies Parenting Hub, which hosts monthly virtual events led by our experts. Here, you'll gain invaluable insights and expertise on various aspects of parenting.

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Launch your child’s learning journey today at our Woking nursery! 

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We aim to make the enrollment process as smooth and straightforward as possible for our families. We are open for enrollment year-round for children from 3 months to 5 years old. 

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Our wonderful Admission executive, Paige, is here to assist you with all your inquiries and guide you through the admission process. Feel free to contact Paige with any questions or concerns you may have—we're here to make your journey with us as easy and enjoyable as possible.

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We would love to show you around our Woking nursery in person; get in touch with Paige today at 020 8770 3222 | enquiries@fennies.com

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