Growing Places

Growing Places Creating the future by inspiring the moment.

Welcome to Growing Places - we provide a range of opportunities to encourage children to explore, think for themselves, find solutions and know that it is ok to make mistakes. In doing so, we build children’s resilience, self-esteem and self-belief, encouraging positive attitudes to future learning. We'd like to share with you some of the wonderful things that we get up to across Growing Places an

d hopefully inspire you with ideas that you can use at home. There are 7 Growing Places Nurseries.....

Growing Places @ Mill Hill (Waterlooville)
Growing Places @ Morelands (Crookhorn)
Growing Places @ Cowplain (Cowplain)
Growing Places @ Havant Academy (Havant)
Growing Places @ Oak Meadow (Fareham)
Growing Places @ Merryfields (Fareham)
Growing Places @ Little Acorns (an outdoor nursery in Wickham)

Learning through nature, creativity and curiosity Armed with paper bags, our children headed out to explore Little Acorn...
28/08/2026

Learning through nature, creativity and curiosity

Armed with paper bags, our children headed out to explore Little Acorns, collecting leaves and flowers to discover which would create the strongest natural prints.

From experimenting together to designing and printing their very own tote bags, the children were encouraged to get creative, make choices, problem-solve and learn through hands-on experiences.

It was a beautiful day of imagination, sustainability and community, showing just how much there is to discover when little minds are given the freedom to explore.

We had some great conversations around the solar eclipse at Havant preschool with the children talking about their exper...
25/08/2026

We had some great conversations around the solar eclipse at Havant preschool with the children talking about their experiences and what they observed.

We carried on the theme with drawings and most of the children decided to cut out yellow and black circles to model what they had seen.

Merryfields children were very excited to talk about their experience of the recent eclipse. Torvi, 4.5, showed her frie...
23/08/2026

Merryfields children were very excited to talk about their experience of the recent eclipse.

Torvi, 4.5, showed her friends the special glasses she used.

'They are very special, if you don't wear them you hurt your eyes.'

Olive, 4, added, 'I was so bright because the sun is hot.'

The children then decided to make their own solar eclipse, using paper and scissors to cut out a sun and moon.

'The sun is fire.' said Remy, 3.7

'Yeah, and the moon is cold.' replied Torvi.

The children then stuck the moon and sun on lolly sticks so they could recreate the eclipse by passing the mood in front of the sun.

'Look, it's going around the earth!' said Torvi

Macie, 4.7, added, 'I know, it's in space.'

The eclipse has been a wonderful experience for all our nursery children.

This rare occasion brought the magic and wonder of the universe to us all, and allowed the children to understand abstract science concepts in a very fun and ands-on way, hopefully sparking further interest and conversation.

The recent eclipse really captured the imagination of our children ... Many of the Havant preschool children were excite...
20/08/2026

The recent eclipse really captured the imagination of our children ...

Many of the Havant preschool children were excited to share their experience of seeing the solar eclipse.

This sparked lots of conversation around what they had observed and what a solar eclipse was.

'At my nanny's house the sun went into the moon. The moon touched the sun and everyone was taking pictures.' Margot, 4

'I did see that on the TV with my Mum, we watched it and the moon hided the sun.' Zac, 4.2

We projected the solar eclipse on to the wall in the preschool room for the children to see and explore.

Some of the children chose to draw what an eclipse looked like using pencils, and we set out black and yellow paper with glue and scissors so the children could recreate what they had seen.

Most of the children chose to cut out yellow and black circles and model how the moon moved slowly across the sun.

Sometimes a simple question from a child can lead to a wonderful journey of discovery. Listening helps children to:Devel...
19/08/2026

Sometimes a simple question from a child can lead to a wonderful journey of discovery.

Listening helps children to:
Develop confidence in expressing themselves
Build communication skills
Feel respected and understood
Become curious thinkers and problem-solvers

By following their interests and encouraging their curiosity, we help children develop a deeper understanding of the world around them.

At Growing Places, we believe children are capable, creative thinkers. Our role is to support, encourage and provide opportunities for them to explore their ideas.

Nature is full of opportunities for children to discover, question and learn.A tiny seed, a fallen leaf or a changing se...
17/08/2026

Nature is full of opportunities for children to discover, question and learn.

A tiny seed, a fallen leaf or a changing season can inspire curiosity and open the door to wonderful conversations.

Outdoor exploration helps children develop observation skills, creativity and a deeper connection with the world around them.

Whether they are squishing, pouring, mixing, creating or getting their hands involved, children are developing important...
13/08/2026

Whether they are squishing, pouring, mixing, creating or getting their hands involved, children are developing important skills through sensory experiences like messy play.

Messy play supports:
Creativity and imagination
Problem-solving and curiosity
Fine motor skills and coordination
Communication and confidence
Understanding the world through exploration

When children are given the freedom to investigate and follow their own ideas, they build confidence in their ability to discover and create.

Behind every happy smile, every new discovery and every moment of learning is a team of passionate and dedicated educato...
11/08/2026

Behind every happy smile, every new discovery and every moment of learning is a team of passionate and dedicated educators who truly care.

Our staff bring warmth, creativity and commitment to everything they do, creating safe, nurturing environments where children feel valued, supported and encouraged to be themselves.

From the little everyday moments to the big milestones, our team plays such an important role in helping children grow in confidence, curiosity and independence.

We are incredibly proud of the people who make Growing Places such a special place for children and families.

A story shared today can inspire a lifetime of imagination. Reading with children is about so much more than learning wo...
09/08/2026

A story shared today can inspire a lifetime of imagination.

Reading with children is about so much more than learning words. Stories help children explore emotions, develop language, spark creativity and understand the world around them.

Whether it’s a favourite bedtime story, a book chosen independently or a story created together, these moments build connection and curiosity.

This quote beautifully reflects the heart of what our team does every day at Growing Places. Our incredible staff are no...
07/08/2026

This quote beautifully reflects the heart of what our team does every day at Growing Places.

Our incredible staff are not just here to teach, they are here to listen, encourage and inspire.

They create environments where children feel confident to ask questions, explore their ideas and discover the world around them in their own unique way.

Every moment of curiosity, every new challenge and every little achievement is supported by passionate educators who truly care about helping children grow.

We are so proud of our team and the love, dedication and creativity they bring to our settings every single day.

Address

Waterlooville

Opening Hours

Monday 7:30am - 6pm
Tuesday 7:30am - 6pm
Wednesday 7:30am - 6pm
Thursday 7:30am - 6pm
Friday 7:30am - 6pm

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