ALTON Convent School welcomed the first children on Monday to its newest early years facility – the Garden House Day Nursery at Medstead.

Located in the tranquil grounds of St Lucy’s Convent, the new nursery is expected to provide the opportunity for Alton Convent to build on its reputation as an Ofsted-inspected “outstanding” early years provider by offering the highest quality nursery care in a rural setting.

St Lucy’s Convent has a long association with nursery provision having run its own highly regarded pre-school crèche until recently.

Surrounded by 21 acres of countryside, Garden House Day Nursery offers a refurbished nursery with two large rooms, one for children under two and one for older children.

Each room is equipped with a kitchen where children can enjoy breakfast, lunch and/or tea provided by Care Catering.

Outside, there is a hand-built play area with a wooden ‘Hobbit’ house crafted by Alton Convent School’s resident master-craftsman, Roy Marvin, as well as an enclosed field for the children to play in. Children will also benefit from being able to enjoy the exceptional formal gardens at St Lucy’s, as well as the rest of the lovely parklands.

On Monday, the children were greeted by nursery head Sheila Spooner and nursery co-ordinator and senior practitioner Katie Heron – both reassuring familiar faces from the nursery premises at Anstey Lane in Alton.

Marie Schofield, Hannah Waterhouse and Sister Mini, one of the congregation at St Lucy’s, who has run former pre-schools on the site, are the other permanent staff at the nursery.

One parent said: “I’m so thrilled that my daughter has the opportunity to be at the Garden House Day Nursery. The grounds are wonderful and the care from the staff is amazing.”