Our Story & YMCA Values
A nursery experience built on care, belonging and trust
At YMCA Fairthorne Group, supporting children and families has always been at the heart of what we do.
Everyone should have a fair chance to discover who they are and what they can become
Why Our Nurseries Exist
We believe that every child should have a fair chance to discover who they are and what they can become.
That belief shapes everything we do in our nurseries. Children learn and grow at their own pace, and our role is to support them, not rush them, compare them, or fit them into a single mould.
As part of YMCA Fairthorne Group, our nurseries sit within a wider charity supporting young people, families and communities. That means our work is rooted in purpose rather than profit, with decisions shaped by care, stability and opportunity.
Community support
Youth work
Housing & stability
Our Approach to Early Years
We help children grow in confidence, creativity and joy.
Each child’s pace
Learning that moves with your child, not around them.
Emotional wellbeing
Supporting feelings alongside development, every day.
Child-led curiosity
We follow children’s interests and build learning from there.
Outdoor learning
Real experiences and outdoor play as part of everyday life.
Consistency & care
Familiar routines, steady relationships, and gentle encouragement.
Children are supported as individuals, with consistency, care and encouragement guiding each day.
YMCA Values in Everyday Nursery Life
Our values are not statements on a wall — they are part of daily nursery life.
Belonging
Children feel safe and secure through consistency, familiar faces and trusted relationships. They know they are welcome, valued and accepted as they are.
Care
We support children emotionally, socially and developmentally — especially when extra help is needed. Support is part of everyday practice, not something children have to qualify for.
Respect
We listen, to children and to parents. Every voice matters, and communication is open, honest and kind.
Community
Our nurseries are part of a wider support system for families. Parents are not just customers — they are partners.
Belonging
Children feel safe and secure through consistency, familiar faces and trusted relationships.
Care
We support children emotionally, socially and developmentally, especially when extra help is needed.
Respect
We listen to children and to parents. Every voice matters.
Community
Our nurseries are part of a wider support system for families.
Part of YMCA Fairthorne Group
Our nurseries are rooted in purpose, not profit
As part of YMCA Fairthorne Group, everything we do comes back to care for children, families, and the communities we serve.
From historic estate to outdoor childhoods
Fairthorne has centuries of history behind it, but today its story is shaped by children, families, outdoor play, and early years experiences that help little ones grow.
Where would you like to go next?
Explore our nursery locations or discover the values that guide everything we do.
View our nursery locations
Find your nearest setting and arrange a visit that works for your family.
View locations →Understand our story and values
Learn about our child-led approach and the principles that shape our care.
Explore our ethos →