Grasshoppers in the Park is a warm, friendly, parent-led, full day care provider.
We welcome children from two to five years old.
We are a parent-led nursery
Staffed and managed by highly valued and qualified Early Years Practitioners in partnership with our very active parent commitees. Through this close working relationship with parents, we are able to offer a friendly and homely environment to our children.
At Grasshoppers, parents and practitioners work together, creating contexts in which children are able to explore and represent their ideas and thinking through their ‘hundred languages’: play, creativity, role-play, drama, music, literacy and the outdoor environment.
The nursery is a supportive and lively place where you will get to know all your child’s friends and can be involved in how they spend their time.
About us
As a parent led nursery, Grasshoppers gives parents a unique opportunity to be directly involved in decisions about all aspects of the running of the nursery. Everything from gardening and DIY, laundry & sewing, social events (with and without the children), fundraising and accounting, is all undertaken by our wonderful parent community.
All parents are required to take on a role, this is what makes our nursery unique and keeps fees down. There will always be a way in which to contribute and a friendly parent to help you if needed. There is a monthly meeting for all parents and staff to discuss how they feel things are going and make decisions on how improvements can be made.
Our days are action-packed, full of play, learning, outdoors exploration and delicious & healthy organic food.
Read more about our daily routine and activities…
Manifesto
The aim of Grasshoppers is to provide an enriching experience for the children and to be an asset to the wider community. Grasshoppers is run by parents; and all parents also have the opportunity to work at the nursery as part payment of fees. Through their involvement, parents gain valuable skills, help to provide positive learning experiences for their children and feel a greater sense of community. At Grasshoppers creativity is key. We value freedom of choice and encourage learning though self motivation. We believe free play offers a great opportunity for the children to explore their imagination, communicate ideas and express emotional and physical responses. We believe it is important to take an interdisciplinary approach to understanding early childhood. There are many kinds of ideas about how the world is understood and what the place and status of young children is within it.
Familiarising ourselves with a range of ideas about how to study early childhood is to enrich our understanding. Delving into ideas and thinking about them deeply is important; and will help us to ensure that children are treated with the alertness, with the humour and with the reciprocity they, like anyone else, deserve.
Our wonderful staff
Luciana
Manager
SENCO
First Aider
Luciana has been our Nursery Manager since September 2011. She is responsible for the overall operation and organisation of the nursery. Luciana works with the children to provide the best possible surroundings and stimulation for each child’s development. She has a wealth of experience in early years education and Montessori teaching.
Luciana works closely with both parents and staff to ensure every family enjoys their experience at Grasshoppers. She plays an integral part in the executive committee and has a close working relationship with the parent directors. Her warm and friendly approach helps new families and their children to settle in quickly and happily.
- MA Sociology of Childhood and Children’s Rights
- BA Honours Early Childhood Studies
- Early Years Teacher
- Montessori Diploma
Bruce
Deputy Manager
Forest School Leader
Health Lead
First Aider
Bruce has been at Grasshoppers since January 2013. Bruce’s background in acting allows him to be an endearing storyteller and performer.
Bruce also leads regular Forest School sessions for the children, and his botanical expertise encourages children’s exploration and understanding of nature.
- NVQ Level 3 Children and Young persons Workforce
- Level 3 Forest School Leader
Thi
Deputy Manager
Health & Safety
Deputy Safeguarding Officer
First Aider
Thi has been with Grasshoppers since summer 2006. She has a special interest in numeracy and has undertaken additional training. Thi teaches numeracy in ways that are fun and that make sense to young children.
Thi has a warm, friendly nature, and also has great patience – especially with children who like to focus on individual tasks.
- NVQ Level 3 Childcare and Education
Coral
Staff
Special Needs Support Worker
First Aider
Coral has been at Grasshoppers since 2013. She has a wealth of experience working with children and is wonderfully patient and maternal.
Coral has a real engagement with the children and is incredibly competent and professional.
- NVQ Level 2 Childcare and Education
Roberta
Deputy Manager
Safeguarding Lead
First Aider
Roberta is a skilled puppet maker and storyteller, and is in the process of planning drama sessions for the children.
- NVQ Level 3 in Childcare & Education
- BA Honours Drama & Acting
Katya
Staff
Katya is musically trained (cello) and has lots of experience as a support teacher in primary schools, helping children with their literacy skills.
Nives
Kitchen Co-ordinator
Nives is the Grasshoppers Kitchen Coordinator, which isn’t just a fancy name for a cook! She also plans the meals and orders the food – all of which is organic, vegetarian produce (from local suppliers where possible), carefully selected for health and nutrition.
Hear what parents have to say
“My wife and I have lived in Hackney for seven years and sent our daughter to Grasshoppers for the last year and a half. We heard about Grasshoppers through friends and relatives and have similarly recommended them to our own friends and family. They are head and shoulders above the other nurseries we saw when it comes to the level of care, ethos and parental involvement. As working parents, we are delighted that somewhere like Grasshoppers can look after our child.”
ALEX, FATHER OF EVIE.
“My daughter has loved being a Grasshopper. It is a creative, exciting and safe environment for children where she has been stimulated, encouraged and supported in the best ways. The parental involvement has given me extra skills (I can now run payroll!) as well as letting me get to know the staff and other parents in a meaningful way. I couldn’t have wished for a better start for her and we will both miss the nursery very much when she goes to school.”
GINNY, MOTHER OF BEA
“Our daughter Ruby has had a wonderful time a Grasshoppers. The staff is very friendly and helpful and we always felt very safe leaving Ruby in their care, knowing that she would be looked after and cared for in the best possible way. The small size of the nursery gives it a warm and homely feel and the food in the nursery is brilliant and made from scratch. Ruby seems to eat a lot for her lunch there – much more than at home!”
TRINE, MOTHER OF RUBY
Where you can find us
Apply now
All applications are treated on a first come first served basis. Please fill out an Application form (downloads as a .docx) and you will be added to our waiting list. As soon as a place becomes available we will let you know.