Our Vision
At KGDN, we believe childhood should be filled with happiness, love, laughter and a sense of belonging. As a family-run nursery, we are proud to provide a warm, nurturing environment where children feel safe, secure and valued, and where families are welcomed as part of our nursery family.
As a village nursery, our vision is to provide a true home-from-home where children’s wellbeing and safety are always paramount. We do not believe in creating a watered-down version of school. Instead, we believe that children thrive when they are surrounded by caring adults, meaningful relationships and an environment where they feel comfortable, confident and free to be themselves.
Strong relationships are at the heart of everything we do. We believe in building trusting partnerships with families and recognise that parents are a child’s first and most important educators. By working closely together and creating a sense of community, we ensure that every child feels supported, understood and valued.
Before learning can truly flourish, children need to feel secure, connected and happy. Once these strong foundations are established, we provide a rich and inspiring curriculum that supports every child’s individual development and encourages them to become confident, capable learners with a lifelong love of learning.
Our approach is centred around quality interactions, communication-friendly environments and a deep appreciation for the value of natural spaces. We believe that children learn best through curiosity, exploration and meaningful experiences, and we strive to create opportunities that spark imagination, encourage creativity and ignite a love of discovery.
As we continue to grow and develop, our vision remains the same: to provide our community with a family-run nursery where children flourish, families feel supported and every child leaves us with wonderful memories, confidence in themselves and, above all, happiness.
Our Ethos
At KGDN, we believe every child is unique and deserves to be nurtured, respected and celebrated for who they are. Our approach is centred around the whole child, recognising that emotional wellbeing, physical development, confidence and happiness are just as important as academic progress. By taking a holistic approach, we ensure that every child is supported to develop at their own pace and in their own way.
We know that children learn best when they feel loved, secure and valued. Through warm, responsive relationships and quality interactions, we create an environment where children feel confident to explore, communicate and develop a lifelong love of learning.
We are passionate about providing rich, meaningful experiences that spark curiosity and inspire children to become active learners. Our curriculum is child-centred and carefully planned around children’s interests, developmental needs and individual strengths, encouraging independence, creativity and problem-solving skills.
We place great importance on the natural world and the benefits it brings to children’s wellbeing and development. Through access to outdoor learning and Forest School experiences, children are encouraged to explore, take risks, build resilience and develop a respect and appreciation for nature. We believe that muddy boots, fresh air and hands-on experiences are an essential part of childhood.
Communication and relationships are at the heart of everything we do. We create communication-friendly spaces where children feel listened to, valued and empowered to express themselves. We work closely in partnership with parents and families, recognising that together we can provide the very best start in life for every child.
Above all, our ethos is simple: we want children to be happy. We want them to feel safe, develop confidence, make wonderful memories and leave us with the skills, resilience and curiosity they need to embrace the next stage of their journey.
Meet Our Director
Hello, I’m Lucy, Director of KGDN.
With over 20 years of experience in early years, caring for children has always been more than a career to me, it’s my passion. I have worked in a variety of early years settings, both in the UK and overseas, before running my own successful childminding business from home while raising my children.
In August 2013, I took over Kinver Garden Day Nursery with my mum, Debbie. Together, we set out to build a warm, nurturing nursery where children and families would feel at home.
As my childminding business grew, so did my dream of supporting even more children and families. That journey led me to the opportunity to take over KGDN alongside my mum. Together, we have grown and developed KGDN while always staying true to the family values it was built on.
Alongside my experience, I hold qualifications in both Early Years and Business Management. As both an early years professional and a parent, I understand how important it is to find a place where your child feels safe, loved and genuinely happy, because that’s exactly what I wanted for my own children.
Over the years, we’ve expanded KGDN with the support of a wonderful, dedicated team who share the same values and commitment to providing high-quality care and education. Although we’ve grown, we’ve never lost what makes us special. We remain a genuine home-from-home where relationships come first and every child is known, valued and celebrated as an individual.
Family is at the heart of everything we do. Over the years, several members of my family, including my mum, sister and daughter, have all played a part in the KGDN journey, helping us build the welcoming community we are so proud of today. We believe every family who joins KGDN becomes part of our extended nursery family.
I am passionate about creating an inclusive environment where every child and family feels they belong. I believe childhood should be filled with love, laughter, curiosity, adventure and happy memories, while giving children the confidence, resilience and strong foundations they need for the future.
As Director, my commitment is simple: every decision we make at KGDN is guided by one question: “Is this in the best interests of the child?” That principle shapes our environment, our curriculum, our relationships and the experiences we provide every day.
Thank you for taking the time to learn about KGDN. I look forward to welcoming you and your family.
Our Journey
From a family dream in 2013 to the nursery, preschool, wraparound care and Forest School we are today, here are some of the milestones along the way.
August 2013
Where it all began
After running a successful childminding business, Lucy purchased Kinver Garden Day Nursery with her mum, Debbie. Together, they set out to create a warm, nurturing environment where children could learn, grow and feel at home.
September 2020
Expanding our care
As the needs of our families grew, we expanded our provision to include Breakfast Club, After School Club and Holiday Club, enabling us to support children beyond their nursery years.
June 2021
Growing our nursery
With increasing demand for places, we expanded into the building behind our original nursery and created a dedicated toddler unit, providing additional space for our younger children to play, learn and develop.
2021
Our Preschool at Kinver Scout Camp
We continued to grow with the opening of our dedicated Preschool at Kinver Scout Camp. This provided our oldest children with their own environment, designed to encourage independence and prepare them for their transition to school.
Summer 2021
Forest School
Our Forest School provision was established, giving children regular opportunities to explore the natural world, develop confidence, take appropriate risks and learn through outdoor experiences.
April 2026
A permanent home
After more than a decade of developing Kinver Garden Day Nursery, we proudly purchased the nursery building, securing its long-term future and allowing us to continue investing in and developing our provision.
Today & beyond
Continuing to grow
Today, Kinver Garden has grown to include nursery, preschool, wraparound care, holiday provision and Forest School.
While much has changed since 2013, our focus remains the same: providing high-quality care and education, investing in our team and environments, and giving every child the best possible start.Our journey continues…
Why Choose Us
Families choose Kinver Garden for our warm relationships, experienced team and the care we take to know each child as an individual. Our nursery, preschool and Forest School offer room to explore and grow, with familiar adults supporting children at every step.