Case Study: Creating a Homely Nursery Provision at Hillcrest Early Years Academy

Case Study: Creating a Homely Nursery Provision at Hillcrest Early Years Academy

Working with Chequered Fox to create an inspiring new nursery provision

Hillcrest Early Years Academy secured the School-based Nursery Grant enabling themย to provide provision for babies and toddlers from nine months to 24 months.

With only six weeks and a need for expert guidance they partnered with
Chequered Fox to bring their vision to life.

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At a glance

Client:ย Hillcrest Early Years Academy
Setting: School-based nursery
Sector: Early Years
Project: New baby and toddler room
Timeline: 6 weeks
Capacity: 15 children

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"We absolutely, 100% recommend Chequered Fox without hesitation for anyone wanting to achieve absolute perfection in their school or nursery setting. The quality, knowledge and expertise is second to none and we are so lucky to have found such a fabulous company to work with and create our vision." - Samantha Stokes, Headteacher

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The challenge

Hillcrest Early Years Academy needed to create a dedicated space for their youngest learners.

The main challenges included:

  • Timescales: Only six weeks to design and set up the new room before opening.
  • Knowledge base:ย Limited experience with age-appropriate resources for under-twos, requiring expert guidance.
  • Budget:ย With much of the investment going into redesigning the room,ย the remaining funds hadย to be used wisely toย furnish and resource the space effectively.

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"From our first meeting with Kate, we knew that she understood the brief and our vision. From that point on, we knew we would end up working together."


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The solution

Chequered Fox worked closely with Hillcrest Early Years Academy to turn their vision for a new baby and toddler room into reality. This was more than simply supplying products - it was a truly collaborative process.

Before any orders were placed, Chequered Fox carried out a free site visit to understand the space and the Academyโ€™s goals in detail. They were on hand throughout to guide the school on selecting the most appropriate furniture and resources for under-twos, making sure every choice balanced practicality with a homely feel. To ease the pressure of tight timescales, Chequered Fox also provided a free installation co-ordination service, ensuring everything arrived and was set up smoothly.

Their support included:

  • Guiding the school on age-appropriateย resources for children under two, turningย the vision into a practical plan.
  • Working carefully within the agreed budget,ย Chequered Fox offered flexible solutions toย prioritise the most important items first, whileย advising on where additions could be madeย later to enhance the space further.
  • Delivering all essential furniture andย resources on schedule, ensuring the roomย was fully ready to open on time.

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"The experience and expertise was invaluableย and we cannot thank you enough for helping us to create our vision."

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The results

  • Welcoming, homely environment
  • Space for 15 babies and toddlers
  • Positive feedback from staff and parents
  • An environment where children thrive

The transformation created a nursery that is beautiful, practical, and homely, now accommodating 15 babies and toddlers. Children can start at Hillcrest from nine months old, preparing them for their educational journey from the very beginning. The project was completed successfully, resulting in:

  • A fully-functioning nursery with a warm, homely feel that reflects Hillcrestโ€™s vision.
  • The ability to welcome children from nine months old, ensuring earlier integration into their learning journey.
  • A purposeful, well-designed environment where children can thrive, supported by positive feedback from staff and parents.

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For more information on how Chequered Fox can transform your space, please contact us at:

fox@chequeredfox.co.ukย ย  | ย  0800 677 1214

Download the full case study now: download

Find out more about Hillcrest Early Years Academy here

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โœจ We carefully selected resources and furniture to create a homely, inspiring environment for little learners. Explore some of the key pieces below:

Indoor

Outdoor

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