The Nourished Child

The Nourished Child Inspired by the wisdom of Steiner, Reggio and Waldorf, the approach celebrates curiosity, creativity and the magic of everyday moments.

I’m Nikki, an Ofsted registered Outstanding childminder and the heart behind The Nourished Child 🌿



Bespoke childcare setting accredited in the Curiosity Approach, my greatest passion and the foundation of everything I do. Our play is led by the children and their schematic styles of learning. We use authentic resources and real treasures often found in charity shops or at boot sales because the most meaningful learning comes from the real world around us. 🌱✨



Since 2017 I have also been taking children into care homes through Grandfriends, a project I now lead for the FaNs Network. These visits bring so much joy. Residents’ faces light up, children gain confidence and compassion, and beautiful friendships grow between the generations. 💛



I am also accredited in Hygge in the Early Years, bringing warmth, calm and belonging into our days. All meals are freshly home cooked with real ingredients and meat from a local butcher because nourishment matters inside and out 🍲💛



Here, no play is messy, it is exploration. Muddy knees, painty hands and windswept hair… and that is just me 🤣



Childhood is not rushed here. It is savoured, celebrated and full of curiosity. 🌿

24/09/2026

“Just a few more bites…”
“Finish what’s on your plate…”

Words so many of us grew up hearing.

We’ve had a few tender moments around food this week, so today we slowed things down. She chose dinner, helped prepare it, chatted away beside me and proudly carried that little bit of ownership to the table. 🌽🩷

No pressure. Just connection, reassurance and being heard.

Sometimes nourishment starts long before the first bite.

Notice • Connect • Nurture

23/09/2026

A full house at St Fillans today 🩷

We went along with Karen and her children too, and welcomed a new little one into the mix. Such a lovely, busy morning together.

There was music, dancing, scarves flying, tambourines shaking and lots of smiles all round. Seeing the children and residents all joining in together is exactly what makes these sessions so special.

And Gunni, you were amazing today 🩷

Busy, joyful, slightly chaotic… perfect really 😂

🌿 Our Grandfriends ❤️What a morning. 🥹Today we went to visit our lovely Grandfriends at St Dominic’s here in Kelvedon, a...
17/09/2026

🌿 Our Grandfriends ❤️

What a morning. 🥹

Today we went to visit our lovely Grandfriends at St Dominic’s here in Kelvedon, and for the first time we got to spend time in their beautiful newly built part of the home.

And wow. What a gorgeous space they have created. ❤️

We took along a little one who is currently settling in with me too, and our morning was just full of everything I love about our Grandfriends visits.

We sang songs, danced, played tennis and bat and ball with balloons, laughed… and there were so many cuddles. 🥹

Some of the photographs from today have absolutely melted me. The hugs, the smiles and just seeing how happy everyone was to be together. ❤️

But there was also a moment today that was just for me.

One of the lovely ladies asked how long I’d been childminding. I told her 21 years, and she looked at me and said:

“It takes a special kind of person to work with children and do the job that you do, so you must be a really special lady.”

Well… that was me gone. 😭❤️

It’s been a tough and emotional week, and I don’t think she could possibly have known how much I needed those few kind words today.

Sometimes somebody says something so simple, at exactly the right moment, and it stays with you.

21 years of little people. So many children, families, adventures, changes, hard days and wonderful ones.

And today was definitely one of the wonderful ones.

Thank you to our beautiful Grandfriends at St Dominic’s for another morning full of hugs, laughter and love. We’ll see you again very soon. ❤️🌿

16/09/2026

A little fresh air was needed today. 🌿🤍

One of those days that makes you stop, look around and feel incredibly thankful for family, friends and all the small, ordinary things we sometimes take for granted.

Holding my people a little closer today and feeling very grateful for this little life. 🤍

Fresh air, little people and a reminder to appreciate the now. 🌿

First day back means comfort food tonight 🤎🍝Chicken pesto pasta, garlic bread and hungry little tummies after a lovely d...
15/09/2026

First day back means comfort food tonight 🤎🍝

Chicken pesto pasta, garlic bread and hungry little tummies after a lovely day of playing and reconnecting.

Simple, warm and demolished… just how we like it 😂🌿

And just like that… I’m back 🤎🌿Marrakech to Kelvedon in less than 24 hours… home around midnight, bed at 2am and back to...
15/09/2026

And just like that… I’m back 🤎🌿

Marrakech to Kelvedon in less than 24 hours… home around midnight, bed at 2am and back to my little people this morning. Safe to say I’m running on coffee and Moroccan sunshine at this point 😂

But what a lovely first day back.

Today we welcomed another new little family into The Nourished Child, with Little Miss O and her mummy joining us for a settling-in session.

We’ve had such a gentle day, just pottering around together, lots of cuddles, lots of chatting and getting to know one another. The treasure baskets came out and little hands were soon busy rummaging, opening, touching and exploring absolutely everything. 🤎

It’s always such a lovely part of welcoming a new family. Those first few days of simply spending time together, finding out what makes them smile, what catches their eye and slowly building that connection and trust.

And I think today was a pretty lovely start. 🥰

Tomorrow we’re off to Maldon Prom, where Little Miss O and mummy are meeting us again for another little adventure together.

So yes… holiday Nikki has officially hung up her sunhat 😂 and The Nourished Child is back.

Tired? Absolutely.

Happy to be back with my little people? Absolutely. 🤎🌿

Here’s to a lovely new chapter with another little family.

Notice • Connect • Nurture

And that’s me checking out… ✌️☀️Six weeks of summer holidays… DONE ✔️Children loved, adventures had, memories made, snac...
03/09/2026

And that’s me checking out… ✌️☀️

Six weeks of summer holidays… DONE ✔️
Children loved, adventures had, memories made, snacks served approximately 47,000 times 😂 and now it’s my turn.

The Nourished Child is officially on holiday 🩷

Bags are packed, work brain is being firmly switched OFF and tomorrow I’m off to Morocco with one of my best friends 🇲🇦☀️

Ten whole days of sunshine, good food, laughter, exploring, probably far too many photos and absolutely no one calling my name 84 times before lunchtime 😂

I’ve worked bloody hard this summer and I am SO ready for this.

Happy holidays to me. Morocco, we’re coming for you! 🇲🇦🥂☀️

See you on the other side, Nourished Child families 🩷

Notice • Connect • Nurture

🐷🌿 A lovely little new find…Today we visited Lathcoats Farm in Chelmsford for the first time, meeting up with our lovely...
02/09/2026

🐷🌿 A lovely little new find…

Today we visited Lathcoats Farm in Chelmsford for the first time, meeting up with our lovely friends from Lulabelle's Childcare, who had been before and knew what a little gem it was.

And what a lovely little place! 🤎

With the schools going back today it was beautifully quiet, so absolutely perfect for our little early years gang.

We wandered around seeing the pigs, alpacas, ponies and donkeys, spotted the most beautiful owl and explored all the little play areas along the way. There were cars to drive, tunnels to explore, mosaic stepping stones to navigate and lots of little things to discover.

And the pig definitely stole the show when he decided to come over and see what we were all up to. 🐷😂

The farm is completely free to visit, which is amazing. They just ask that you don’t bring your own picnic onto the farm and instead support their gorgeous little café if you fancy something to eat or drink. Very fair, I think.

Naturally, I grabbed myself a coffee to wander around with. ☕️😂

They also have pick your own at Lathcoats, which we didn’t do today, but definitely something for another visit. 🍎🍓

Once we were all getting a little peckish, we headed just down the road with our Lulubelles friends to Chelmer Park, found ourselves a spot for our picnic and then had another lovely play.

Swings, slides, running around, lots of laughter and very happy little people. 🧺🌿

Just a really lovely day out with lovely friends and such a nice little find.

I genuinely can’t believe we’ve never been before.

Lathcoats Farm, we’ll definitely be back. 🤎🐷

🌿 Notice • Connect • Nurture 🌿

Address

Kelvedon
Colchester
CO59PD

Opening Hours

Monday 7am - 7pm
Tuesday 7am - 7pm
Wednesday 7am - 7pm
Thursday 7am - 7pm

Telephone

+447581463394

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