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Archives: Team members

Louise Lloyd-Evans

Louise Young Friends Kindergarten

Jes

Jes Young Friends Kindergarten

Paulina

Office Manager

Sophie

Sophie Young Friends Kindergarten

Libby

Libby Young Friends Kindergarten

Anne Marie

Sustainability Educator

Helena

Angharad Young Friends Kindergarten

Cieran

Cieran Young Friends Kindergarten

Elyn

Kindergarten Educator

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🏡 Building Natural Bird Nests 🐦 This week,

🏡 Building Natural Bird Nests 🐦

This week, we’ve been making natural bird nests — these are perfect little homes for birds to move straight into!

Using materials like twigs, moss, and dried grass, the Foxes created snug nests that mimic what birds would actually build themselves.

We are learning how we can best support local wildlife so we’re also hanging natural ‘fluff’, like wool and soft animal hair, around our woodland garden. Birds love using these for their own nests, making them warm and cosy for their chicks.

Providing these materials helps birds save energy during nesting season and encourages them to settle in our garden.

Try it at home… just hang some fluff near trees and see who comes to visit!

#OutdoorLearning #sustainableliving #forestschool #brighton #hove #earlylearning #YoungFriendsKindergarten #NatureEducation #ukbirds #Ecowarrior #SupportLocalWildlife

👀 We’re seeking a dedicated, imaginative, and

👀 We’re seeking a dedicated, imaginative, and enthusiastic Early Years Educator for our 0-2s room, who will thrive in our eco-focused, child-led environment.

If you have a passion for the outdoors and sustainability and are eager to support our youngest learners’ development, we’d love to hear from you!

For more details on the role we’re hiring for click here: 👇🏼

https://youngfriends.co.uk/jobs/kindergarten-educator/

To apply please email your CV and cover letter explaining how you feel you would fit in with our ethos to:

🖥️ management@youngfriends.co.uk

Or you can find our listing on Indeed 👇🏼

https://uk.indeed.com/q-young-friends-nursery-l-brighton-and-hove-jobs.html?vjk=d8490e890993226c

#jobvacancy #earlyyearseducation #earlyyearseducator #kindergartenteacher #nursery #brighton #hove #joinourteam

At Young Friends Kindergarten, we are really proud

At Young Friends Kindergarten, we are really proud of our private Woodland Garden!

For a kindergarten based in an urban environment like Hove, our woodland garden is a rare thing indeed.

It’s a sanctuary of inspiration, imagination and wellbeing, filled with wildlife-attracting, native plants and trees.

The garden is enhanced by our outdoor workshop, an area which means the children really can be outdoors in (nearly) all weathers.

Age-appropriate activities, stories and games help them to build their confidence and learn through play and real tasks.

The woodland garden is full of real jobs to do, which helps them learn how to take responsibility in respect of how the life-cycle of a natural space works.

For more information on our outdoor learning environments click the link below 👇🏼

https://youngfriends.co.uk/learning-environment/woodland-garden/

#forestschool #forestschooluk #outdoorlearning #outdooreducation #earlyyearsoutdoor #EarlyYearsLearning #childcareprovider #brighton #hove #brightonandhove #LearningThroughNature

🌿 After giving our trees a bit of a prune, the

🌿 After giving our trees a bit of a prune, the children have been busy scooping up the branches and having fun building them into a big pile in the corner of the woodland garden. 💚

Clearing away the dead leaves helps our plants thrive and gets the garden ready for the big burst of life that is Spring! 🌱✨

And guess what? We even spotted the first snowdrops of the year… signs that Spring is definitely on its way! 🤍🌸

#woodlandgarden #springiscoming #outdoorlearning #ForestSchool #SustainableLiving #earlyyearsoutdoors #childcareprovider #outdoorlearningenvironment #brighton #hove #hovemums

Wow! A huge thank you to some of our incredible pa

Wow! A huge thank you to some of our incredible parents for sending in such an amazing review on Young Friends Kindergarten — we truly appreciate your kind words and support!

🌟💛 #Review #ForestSchool #Nursery #EarlyYears #brightonandhove #YoungFriendsKindergarten

♻️ Buy Less, Make More… …Memories! 💡

♻️ Buy Less, Make More…
…Memories!

💡 Our top tip this Tuesday

🌎 It’s often easier said than done...
However we all need to try and…

“ Simplify life by focusing on what truly matters “

Instead of buying things we don’t need, we should invest more time in experiences that create lasting memories.

When we go out shopping let’s stop and think - “ Do I really need this? “

Let’s choose a simpler life, reduce waste and enjoy a more sustainable life with less clutter (Unless its compostable clutter of course! 🏞️❤️

#BuyLess #MakeMemories #SimplifyLife #SustainableLiving #IntentionalLiving #LessIsMore #ExperiencesOverThings #Minimalism #MindfulLiving #EcoFriendlyChoices #toptip #toptiptuesday #sustainsbleswaps #forestschool #brightonandhove

Make an Eco-Friendly Bird Feeder! Looking for a

Make an Eco-Friendly Bird Feeder!

Looking for a simple, fun, and sustainable way to support local wildlife?

Try this DIY bird feeder using items you might already have at home!

What you need:-

• Empty toilet roll tubes
• Bird seed
• A Nut butter (or lard as a nut-free alternative)
• A piece of string (optional)

Instructions:

1. Spread a layer of (peanut) butter or lard over the outside of the toilet roll tube.
2. Roll the sticky tube in a plate of bird seed until it’s fully coated.
3. If you’d like to hang it, thread a piece of string through the tube and tie it into a loop.
4. Place or hang your bird feeder in a tree or bush.

Not only is this a fantastic way to attract birds to your garden, but it also teaches children about recycling and caring for nature! 🌿

Tag us if you fancy giving it a go in your own garden!
We’d love to see your creations!

#birdfeeder #birdwatching #localwildlife #nativewildlife #sustainableliving #wastefree #brightonandhove #forestschool #brightonchildcare #childcareprovider

🌳🪹This week our woodland garden is full of b

🌳🪹This week our woodland garden is full of busy bees!

The children have enjoyed inspecting our bird boxes and getting them ready for new residents!

We have used real life maths to sort out the nails from the shortest to longest, measuring the nesting boxes and the nails needed to repair them and have even discussed what mathematical language we needed to use in order to describe what we were doing.

After that, it was cleaning time!

The bird boxes have to be cleaned with vinegar to remove the scent of previous birds — a very important task which encourages new birds to nest.

The children have done such a thorough and fantastic job - now we’re ready for The Big Garden Birdwatch, which starts tomorrow!

Why not join in and see what birds you can spot in your garden or local park? Send us a photo if you record a sighting! We’d love to know what you spot! 🐦🌳

#biggardenbirdwatch #earlyyearsoutdoors #OutdoorLearning #YoungFriendsKindergarten #brightonandhove #NatureEducation #Birdwatching #forestschool #ukbirds

🌳🌿 Today we’re getting ready for the Big G

🌳🌿 Today we’re getting ready for the Big Garden Birdwatch 2025!

Taking place from 26th-28th January, this nationwide event invites everyone to observe and count the birds in their local area or in our case, Woodland Garden. 🐦🦉

Its purpose? To help the RSPB track the health of our UK bird populations and protect their future.

At Young Friends, we love teaching our children about the importance of wildlife and how we can all play a role in caring for nature. Our woodland garden will be the perfect location for spotting birds, and we can’t wait to tally the results!

#BigGardenBirdwatch #RSPB #SustainableLearning #OutdoorEducation #YoungFriendsKindergarten #NatureLovers #birdwatchinguk #forestschool #brightonandhove

🌿 Our Nature Workshop at our Holland Road site

🌿 Our Nature Workshop at our Holland Road site in Hove, is a truly special haven, nestled within our beautiful woodland garden.

🛠️ Last year, we completely renovated this magical space, transforming it into an even more inspiring outdoor workshop for our children. ✨

⚡️Designed to spark creativity, innovation, and imagination, our Nature Workshop offers endless opportunities for hands-on learning, surrounded by nature.

🌟 Discover why our Nature Workshop is the pride of our kindergarten by reading more here:

https://youngfriends.co.uk/learning-environment/nature-workshop/

#NatureWorkshop #OutdoorLearning #EarlyYearsEducation #WoodlandGarden #NatureInspired #ForestSchool #eyfs #earlyyearsoutdoors #BrightonandHove #brightonchildcare #Hovekids #YoungFriends #sustainableliving

✨ Our team ✨ The team are our biggest and bes

✨ Our team ✨

The team are our biggest and best resource, they have been carefully selected through a process of safer recruitment.

We provide a thorough induction, ongoing supervision and encourage our team to grow and develop personally and professionally.

All staff are committed to our ethos and supporting children and families.

They work hard to create a safe, happy nurturing environment for children and each other!

To find out more about our team and view our team member profiles, click the link below. ❤️

https://youngfriends.co.uk/our-team/

#brightonandhove #brightonchildcare #forestschool #nurseryschool #earlyyearsideas #earlyyearsoutdoors #natureschool #hovemums #outdoorlearning #sustainableearlyyears #ourteam

🌿 Creating our own Natural Paint with locally F

🌿 Creating our own Natural Paint with locally Foraged Chalk! 🎨

Using natural resources to make our own nursery materials is a wonderful way to connect with nature, learn sustainability, and have fun at the same time!

Here’s how you can make natural paint from locally foraged chalk, which is plentiful where our kindergarten is based here in the South Downs area.

1️⃣ Forage Responsibly:

Head outdoors and collect chalk from your local area (avoid protected sites and take only what you need).

2️⃣ Clean Your Chalk:

Wash off any dirt and leave the chalk to dry completely.

3️⃣ Break It Down:

Use real tools like a hammer, mortar and pestle (or even a rolling pin and bag) to crush the chalk into a fine powder.

4️⃣ Sieve for Smoothness:

Pass the crushed chalk through a fine sieve to remove any larger particles.

5️⃣ Mix Your Paint:

Combine the chalk powder with water — start with a small amount and adjust until you get the perfect consistency.

6️⃣ Optional Colours:

For a natural twist, mix in beetroot juice, turmeric, or spinach water to add colour!

✨ Time to Create!

Paint on paper, stones, or wood and enjoy your eco-friendly creation. 💚♻️

🌍 If you like sustainable crafting, please share your ideas with us, and pop us an image of your naturally inspired masterpiece. 👩🏼‍🎨

#NaturalPaint #SustainableCrafts #EcoFriendlyArt #OutdoorLearning #criticalthinking #sustainableliving #forestschool #naturalingredients #naturalpigments #brightonandhove #earlyyearseducation

🌍 Real-World Learning. 🌱 At Young Friends K

🌍 Real-World Learning. 🌱

At Young Friends Kindergarten, we take every opportunity to extend learning beyond the classroom, inspiring children to care for their world.

Our outings to recycling centres, plastic-free shops, DIY stores, parks, the beach for litter picking, and even the local supermarket - are packed with hands-on experiences that nurture curiosity and responsibility.

Here’s just some of the ‘learning’ your children discover on our trips:-

♻️ Recycling and Resourcefulness

At recycling centres, children learn where waste goes and how sorting it properly can help protect the environment. They explore the importance of reducing, reusing, and recycling as part of a sustainable lifestyle.

🌊 Caring for Our Coasts

During beach litter-picking adventures, children see firsthand the impact of waste on marine life. They develop a sense of responsibility to protect our oceans and understand how small actions can have a big impact.

🛒 Ethical Choices

In supermarkets and plastic-free shops, we teach children how to spot fair trade and ethically sourced labels. These outings help them understand how the products we choose affect people and the planet.

🛠️ Creative Thinking

Visits to DIY stores spark ideas about repairing and repurposing materials. Children learn how things are made and gain a greater appreciation for resources.

🌳 Love for Nature

Parks provide a chance to connect with green spaces, explore biodiversity, and understand the importance of preserving wildlife habitats.

These meaningful experiences help children develop into conscious, compassionate, and environmentally aware individuals.

For more info on the ethos behind trips and outings at Young Friends Kindergarten click the link in the comments. 👇🏼

#EcoWarrior #earlyyearseducation #earlyyearsoutdoors #brightonandhove #ForestSchool #Sustainability #YoungFriendsKindergarten #ecofriendlyliving #sustainableliving #wastefreeplanet #earlylearning #LearningThroughExperience

There’s nothing more rewarding than hearing how

There’s nothing more rewarding than hearing how much of an impact we’ve made on the lives of the children and families who’ve been part of the Young Friends Kindergarten community. 🥰

We recently received this review, which with total transparency, we are proud to share with absolutely everyone!

“ Young Friends made such a difference in our daughter’s life (and ours).
The steps she’s made in her development, her increased confidence, her curiosity, and her verbal advances: these have all been nurtured so wonderfully by their amazing staff and she’s learned a host of valuable skills that she’ll take forward for years to come.
The thoughtfulness of every staff member’s approach to all the kids is remarkable and we were always amazed at the care and imagination all the staff applied.
We will remember the happy times she spent there with great fondness for years to come!”

Knowing we’ve helped shape happy, confident, and curious young minds during such a pivotal stage in their development fills us with pride and joy. 💕

To every parent who has trusted us to be part of their child’s early years: thank you! Your words inspire us to keep nurturing, teaching, and growing every day. 🌱

#Review #EarlyYearsOutdoors #ForestSchool #BrightonandHove #BrightonChildcare #ChildcareProvider #YoungFriendsKindergarten #ParentFeedback #NurserySchool

Everyone is having a good first (full) week back a

Everyone is having a good first (full) week back after the Bank Holidays… Including Chopper and Bruce!

One of our Foxes brought in some food from home to give our giant bunnies - so caring and thoughtful 💚

It was then decided that Chopper and Bruce needed an obstacle course so a few of the children constructed one, hiding lettuce amongst the obstacles to make it fun and interesting for Bruce and Chopper to explore.

👉🏼 Learning to care for living things is very important in developing skills for life. Find out more about how we work at Young Friends Kindergarten and our nature curriculum by clicking the link in the comments. 💚

#animalcare #forestschool #NatureKindergarten #sustainableeducation #earlyyearsoutdoor #outdoorlearning #EarlyYearsLearning #childcareprovider #brightonandhove

At @youngfriendskindergarten in Hove, we’re all

At @youngfriendskindergarten in Hove, we’re all about embracing the wonders of nature every single day – rain, sun, wind, frost or fog!

While snow is a rare treat for us by the sea, when it does make an appearance, it’s nothing short of magical.

Our woodland garden has, for a short time, transformed into a sparkling winter wonderland, perfect for snow fun and trying to catch snowflakes on our tongues. ❄️😊

No matter the weather, we make nature magical at Young Friends – but snowy days? Now they’re something else entirely!

Have you been luckily enough to grow up with snowy winters? And if so, where? ❄️☃️

#snowday #snowplay #outdoorlearning #forestschool #earlyyearseducation #earlyyearsoutdoors #natureschool #brightonandhove #uk

🌕 Learning About the Moon in January! 🌙 Thi

🌕 Learning About the Moon in January! 🌙

This morning we have been talking about January’s full moon : It is called the Wolf Moon. 🐺🌕

Intrigued by the name and folklore behind it, we decided to delve deeper into the fascinating world of moon names and phases!

The Wolf Moon is just one of the traditional names given to full moons throughout the year, each reflecting seasonal changes, nature, or cultural traditions. For example, February has the Snow Moon, and March features the Worm Moon!

We researched the names of all the full moons throughout the year and the stories behind them.

To bring our learning to life, we created a beautiful “Moon Name” board and Moon Phase board, helping us track the moon’s journey throughout the month.

By exploring the moon’s phases and its unique names, we’ve definitely sparked a lot of curiosity about the skies above.

Did you see the wonderful display of The Moon perfectly aligned with Venus a few nights ago?

Why not take a look at the moon later tonight and see if you can tell what phase it’s in? 🌙✨

#WolfMoon #MoonPhases #OutdoorLearning #STEM #InspiredByNature #EarlyYearsLearning #earlyyearseducation #forestschool #earlyyearsoutdoor #brightonandhove #childcareprovider

🌿 At Young Friends, we encourage children to re

🌿 At Young Friends, we encourage children to respect and care for their environment, inspiring a love for nature from an early age. 🌍💚

On a daily basis, we embed our eco-warrior values which help children to understand that our environment needs looking after in order for it to remain healthy.

Our ‘Eco-Warriors Mission’ is a cycle of sustainability we call the 6 R’s. Do you know what these 6 R’s are?

Find out more by clicking on the link below ✅ 💚

https://youngfriends.co.uk/caring-for-the-environment/

#sustainability #planethealth #sustainableeducation #sustainablelearning #earlyyearseducation #forestschool #childcareprovider #brightonandhove

🌿✨ Back in the Woodland Garden! ✨🌿 Ther

🌿✨ Back in the Woodland Garden! ✨🌿

There’s nothing like starting the new year surrounded by nature and getting stuck into all the wonderful jobs that make our sustainable, nature-loving kindergarten so special!

Today has been full of exciting moments…

🌱 Caring for our nursery plants—dusting, wiping, removing dead leaves, and making sure our plants are well-watered and thriving.

🐦 Filling up the bird feeders, especially during the frost (it’s minus 2 today!) when the soil is frozen solid, to support our local birdlife and nesting birds in the woodland garden.

❄️ Marvelling at the ice while searching for signs of spring—look at our flower bulbs already showing tiny hints of new growth. Nature always amazes us!

🐰 Preparing fresh food for Chopper and Bruce—our nursery rabbits are happy to see us all again after the Christmas break, and we’re just as happy to be reunited with them too! ❤️

Every second in our woodland garden is a chance to nurture, explore, and connect with the natural and native world around us.

We’re already getting excited about all the seasonal changes and adventures ahead!

#OutdoorLearning #WoodlandGarden #SustainableNursery #NatureKids #EcoFriendlyLiving #EarlyYearsEducation #brightonandhove #earlyyears #ConnectingWithNature #AnimalCare #GardeningWithChildren #WinterWonderland #ForestSchool

🌟 Happy New Year from Young Friends Kindergarte

🌟 Happy New Year from Young Friends Kindergarten! 🌟

As we step into 2025, the entire team at Young Friends Kindergarten would like to wish our families, friends, and community a happy, healthy, and sustainable New Year.

This year, let’s all continue to embrace green habits, make eco conscious changes to our lifestyle, nurture our connection to nature, and work together towards a brighter future for our children and planet. 🌍

Here’s to 2025 – a year of hope, kindness, and positive change! 🌱✨

#HappyNewYear #SustainableFuture #GreenHabits #newyearnewgoals #newyearsresolution #PlanetHealth #BrighterTomorrow #sustainableliving #earlyyears #earlyyearseducation #forestschool #childcareprovider #brightonandhove #hovemums

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Young Friends Kindergarten

89 Holland Road
Hove
East Sussex
BN3 1JP
t: 01273 735 100
e: enquiries@youngfriends.co.uk

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