Bright beginnings at Seedlings: New nursery opens its doors in Great Horwood
There was a buzz of excitement in Great Horwood on Friday, October 24, as the village came together to celebrate the official opening of Seedlings Nursery and Pre-School. The ribbon was cut by local MP Callum Anderson, who praised the project as “a shining example of community dedication and passion for early years education.”
The celebration, which included tea and cake shared with families, staff, and supporters, marked the culmination of years of hard work and vision. Seedlings is based in the beautifully restored Victorian school building, which has been lovingly transformed to create a bright and inspiring space for young children.
The building, dating back to 1861, has been part of Great Horwood’s educational history for more than a century. Its renovation — an ongoing project since before the COVID-19 pandemic — has breathed new life into the site, ensuring it continues to serve the community for generations to come.
Seedlings is one of the few school-based nurseries in the area offering year-round childcare for children aged 2 to 4 years old. The nursery follows a natural curiosity approach to learning, making full use of the school’s facilities, including a large woodland area, school field, adventure trim trail, and hall. Children also enjoy regular activities such as Jabadeo, walks to the village park, and visits to St James Church.
Parents have already shared glowing feedback about the new nursery. One parent, Abigail Collins, said: “I think that the new Seedlings building and staff are wonderful. My child enjoys his days at pre-school and always has stories to tell. He’s happy to go in and happy when being picked up — this says a lot! Thank you for your hard work.”
Another parent commented: “My child has only been coming to Seedlings since September 2025 but she settled straight in and looks forward to spending the day there. All the staff are great and caring. It is lovely to see how much effort has been put in by Mrs Shaw and the team to set up a wonderful setting for the children.”
Parent Lucy Janes added that Seedlings offers “a lovely indoor and outdoor space with a variety of toys and activities.”
Meanwhile, Alex and Kim Whitelum shared: “Seedlings is providing the perfect environment for my son to transition from nursery to school. The setting is fantastic. We are particularly pleased that the children can use other spaces within the school such as forest school, the hall and St James Church. My child is thriving at Seedlings, which is down to the fantastic staff and environment.”
Parent Georgina Oliveira also praised the caring team, saying: “I feel the staff really care for my daughter — she’s happy to see them and they’re always kind and nurturing towards her. The environment is brilliant, so much for them to do! I was worried to move my daughter from her old setting, but it has been entirely positive.”
The opening of Seedlings Nursery and Pre-School marks a proud moment for Great Horwood — a true celebration of community, heritage, and the promise of bright beginnings.