A new nursery is preparing to open on Stafford Road in Stone in January 2027, with its owners planning to combine childcare with regular activities and support for local families.
Stone Day Nursery will be based at The Mount, 43 Stafford Road, and is being opened by co owners Claire and Ed Morris.
The pair have both worked in childcare for around 15 years. They say becoming parents themselves, to six year old Zachary and one year old Aubrey, has also influenced what they want to create.
Rather than concentrating solely on the time children spend at nursery, their plans include an orangery which will be used for Stay and Play sessions, coffee drop ins, classes and workshops for parents and children.
Claire and Ed told A Little Bit of Stone:
“For us, it’s about more than looking after and educating children. We want to build a real community around the nursery, where families feel connected and supported.
Whether a parent needs some advice, a bit of reassurance, or just wants to pop in for a coffee and a friendly chat, we want them to feel that our door is always open.”
Bringing their childcare experience to Stone
The couple said their professional experience, alongside seeing childcare from a parent’s perspective, had helped shape their plans for the nursery.
They want to create a homely setting where children are comfortable and families have an ongoing relationship with the people caring for them.
Claire and Ed said
“We’re ultimately trying to create the kind of nursery we’d want our own children to attend and the kind of support we’d want to have as parents ourselves.”
Stone was also a deliberate choice for the couple rather than simply the location of an available property.
They said
“We chose Stone because it’s our home and we’re already part of the local community.
There’s something really special about the community feel in Stone, and that was a huge part of why we wanted to open our nursery here.”
Childcare from birth to five
Stone Day Nursery intends to provide weekday childcare for children from birth to five years old, with places available for families seeking full time or part time care.
The nursery says it will accept government funded childcare hours and Tax Free Childcare.
Its proposed offer includes two fully funded days from 8am to 6pm for eligible families. Families requiring care from 7.30am will be able to use an earlier drop off period, with the nursery saying a small additional charge will apply between 7.30am and 8am.
The owners say the nursery itself will remain at the centre of the business, but they also want the Stafford Road premises to be somewhere families can visit outside their normal childcare arrangements.
The orangery is planned as a dedicated community space, with weekly Stay and Play sessions and coffee drop ins intended to be open to nursery families and the wider community.
Stone Day Nursery is also talking to local businesses about providing baby and children’s classes from the premises, alongside professionals who could offer workshops, advice and support to parents.
The couple said
“We don’t want to simply provide childcare; we want to create a community around our nursery.
“Of course, providing high quality childcare will always be at the heart of what we do, but we want to go the extra mile for the whole family.”
Catherine to lead parent events
The team will also include Catherine, who is joining Stone Day Nursery as its Marketing and Parent Events Coordinator.
Her role will include hosting Stay and Play sessions and coffee drop ins, as well as building relationships with businesses and professionals around Stone.
The nursery says the sessions are intended to give children the chance to play and take part in activities while parents and carers can meet other local families.
Further events and activities are planned in the months leading up to the opening.
Nursery recruiting ahead of January opening
The business is also beginning to build its staff team ahead of January.
Current opportunities include Deputy Manager, Room Leaders, Nursery Nurses, Nursery Chef, Bank Staff and Lunch Supervisors.
Anyone interested in one of the roles is being asked to send their CV to hello@stonedaynursery.co.uk.
Claire and Ed are also looking to hear from businesses and professionals interested in working with the nursery on classes, events, workshops or support for families.
The owners said
“We’re also really keen to build strong relationships with other local businesses and professionals in Stone.
Being part of the local community is a huge part of what we want the nursery to be about, and we’d love to find ways to work together, support one another and create opportunities for local families.”
Families interested in a nursery place can find out more and register their interest through the Stone Day Nursery website.
The nursery can also be found on Facebook as Stone Day Nursery and on Instagram at @Stonedaynursery.
