Closed down North Yorkshire school re-opens as Montessori nursery

Skelton Newby Hall Primary School near Ripon has been empty since summer 2023 after North Yorkshire Council made the decision to close it.

But it has now been renovated and reopened as Little Pippins Montessori Nursery, which has moved from its previous site at Topcliffe.

Children aged six months to four years can attend the nursery, which has had funding support from the nearby Newby Hall estate.

Headteacher Victoria Pollitt said: “We had a fantastic five years in our old building in the grounds of Queen Mary’s School in Topcliffe, but we needed more space and were therefore delighted to reach agreement with the Newby Hall Estate to lease the former school.

“It’s an amazing setting for a children’s nursery with so much internal and external space, so the children will benefit even further from being here.”

“Even though it’s only been a few weeks since we moved here, the feedback we have had from parents and the local community, has been excellent.

“They can see how much more space we now have, which will be of even further benefit to the children on their early years learning journey.”

Guy Critchlow, Chair of Skelton cum Newby Parish Council said: “We are delighted to see children back in the village at Little Pippins Nursery and in a building which has always been an important part of the fabric in the community.

“It’s crucial that we continue to attract young families to the village and having an established nursery with such a good reputation will undoubtedly play an important part in this.

“We are grateful to Victoria and Ian for the amazing work they have done to transform the building and for the support of Richard and Lucinda Compton at Newby Hall, who are continuing the long family tradition of ensuring space is available in our village for educational purposes.”

Montessori education is based on the principles of Maria Montessori, an Italian educater and theorist who studied children in the early 20th century.

Children who follow Montessori teaching methods are encouraged to learn to complete everyday tasks independently from a young age, with a focus on role-play and craft activities.