meet our staff- The nest
At Sir James Knott Nursery School and the Nest, our staff are at the heart of everything we do.
Our team is made up of dedicated, caring and highly skilled professionals who are passionate about supporting young children during their earliest and most important years. From qualified teachers and early years practitioners to support staff and leaders, every member of our team plays a vital role in creating a safe, nurturing and inspiring environment.
We believe that strong relationships matter. Our staff take time to get to know every child as an individual, building trusting relationships that help children feel secure, confident and ready to learn. Warm, responsive interactions underpin our practice across both the Nursery School and the Nest.
Staff regularly engage in high-quality professional development, ensuring that practice is evidence-informed and responsive to children’s needs. We are proud of our inclusive approach and our expertise in supporting children with additional needs, working closely with families and other professionals.
When you meet our team, you will see a shared commitment to helping every child achieve, belong and thrive.
Meet our staff- Sir james knott nursery school
wellbeing and mental health
At Sir James Knott Nursery School and the Nest, we recognise that wellbeing and mental health are fundamental to the success of both children and adults within our community. We are committed to creating a safe, nurturing and inclusive environment where everyone feels valued, supported and able to thrive.
For our children, we prioritise strong, trusting relationships and ensure each child has a consistent key person who understands their individual needs. Through warm, responsive interactions and a deep understanding of child development, we support children to feel secure, confident and ready to learn.
We place a strong emphasis on developing emotional literacy and co-regulation/ self-regulation, supporting children to recognise and express their feelings. Through approaches such as emotion coaching, calming strategies and high-quality interactions, children develop resilience, independence and a positive sense of self.
We also recognise the importance of staff wellbeing and mental health. A happy, supported staff team is essential in providing the very best care and education for our children. We promote a culture of openness, support and professional care, ensuring staff feel listened to, valued and supported in their roles.
As part of our commitment, we currently have a member of staff trained in Mental Health First Aid at Work, with a further three staff members due to complete this training in June. This strengthens our ability to support both staff and families, ensuring that appropriate guidance and support is available when needed.
We provide rich opportunities for play, outdoor learning and physical activity, recognising their vital role in supporting mental health and wellbeing for all. Our environments are carefully designed to promote calm, engagement and a strong sense of belonging.
We work in close partnership with families and external professionals to ensure the right support is in place at the right time, for both children and adults.
Through our nurturing ethos, we aim for every member of our community to feel happy, safe and supported, ready to Achieve, Belong and Thrive.
meet olive our school dog
We are proud to introduce Olive, our school dog, who is part of our warm and nurturing environment at Sir James Knott Nursery School and the Nest.
Olive supports children's wellbeing, confidence and communication and helps to create a calm and nurturing environment where children feel safe and secure.
Olive is always carefully supervised, and children's safety is our highest priority.
How Olive Helps Our Children
Spending time with Olive can help children to:
🐾 Feel calm and emotionally secure
🐾 Build confidence and self-esteem
🐾 Develop empathy and kindness
🐾 Improve communication and language
🐾 Learn to care for living things
🐾 Experience positive relationships
Olive is particularly helpful in supporting children’s emotional wellbeing and SEND needs.
Educational Impact of Olive
Olive supports learning and development in line with the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) and Birth to 5 Matters guidance.
Personal, Social and Emotional Development
Olive helps children to:
- Develop secure relationships
- Build confidence in new situations
- Learn to manage feelings
- Develop empathy and care for others
- Feel a sense of belonging
Communication and Language
Olive supports children to:
- Talk about their experiences
- Develop new vocabulary
- Engage in conversations
- Listen and respond
- Share stories and experiences
Physical Development
Olive provides opportunities for children to:
- Develop gentle handling skills
- Practise coordination and control
- Learn about personal hygiene through handwashing routines
Understanding the World
Olive helps children to:
- Learn about animals and living things
- Develop curiosity and interest
- Understand how to care for animals
- Learn about routines and responsibility
Keeping Children Safe Around Olive
Children’s safety always comes first.
Olive is:
✔ Calm and gentle
✔ Carefully supervised by adults
✔ Never left alone with children
✔ Introduced to children gradually
✔ Given regular rest breaks
✔ Provided with a quiet safe space
Children are never required to interact with Olive.
Hygiene and Health
We maintain high standards of hygiene.
✔ Children wash hands after touching Olive
✔ Olive is clean and well cared for
✔ Regular grooming and vet checks
✔ Up-to-date vaccinations
✔ Toileted before entering school
✔ Not allowed in food areas
Supporting Every Child
We understand that some children may:
• Feel nervous around dogs
• Have allergies
• Prefer not to interact
We will always respect individual needs and ensure all children feel safe and comfortable.
Please speak to a member of staff if your child:
• Has allergies
• Is worried about dogs
• Should not have contact with animals
🐾 Olive’s Promise
Olive will always be:
✔ Safe
✔ Calm
✔ Supervised
✔ Well cared for
✔ A positive part of school life
meet the SJK hens
Our hens at Sir James Knott Nursery School were the first animals we successfully hatched from Living Eggs, and from the very beginning we knew they had to become a special part of our school community. We were incredibly lucky to hatch five beautiful hens and the experience provided the children with a wonderful opportunity to learn about life cycles, growth and caring for living things.
The children take great pride in helping staff to care for the hens each day by supporting with feeding, refreshing water and collecting eggs. Caring for the hens helps children to develop responsibility, confidence, kindness and respect for animals, while also creating many opportunities for communication, curiosity and hands-on learning outdoors.
Our hens are very friendly and each one has her own unique personality. They enjoy spending time with the children, often welcoming a gentle cuddle and sometimes even joining us during outdoor snack times.
Their names are Margaret, Blossom, Cherry, Violet and Suzy. Although they can sometimes look quite similar, the children and staff quickly learn to recognise them by their individual personalities and behaviours.
Our hens are Ginger Nut Ranger hens, known for their friendly nature and excellent egg laying. They continue to be a much-loved part of life at Sir James Knott Nursery School.
meet the SJK ducks
Our ducks are the newest addition to life at Sir James Knott Nursery School and they have quickly become much-loved members of our school community. Just like our hens, the children were incredibly lucky to experience watching them hatch through the Living Eggs programme, providing exciting first-hand opportunities to learn about life cycles, growth and caring for animals.
The children and staff take great pride in helping to care for our ducks each day, showing them kindness, love and attention. The ducks have already become an important part of outdoor learning, with children learning new facts about them every day and thoroughly enjoying watching them explore and play during garden time. These experiences help to nurture children’s curiosity, communication, empathy and understanding of the natural world.
Their names are Speckle and Finn. Speckle is our beautiful blonde duck with black spots, while Finn is our lovely brown duck. In the sunshine, the children enjoy spotting the stunning shades of blue and green hidden within their feathers.
Fun fact: their favourite snack is peas!
Ofsted- Sir James Knott nest
We were inspected on 25th March 2026.
To access a copy of our inspection report, please click on the document below
https://reports.ofsted.gov.uk/provider/16/2861121
We are pleased to share the outcome of the first Ofsted inspection for Sir James Knott Nursery School Nest at Howard Street, which took place on 25 March 2026. The Nest was judged to be meeting the Expected Standard, and Ofsted confirmed that safeguarding standards were met.
The report recognises that children are cared for by familiar staff who know them well, respond sensitively to their needs and help them feel safe, secure and valued. Ofsted highlighted warm relationships, strong key person arrangements, positive support for children’s wellbeing, and close partnership working with families.
Children were seen to make steady progress from their starting points. They enjoy stories, songs, sensory play, physical development opportunities, outdoor experiences and routines that help them grow in confidence and independence. The report also recognises that staff adapt learning so all children can take part, including children who use signs, gestures or are not yet speaking.
Families spoke overwhelmingly positively about the care and learning their children receive, praising the attentive and kind staff who help children grow in confidence and make progress.
As a newly established provision, we are proud of the positive start The Nest has made. We will continue to build on the report’s findings by strengthening staff confidence in supporting children’s emotional wellbeing and refining routines so children experience a calm, settled and well-paced day. Our commitment remains to provide high-quality care and learning where every child can achieve, belong and thrive.
Ofsted- Sir James Knott Nursery School
We were last inspected on 14th June 2022. We were informed that the school continues to be good.
To access a copy of our short inspection report, please click on the document below
"Sir James Knott Memorial Nursery School is a welcoming place to learn. Parents and carers value this school. It is a caring and safe place where staff commit to children's learning and well-being. All staff focus on helping every child to flourish and achieve well.
Children settle into school quickly because they are well supported by adults. They enjoy spending time in the exciting outdoor area, where they make potions with eucalyptus leaves and climb in their boat and sing. They make tea together and explore new things. Each activity that teachers set up for children has a reason for being there.
Children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) have their needs met well. With additional teaching support, they access the same learning opportunities as their friends. Parents praise how much staff keep in touch with them and involve them in everything they do for their children".