The Chelsea Nursery, one of London’s leading independent early years education providers, has begun the new year with a new chapter, as it welcomes Lara Van Romburgh as its Head of Nursery.
Situated just off Kings Road in Chelsea, The Chelsea Nursery is part of the excellent-rated prep school, Cameron Vale. Operated by education specialists, Forfar Education, the school and nursery are part of a network of educational settings across the UK which put the child’s enjoyment of education at the heart of everything they do, from the minute they walk (or crawl!) through the door.
This appointment of the new Head of Nursery comes just after the opening of the nursery’s brand new Baby Room and nursery refurbishment, which includes a wide range of new facilities such as an arts and crafts area, a reading corner and an imaginative play area with lots of open-plan space for the children to explore.
Lara joins The Chelsea Nursery with a wealth of experience in a variety of roles, including teaching, mentoring and running her own nursery. In addition, she has worked in management positions as part of the founding school for Curro Holdings, which is a JSE listed group of independent schools established throughout South Africa.
Mrs Lara Van Romburgh said: “Joining the nursery at such an exciting time, as it opens its new Baby Room, is such a wonderful opportunity. The Head of Nursery position appealed to me because it will allow me to implement my teaching style, which revolves around children exploring through the Curiosity Approach in a close-knit, family-feel environment.
“I’m a firm believer that children are happiest when they have the opportunity to explore independently – there is nothing more rewarding than stepping back and watching a group of children submerge themselves in a chosen setup. Observing achieved milestones and the sense of pride a child attains when they accomplish a task is priceless!
“It’s important childhood is treasured; school shouldn’t be a reason to bring that to an end. I focus my teachings on offering children the chance to explore the world bringing curiosity, awe and wonder to the forefront rather than focusing on the changing technological times around us.”
The nursery’s new Baby Room has been specifically designed to focus on the primary areas of the Early Years Foundation Stage curriculum and will have a strong focus on learning through play. The welcoming and high spec facilities include a play area and a cosy, quiet sleep space. The babies will also be able to enjoy an enclosed playground and school hall for creative sessions such as music and play.
Mrs Lara Romburgh added: “We understand that it can be difficult for parents to send their babies and children to nursery at a young age, which is why we have made sure to give the baby room a truly family feel, helping the babies and parents feel comfortable in their new surroundings and of course, we keep parents updated with what their little ones have been getting up to throughout the day.
“I see The Chelsea Nursery as a home-from-home for our children, where they are encouraged to be themselves, where the environment is mindfully set up. We will also make sure the outdoors is a key part of learning, with our children enjoying regular visits to Forest School, so they have the opportunity to experiment with real-life learning concepts of sciences, maths, creativity and social environments on a weekly basis.”
It is the start of a new era at Cameron Vale too, as the school has recently welcomed a new Headmistress, Alison Melrose, who also brings many years of experience and insight from a variety of esteemed positions in the education sector. Alison will be working closely with Lara to ensure a smooth transition for the nursery children as they start on the school journey.
Mrs Alison Melrose added: “January marked a big step forward for Cameron Vale and the Chelsea Nursery. I’m excited to work closely with Lara, the nursery staff and the parents to bring the best out of the children, making sure we adapt to every child’s needs and help them pursue education in a fun and independent way.”
Open 50 weeks in the year, The Chelsea Nursery is a nursery school for boys and girls (aged from six months to four years old), with a mission to help each child to develop a lifelong love of learning.
Parents are welcome to see the nursery and school during a personal tour. To book an appointment, please visit https://www.cameronvaleschool.com/, email [email protected], or call 020 7352 4040.
