AN outstanding pre-school with a focus on outdoor learning and development has moved to a new site.

Small Steps Day Care is preparing to reopen at a new site after being given the notice to leave from the landlord at its former site in Mundon.

Now based in Middle Barn, Oak Lodge Farm, Leighams Road Bicknacre CM3 4HF, the nursery hopes to gain support from residents in the area.

Owner Hayley Barness took over the business five years ago and has since grown it to being rated as outstanding by Ofsted.

She has an extensive background working in nurseries and in childcare for more than a decade.

Maldon and Burnham Standard: Nature: children enjoy time outdoors at the nurseryNature: children enjoy time outdoors at the nursery (Image: Small Steps Day Care)

She now has a new qualification in forest school and has plenty of ideas for the future at the new location, where children will be surrounded by animals.

Hayley said: “We have unfortunately lost some families because of the move and I was thinking of just not reopening, but so many families wanted us to stay open.

“I bought the daycare from a previous owner five years ago. It feels like my first baby - I’ve put a lot of work into it.

“We are very much outdoor based. The new place is a barn done up from scratch.

“We are really into child-led learning outdoors and teaching about nature.

“All my staff are level three and above.

 “We also welcome and get a lot of special educational needs children because of the focus on outdoor learning.

“The new site has stables there as well as chickens, guinea pigs and other animals.

Maldon and Burnham Standard: Creative: youngsters getting stuck in the mudCreative: youngsters getting stuck in the mud (Image: Small Steps Day Care)

“I am super excited because it's my first nursery from scratch. I’m excited and nervous and am really looking forward to offering the forest school element.

“Now I’m qualified I can run the forest school classes for the youngsters as well as for older children and adults.

“It’s a very exciting time. It will be ever-changing and evolving - I have so many ideas.”

The nursery is holding an open day on Saturday, September 2, and is set to open on Monday, September 11.

For more information, go to https://smallstepsdaycare.co.uk/.