Welcome to First Day Nursery Hillside
First Day Nursery Hillside in Southminster was acquired by the First Day Nursery group in April 2023.
At Hillside we became a fully accredited Curiosity Approach setting in June 2025! We celebrate all things curious, inspiring our children to fulfil their imagination through freedom and exploration. Our approach encourages children to connect with nature, question and discover through hands-on experiences and open-ended play. We believe in beautiful learning spaces which take inspiration from the comfort of our own homes. We ensure our environment is thoughtfully designed, calm and welcoming.
At Hillside we learn through exploring alongside our strong connection to nature. Our team of dedicated practitioners provide invitations to play which follow the natural rhythms of the year. We are all weather warriors and therefore love to enjoy all weathers outdoors as much as possible!
At Hillside, we see our children as the pilots of their own learning. Our pedagogy centres around harnessing this innate curiosity to drive learning. Our setting is filled with authentic resources, natural materials, low level lighting and intriguing objects. Children are free to move around and explore as much as they like. We have free flow to our outdoor spaces in every room allowing children freedom to explore outside too and an age appropriate garden area.
Due to our fantastic location, we are blessed with beautiful outside spaces which include separate gardens for every room, a field, grassy mound, small orchard, playgrounds and shelter provided by trees. We also back on to a field of sheep which make delightful neighbours!
Our Vision
To be recognised as a Centre of Excellence in Children's Care and Early Learning.
Our Mission
To provide an exceptional environment with a connection to nature and access to high quality authentic resources with the support of a caring, highly qualified team and a robust partnership with parents. We offer the EYFS with a holistic approach to children’s learning.
Our Values
We put our children first
We work as one team
We strive for excellence in all we do
We respect everyone
We are honest and trustworthy
Our Pedagogy
Our pedagogy is deeply rooted in the Curiosity Approach, fostering a love for learning, creativity, and critical thinking in young minds.
Our environment is based on natural colours, calm spaces and a feeling of hygge and zen. All of our resources are accessible and displayed with thought and provocation to encourage dialogue and spark imagination.
We introduce "provocations," thoughtfully designed setups that inspire children to explore new concepts. These setups encourage questions, discussions, and investigations, promoting a deeper understanding of the world around them. Our staff nurture children's inquiries, guiding them to find answers through hands-on experiences.
Play is the language of childhood, and we speak it fluently. Our pedagogy integrates purposeful play into the learning process. From role play to construction, our play areas are designed to inspire curiosity-driven activities that promote social skills, creativity, and cognitive growth.
Partnership working - Key Person system & Famly App
Building authentic partnerships between parents/ carers and our staff team is at the heart of what we do.
Key Person System
Our nursery is dedicated to providing individual care for the children. We operate a key person system where each child has an allocated key person and buddy. The key person is a named practitioner who has responsibilities for a small group of children, they are there to help the child feel safe and secure. This role is important for both children and parents/carers and it is an approach set out in the EYFS (Early Years Foundation Stage). Your child’s key person will contribute towards your child’s ‘Learning Journey’ which is a scrap book documenting their journey at Hillside with photographs and milestones. This is eventually handed over to families as a wonderful keepsake as they take their next step to Primary School.
Famly
At Hillside, we use the Famly app, which allows parents and carers to see what the children have been up to in their child’s room, send and receive messages with our management team, log absences and keep track of our calendar.
We also use the app to share news through our daily newsfeed, updates and changes across the setting. This supports us in achieving an open communication system between us and the parents.
Ofsted Report April 2023
Please see link for most recent Ofsted inspection. See here
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As a family we have been part of Hillside for almost 5 years. Both of our children joined in the baby room and worked their way through the setting. Our children have thrived at Hillside as their needs and interests are always met. Our son loves to be outdoors so the option to free flow and spending lots of time in the mud kitchen has been fantastic for him, and our daughter enjoys the freedom of the creative resources. We have always found the staff to be extremely welcoming and helpful with our children and with us. Our children are happy to go in to nursery every day, they are well fed, cared for and encouraged to be themselves. Hillside has been a great foundation for our children as they move on to primary school.
Lee
Parent
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Attending Hillside Nursery myself over 30 years ago, and now seeing both my children and nephews experience the same nursery, feels truly special. Although under different ownership today, the nursery continues to uphold the same strong values, offering excellent opportunities for learning and play. One of my children faced a speech delay, and the one-to-one support they received was outstanding. The staff not only provided dedicated care but also guided us toward additional resources, which made a real difference. Both of my children attend five days a week and have never once refused or hesitated to go in. The staff are genuinely lovely, and the meals provided are often healthier—and sometimes even fancier—than what they would eat at home! There’s a wonderful sense of community, and the nursery goes above and beyond with enriching experiences. I especially love that they take the children on train trips to Burnham seawall and local parks, as well as involving them in church events throughout the year. I cannot recommend Hillside Nursery highly enough. I wouldn’t want my children anywhere else. Thank you for helping raise our girls, who are growing into such happy, cheeky, kind, and loving individuals.
Nicky
Parent
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Hillside Nursery has been nothing short of incredible for our family. The staff are caring, helpful, and absolutely wonderful with my child—they truly treat every child as an individual and go the extra mile to make them feel happy and supported. When my working days changed, the nursery went out of their way to accommodate the dates I needed. Nothing is ever too much for them, and they are always warm, welcoming, and approachable. They consistently go above and beyond, providing my child with fun and engaging learning experiences that he loves talking about at home. We have seen him grow so much during his time at Hillside, and we are incredibly proud of how far he has come. We are eternally grateful for everything the entire team has done for him throughout his nursery journey. Hillside Nursery is truly exceptional, and we couldn’t recommend them more highly!
Lucy
Parent
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I have nothing but positive feedback for such a wonderful place. The staff and management are absolutely amazing and willing to help in any direction possible. It's nothing to Hillside to go that extra mile to make sure both children and families are happy and comfortable with the service they receive. Both my children have had an excellent start to their learning journey with Hillside. Highly recommend.
Ann-Marie
Parent
Apply
To apply for a place at First Day Nursery Hillside (Southminster), please email hillside@firstdaynursery.com