Fylde coast nursery in six figure move

Family-run Adventures in Learning from Thornton has opened its second nursery in the North West, thanks to a six-figure funding package from HSBC.

The new Little Explorers Nursery, part of the Adventures in Learning group, aims to offer children aged between 0-5 years a stimulating environment to play and learn.

The Lancashire nursery focuses on incorporating outdoor learning for children, with weekly forest school sessions to engage children with the environment and build confidence.

The £500,000 funding package from HSBC has enabled Adventures in Learning to open its second Little Explorers Nursery in neighbouring Carleton.

The new premises features a indoor space as well as a garden for activities including fire pit building and a mud kitchen.

The opening of Adventures in Learning Carleton is expected to create up to 10 new jobs locally and generate a 100 per cent increase in turnover for the group.

Adventures in Learning was set up by teacher sisters Amy Crook and Emma Rathbone in 2016 to follow their dream of giving children a broader, more natural learning experience and to build children’s knowledge of the outside world through hands-on woodland experiences.

Amy said: “We’re really delighted with how well our Carleton nursery has been received since opening.

“It was important that we could provide a space that engaged children as much as our existing nursery and the Carleton site has ticked all the right boxes.

“We’re already caring for up to 30 children a day and can’t wait to meet even more local families in the future.”

Brian Heyes, HSBC’s area director for Lancashire, said: “The Little Explorers Nursey brand has a great local reputation as a fun and welcoming nursery.

“Their unique approach to outdoor learning was something that really stood out to us and we hope the business can continue to stand out as a valuable part of the community.”