Monkton was established in 1980 by Dr Sue Poole as the first nursery in Liverpool to offer combined day care and education. Apart from a degree in English and Early Years Education, Sue has a Masters degree and Ph.D in Design and Architectural History, and she was an Ofsted Registered Inspector of Nurseries for six years.
"Monkton" is a late Victorian house, (1881), which was adapted to nursery use. In 2023 Monkton (West) took over our neighbouring nursery, now called Monkton East, which runs parallel to Monkton West with the same number of base rooms, staff, activities and quality care.
The extensive mature gardens are safely enclosed and incorporate outside play areas with play houses, slides, climbing frames, bicycles and push along trucks; equipment which will develop muscle tone and co-ordination. There are also discovery areas; vegetable, salad and flower beds where the children grow their own produce and our very own customised "Superlambanana". The nursery is situated close to Queens Drive, convenient for local bus routes, and only 100 yards from Mossley Hill Station. The driveway offers safe car parking facilities, and there is adequate on-street parking in the surrounding area. The ground floor accommodates children from one to three years, whilst the first floor rooms are dedicated to the needs of the Early Years Foundation group of three to five year olds.
Monkton is a member of the National Day Nurseries Association, and has followed its Quality Assurance accreditation scheme.
The Family Story
Both of Sue and Ian's daughters have now taken over Monkton as Directors and Managers.
Eve studied Classics at Kings, London then took a Master's Degree in Bristol before converting to Law. She worked in Family Law in Liverpool for 15 years, specialising in Care Proceedings and Child Abduction. Despite enjoying the pressure of the job, Eve wanted to spend more time with her sons and decided to join Monkton. She has quickly come to love her role in Early Years. She is responsible for the administrative management of the nursery, alongside Lydia. Eve has also achieved the Early Years Teaching Qualification.
Lydia has been part of the nursery for most of her life, qualifying to NVQ 3 before going to college, and working at Monkton during holidays while she completed her degree. She also worked at different nurseries in London while she was an actress. Despite having great fun and success in roles on television, at Bristol Old Vic and a year in New York, she wanted to return to Liverpool and settle down. She worked in many prestigious restaurants in London before coming home and has produced an amazing menu of healthy, home-cooked, delicious food for our children.
Monkton is a true ‘family’ business, as you will see Sue’s husband Ian in the nursery as the popular handyman. The staff are also our family – Margaret Hill looked after Lydia when she was at nursery 40 years ago, and Margaret Carter and Joanne Walker Shaw are also reaching their fourth decade at Monkton.
Aims
Our vision is of a nursery which is a safe, happy and aspirational place where children relish each day and what it brings, where acquiring knowledge and skills is such fun that it leaves every child with a vivid imagination, a warmth and a curiosity about the world and a lifelong love of learning.
Our aim is to provide a full time stable and loving environment in which to nurture the security, growth and the development of your child until he or she enters school. We aim to stimulate the child's interest in learning and bring them to a stage of readiness for formal schooling. Children will follow a broad variety of themes to encourage numeracy, an interest in the written word and the world around them.
We believe that children are at their most receptive during the first five years of life, and that they are ready to achieve and gain pleasure from a structured education, maintaining a child centred approach. Such preparation ensures a smooth and happy transition to school.
Objectives
- to encourage in the child a sense of social responsibility both in moral and aesthetic aspects, with adults and peers. This will involve being considerate, polite and helpful toward others, showing courtesy and good manners, and learning to be tolerant of others’ needs. Monkton holds a total non violence policy, encouraging children to be patient with their friends.
- to develop the child’s academic potential through both progressive and traditional teaching disciplines. We believe that, if a child shows consistent interest in reading or writing, that this interest should be encouraged, and the abilities of the child extended. Each child is treated as an individual in this respect. Our children know that our ethos is 'Kind hands, kind feet, kind words.'
- to nurture the child’s capacity for love and affection through the care and sensitivity of the staff in a secure, happy and relaxed atmosphere.
