Your local nursery in Inverkip, Inverclyde
Our dedicated team at our Inverkip nursery focus on living up to their Grade 4 Care Inspectorate grades by providing the very best for children. We are conveniently located for families in Inverkip, Skelmorlie, Wemyss Bay, Gourock, and Greenock, caring for their education, health, and wellbeing in collaboration with Inverclyde and North Ayrshire Councils and parents.
We provide childcare for children from 6 weeks to 5 years of age to learn, play and develop. Our opening times are Monday to Friday from 7am to 6pm and we are registered to care for up to 76 children.
Our unique features
Government funding
Access to park, Marina and forest for walks
Home from home atmosphere
Meet the Manager
Jodie Doran
Deputy Manager
Cara Cunningham
Nursery Manager
Our Nursery Brochure
We will guide you through every step of your childcare journey and help you discover everything you need to know about our nursery. Come and join our family of nurseries across the UK. If you have any questions or enquiries, please feel free to contact us.
Alternatively, why not book a personal tour of our nursery where one of our friendly team will be happy to answer any questions you may have.
Day Nurseries Reviews
What Parents Say About Our Nursery
Outdoor Discovery: Growing, Learning, and Playing in Nature
We love to get outside here at Happitots Inverkip! Outdoor learning incorporates the entire range of learning experiences and allows children to learn and play in a relaxing, multi-sensory environment with the freedom to connect with the real world around them.
It provides a new learning environment away from the indoor norm and can motivate children to learn and develop in a different way. Regular access to fresh air is a priority for us and the children in our care. Being active is, and should be, a big part of life and is a core element of our nursery ethos. We make the most of our wonderful outdoor space by getting our children outside every day.
As well as time in our fabulous gardens we enjoy walks in the local communities, parks and forest areas. We believe there is no such thing as bad weather, only inappropriate clothing!
As well as our dedication to the children, we are committed to being an environmentally friendly nursery, making changes wherever we can in order to make the world a cleaner place! We are a registered ECO-Nursery and are committed to teach our children about their environment and the effect we have on it in our day to day lives.
Our Approach to Education at Happitots Inverkip Day Nursery
Our curriculum includes a Realising the Ambition: Being Me framework in conjunction with Scotland’s Curriculum for Excellence approach that offers hands-on perspectives to encourage the skills your child will need in the nursery and beyond:
- Mathematics: Integrating numbers into real-life routines
- Schematic Play: Quality learning environment providing the potential for children’s creativity skills and allowing them to follow their own interests confidently
- Listening, Attention and Speaking: Teaching children to express their ideas and feelings about their experiences using complete sentences
- Personal, Social and Emotional Education
- STEM Activities: Building and problem solving using science, technology, engineering, and math
- Ensuring children are physically active from birth and meet the Chief Medical Officers (2019) guidelines of a minimum of 3 hours per day
Our Nursery Fees and Funding
We can offer flexible booking patterns and a range of funding options, including government funded childcare. To find out more information on pricing and availability, please request a call back and we will be in touch shortly.
Our fees include:
- Quality Early Years Care and Education
- Healthy, well balanced menu for all children
- Access to a wide range of quality resources and equipment
- E-Learning Journals via ParentZone App
- Regular newsletters and parent evenings
- Free Settling in Sessions
- Nappies, wipes & a variety of milk
*Terms and conditions apply to our funding options. Contact us for more information.
Most Enjoyed Activities at Our Nursery
Our nurseries offer a wide range of nursery activities and extras to enrich every child’s experience at nursery and to support busy parents.
Qualified Teachers
Our qualified teachers work closely with our preschool children and their key workers to ensure that children make good progress within all aspects of their development in readiness for school.
Special Festivals
Our nursery encourages children to celebrate festivals throughout the year. This is one of the best ways for children to learn about different religions and cultures by celebrating various world religious festivals, food tasting from different countries and dressing up in the national dress of their friends.
Nursery Library
We believe that reading should be lots of fun, so we run a mini-library service to encourage children to share their favourite stories with their parents, and to help busy parents keep the bookshelf engaging at home! Our nurseries organise regular library visits as part of the learning process.
Fundraising Activities
Taking part in fundraising activities helps children to learn about others that are less fortunate than themselves and to understand how we can help them. Fundraising events are good fun and are a great way to bring children, families and communities together. Some of the fundraisers we have taken part in are: sponsored toddles, superhero days, baking cakes to sell and garden parties.
Graduations
We celebrate the big move to primary school with a special graduation ceremony each year!
Heuristic Play
We encourage Heuristic Play with our 1–2-year-olds, embracing every child’s natural curiosity. Heuristic play involves offering children a range of different objects and receptacles with which they are encouraged to play freely without adult instruction.
Settling-In Sessions
Our nurseries offer free settling-in sessions. Parents can bring their child for a couple of hours first, gradually introducing the child to a new environment. Settling-in sessions are aimed at helping your child to adapt to their new surroundings and become more familiar with the staff and other children.
E-Learning Journals / Parent Zone App
Our E-Learning journals and Parent Zone app allow you to see your child’s activities at nursery with the click of a button. Staff upload images and notes about your child’s participation in activities at nursery for you to access wherever you are. Our nursery tablets offer exciting and stimulating learning experiences tailored to challenge and engage little ones.
Delivery Acceptance
Just another way we aim to make life run a little smoother for our families – many of our nurseries offer delivery acceptance. You can have deliveries/parcels/post sent to your nursery and collect anything when you come to the nursery for pick-up!
The Daily Mile
Daily Mile is physical activity and health and well-being in a social, outdoors context. It is not active play, physical education or outdoor learning, although participating in The Daily Mile can encourage curiosity and interest in outdoor environments in keeping with wider outdoor learning opportunities. The main goal is to increase daily activity.
Baking with Chef
Wherever we can we encourage children to partake in preparing their meals at nursery. We love to see our preschool children take pride in their culinary creations and enjoy healthy and delicious food.
Food & Nutrition: Building Healthy Habits
We offer children a healthy, balanced lunch which is delivered by a carefully selected catering company. Breakfast and snacks are also provided. In creating our meals, we take into account ‘Setting the Table’ Nutritional Guidance and Food Standards for Early Years Childcare Provision in Scotland.
We tailor menus based on child and parent feedback whilst ensuring all individual allergy and dietary requirements are adhered to. At Happitots, we advocate meal times as social occasions where children can interact as well as become independent in their choices and feeding themselves.
Cooking and Baking Activities
Our children have opportunities to work with our Nursery Chef through weekly cooking and baking activities.
Vegetarian and Vegan
We are happy to cater for all preferences including Vegeterian and Vegan.
Dairy-Free Milk
We offer a variety of milk including animal and plant based milks. Speak to our Nursery Chef regarding your preference.
Dietary Requirements
We are happy to cater for a whole range of dietary/religious/cultural requirements. Please speak to our Nursery Chef for more information.
No Added Sugar or Salt
We do not add additional salt or sugar. Where possible we purchase products with reduced salt and lower sugar.
Allergies and First Aid
Our staff are trained in First Aid and the team are experienced in catering for allergies. You are more than welcome to meet with a member of our team to discuss your requirements.
Caring for Every Stage: From Babies to Pre-Schoolers
Baby Room (0-2 years)
Nurturing Beginnings
Our baby room provides a calm, safe, and stimulating environment where our babies can explore, discover, and develop at their own pace. With a strong focus on sensory play, close one-to-one care, and gentle routines, we create a loving space where babies feel secure, happy, and encouraged to take their first steps in learning.
Toddler Room (2-3 years)
Exploring and Growing
At this curious and energetic stage, toddlers thrive in a space designed for discovery, movement, and social interaction. Through hands-on activities, messy play, early language development, and guided exploration, we nurture independence while ensuring children feel supported in their growing confidence and abilities.
Pre-School Room (3-5 years)
Ready for Big Adventures
As children prepare for their next steps into school life, our pre-school room offers a structured yet playful approach to learning. With a mix of phonics, numeracy, creative expression, and problem-solving activities, we build essential skills while encouraging curiosity, teamwork, and self-confidence, ensuring a smooth transition to reception.
A Connected Nursery Experience for Parents
At Thrive Childcare, we know how important it is for parents to stay involved in their child’s nursery journey. That’s why we use the ParentZone app—giving you real-time updates, photos, and key insights about your little one’s day, all in one secure place.
Regular Updates
Stay informed with nursery newsletters, announcements, and invitations to exciting events.
Daily Moments
See snapshots and videos of your child’s activities, from learning adventures to playful discoveries.
Instant Notifications
Get real-time updates on your child’s progress, meal times, and important nursery messages.
Nursery Calendar
Keep track of term dates, planned activities, and special events—all at a glance.
Learning Journey
Follow your child’s development through detailed progress reports and key learning milestones.
Two-Way Communication
Easily message our nursery team to ask questions, share updates, and stay connected.
At Thrive Childcare, we want you to always feel part of your child’s world—wherever you are.
Frequently asked questions
Do you offer part-time or flexible sessions for children?
Yes we do, please don’t hesitate to ask your nursery manager what is available in your nursery
How do you handle first aid or medical emergencies?
Our staff teams are qualified in paediatric first aid and refresh their knowledge on a regular basis, this is over and above regulatory minimum requirements
What is your settling-in process for new children?
We take an individualised approach to setting our children into our nursery environments, as a minimum we offer three settle sessions to allow children to gain familiarity and then our nursery teams will work with you to decide if more sessions are required
How do you communicate with parents about their child’s progress?
We have a fantastic app where you can view your child’s progress and daily routines. We also hold regular parents evenings and you can request a meeting at any time with your child’s key person to discuss your child’s individual needs
Are there any additional costs, such as for trips or special activities?
This is nursery dependent and will be explained on your personal tour
Do you offer sibling discounts or loyalty programs?
No
Do you provide care for children with special educational needs (SEN/ASN)?
Yes and we work together in partnership with you, external agencies and the local authority throughout your time with us to support you and your child to reach the very best outcomes
What makes your nursery stand out from others in the area?
Our Thrive ethos and values are unique to us and set us apart from the rest
What should I pack in my child’s bag for nursery?
A spare set of clothes are a must, also any comforters your child may need, apart from that we provide the rest!
Should I pack nappies and wipes, or are they provided?
No, they are provided
What is the process for dropping off and picking up my child?
This is nursery dependent as some opening and closing times do differ, ask your nursery manager to clarify. All of our nurseries endeavour to make this transition as smooth as possible for you and your child
What happens if I am late to pick up my child?
We understand that on occasion this can be inevitable, we do issue a late charge if lateness becomes an ongoing issue and will work with you to find a solution
What should I do if my child has trouble adjusting to nursery?
Trust us and trust in the process, we are here to help and advise so please reach out if you are concerned your child isn’t settling, we can work together to help the separation become easier over time
Do I need to provide suncream or outdoor clothing, such as rain boots?
This is nursery specific again however all of our sites provide suncream, you are welcome to provide your own if your child is sensitive to the suncream we provide
Can I change my child’s schedule once it has been agreed?
Yes you can, we will need a months written notice to reduce sessions, if its an increase and we have availability it can in most cases be arranged sooner. You can also book extra sessions when you need them again dependent on availability We regularly offer discounted extra sessions so do look out for those discounts in our nurseries
Take a
personal tour of our nursery
We will guide you through every step to get the most out of our nurseries. Join our family and pay us a visit by completing the contact us form.
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