A NEW day nursery opening in Walcot is hoping to bring a fresh approach to teaching children independence and important life skills.

The Woodlands Day Nursery will adopt the Reggio Emilia approach, founded in Italy, a student-centred system which allows students more control over their learning and gives them more opportunities to express themselves.

Jaimie Rima, manager of the new nursery, said: “Rather than the adults encroaching on children’s learning, they are more there for guidance - the children direct and shape their own learning and the adults are there for support.”

“It’s all about the children and learning through their own experiences and the adults are just there when needed.

“It’s an approach that quite a lot of people are apprehensive to use but we’re really keen to be promoting it because it’s such a good thing for them to be doing and it teaches children responsibility.”

The nursery also aims to be more flexible for parents and more affordable, without the need to book a child in for a whole day.

“Rather than parents having to pay from 7.30am to 6pm, they just pay for the hours they use,” said Jaimie.

The nursery has been co-founded by Jaimie, owner Gemma Farrar, Anthony Farrar and Rebecca Annal. It will be for children from three months up to pre-school age, and will be open from 7.30am to 6pm Monday to Friday.

The nursery is holding an open day, which is open to the public, on June 30 from 11am to 4pm, with Swindon’s Mayor Junab Ali attending at 1.30pm.