Our Story
Welcome to Barncliffe Day Nursery.
Barncliffe Day Nursery has been at the heart of our local community since 2012, when it was lovingly founded by Maxine Wheatley, a local mum with a vision to create a warm, nurturing environment where children and families felt safe, valued and supported.
Over the years, Barncliffe has grown into much more than a nursery. It has become a place where relationships flourish, curiosity is celebrated and childhood is cherished.
In September 2021, Barncliffe entered an exciting new chapter when it was acquired by My Little Barn Owls Ltd. Building on the strong foundations already established, the nursery continued to evolve, creating meaningful learning experiences that placed children, families and community at the centre of everything it did.
In August 2024, Karen became the sole owner of Barncliffe Day Nursery and began shaping a new vision for the future. Inspired by the Reggio Emilia approach and a deep respect for childhood, Karen's ambition is to create a beautiful, nature-inspired learning environment where every child is encouraged to wonder, belong and connect.
Today, Barncliffe is guided by three core values:
Wonder
We inspire curiosity, creativity and a love of learning through exploration, investigation and awe.
Belonging
We create a nurturing environment where every child feels seen, heard, valued and respected.
Connection
We encourage meaningful connections with ourselves, each other, our community and the natural world.
Our curriculum is rooted in nature and inspired by the changing seasons, encouraging children to develop a deep appreciation for the world around them. Through inquiry, creativity and meaningful experiences, children are supported to become confident, capable and resilient learners.
At Barncliffe, we believe childhood should be magical.
We believe children learn best when they are given time to explore, opportunities to investigate, freedom to express themselves and strong relationships that help them feel safe and secure.
Together with our families and community, we strive to create a place where every child can:
🌱 Thrive in relationships
🌸 Flourish in learning
🦋 Fly with confidence
and develop a lifelong love of learning that extends far beyond their time with us.