Oaklea Montessori

- Ramsey

As of 1st April 2024 Oaklea Montessori will no longer run at the Ramsey Setting. The setting will continue to provide childcare, under Harwich Connexions, as the Windmill Nursery.

Our Ramsey setting has four large, beautiful and light indoor classrooms and large natural gardens just waiting to be explored!

About our Ramsey setting:

Our nursery opened in 2009 and is easily located for all families living or working in Harwich and its surrounding rural areas. Conveniently situated just off the A120 in Ramsey, on a direct bus route and one mile from Harwich town. Ramsey has it's own designated car park which includes two disabled parking spots. In August 2020, we have finally extended into the vacated part of the building which has enabled us to provide bigger spaces for our children to explore and discover. Little Sparrows and Owls and Squirrels both have free-flow access to their glorious gardens enabling a true ‘follow the child’ environment.

Ramsey offers the 'Oaklea Borrowing Library' where children can choose books to enjoy at home. Along side this, we have our very own Oaklea Food-Bank – families are invited to use items in there and to donate anything to it too! We have also created an Oaklea Teeth-Brushing Basket – filled with toothbrushes and toothpaste suitable for all ages, to encourage great Oral Hygiene.

Oaklea Montessori Ramsey was rated “Good” in all areas by Ofsted, in February 2019. The nursery and staff team are committed to continuing their practice and working towards achieving Outstanding.

We are open from 8:00am to 5.30pm, Monday to Friday, 50 weeks a year, providing childcare from birth to five years old.

(Closed for 2 weeks over the Christmas Period).

Although we are in a purpose-built setting adjacent to Two Village Primary School, Oaklea Ramsey is open to ALL children in the Harwich area, even if you intend to send your primary school aged child elsewhere. If you do choose for your child to attend Two Village in the future, we are able to collect them for After School Club back at Oaklea. We also offer Holiday Club, providing childcare during half terms and summer holidays when the primary school is closed (fees apply)

There is a large and very highly qualified staff team. All team members are DBS checked, receive training in paediatric first aid and regularly attend training sessions to expand and develop their knowledge in childcare.

See our Testimonials here

"Communication and language skills are promoted at every opportunity. For example, children describe the smell of the flowers as 'vanilla' and compare the size of the stems, some of which are 'too small, or too big', for their flower arranging display."

Ofsted - February 2019

Squirrels and Owls Rooms 2-5 year olds

Squirrels and Owls (our 2 to 5 year-olds) children have free flow access between two rooms and outdoors areas, promoting their freedom to move and freedom to choose!

Classroom

The classroom is set aside for quieter activities, including:

· Free access to activities that support children's developing independence, care of themselves and encouraging fine motor control (such as threading or pouring) – this is the ‘Activities of everyday living’ shelf.

· Sensorial activities that support children’s awareness of size, shape, colour etc… - this is the ‘Sensorial’ shelf.

· Exploration of the wider world and early science – this is the ‘Knowledge and understanding the world’ shelf.

· Opportunities to discover Maths and Literacy, ranging from early to later stages – this is the ‘Maths’ and ‘Literacy’ shelves.

· A quiet, cosy book corner – this area is also used for any children who sleep, as a peaceful, cosy area, on soft floor beds or bed baskets.

Movement Room

The movement room is equipped with:

· Open ended junk modelling and craft resources

· A construction area with large and small wooden blocks

· Loose part play

· Developmental movement play

· Music & Instruments

· A role play area with props to support imaginative and small world play

· Equipment for sand & water play

· Baking and cooking - following recipes and understanding the importance of healthy eating and hygiene routines

The Outdoors

Ramsey is super lucky with their big, beautiful garden. Children are able to choose to be outdoors, which provides them with a rich learning experience.

· The outdoor classroom is sheltered underneath the all weather canopy providing further opportunities to develop skills

· There are playtime resources such as cars, trikes, hoops etc.

If your child loves to spend most of their time outside, they will adore Ramsey

The garden area includes:

A wildlife area
Activities to support children's physical development
A vegetable patch
An inspiring Mud kitchen
Digger sand zone
Waterplay area

Children regularly go out into the community to visit the local library, shops, post box and surrounding areas on walks… perhaps to find some spring flowers, go on a puddle hunt or to find different shapes in the world around us….

Little Sparrows Room 0-2 years

We aim to provide a calm, nurturing environment for children between the ages of 0 and 2 in Little Sparrows. This bright and spacious indoor room leads straight to their garden which consists of a grassed, natural area as well as an area sheltered by the canopy, ready to explore at each child’s pace in a variety of different ways.

Daily Activities

Montessori activities for infants & toddlers
Developmental movement play
Messy play (including sand, water & craft)
Treasure baskets (allowing babies to explore objects using their senses)
Discovery baskets (enabling toddlers to explore what to do with different objects)
Songs, rhymes and stories
Being outdoors in their own 'safe to explore' garden. This area includes a mud/water kitchen, sand pit, herb and sensory garden and climbing equipment
Use of our 6 seater turtle bus allowing Little Sparrows to venture out for safe 'walks' along the bridle path to spot nature and nearby horses

We follow the children's natural rhythms for activity and rest
Children snuggle into their prepared bed baskets - easily accessible and safe

Find out more about...

What next....

We've made it a simple process:

Oaklea Montessori CIC

Mayes Lane, Ramsey

Harwich, Essex

CO12 5EL

Tel: 01255 880135

email: admin@oakleamontessori.co.uk

Oaklea Montessori Community Interest Company Copyright © 2018
All images, design, text and other content copyright Oaklea CIC unless explicitly stated. All rights reserved.
All images with children are used with parental permission.