About us
The nursery is a purpose-built building. Our building is the first early years setting in Scotland to be built using the Passivhaus (Passive House) design in 2015. The passivhaus aim is to be energy efficient and maintain a comfortable environment without the need for using heating.
The Rocking Horse Nursery SCIO is an independent nursery set up under the terms of a Trust to provide nursery facilities for students and staff of the University of Aberdeen. Since December 2022 the nursery has been set up as a SCIO (Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation). There are places for 84 children at any one time. The Trust is a non-profit-making body, but the Nursery has to be self-supporting.
The nursery is committed to the provision of high quality childcare and education. Through its registration with the Scottish Care Inspectorate and its partnership with the Local Authority Early Years team, it is open for inspection at any time. The nursery is also a member of the National Day Nurseries Association (NDNA).
The nursery is located in Aberdeen University’s Old Aberdeen campus and can cater for up to 84 children at any one time. The nursery has 3 departments:
Yellow room
Children aged between 3 months and 2 years have facilities where there is a cloakroom, large playroom with snack and craft areas, a sleep room, and shared toilet/changing area.
Pink room
Children aged 2-3 years have a large playroom, adjoining shared snack/craft room, and shared toilet/changing area.
Green Room
Children aged 3-5 years have facilities in a large playroom, separate toileting area, direct access to a creative play/meal room, and a cloakroom area.
The nursery is a single-storey building, with all departments having direct access to our outdoor areas. There is a large outdoor area of slabs and grass, and we have a separate large walled garden area. The kitchen is adjacent to the reception area. The nursery has a small car park which is used for drop off and collection only.
The Nursery Trustees
The nursery is professionally managed and is governed by a Board of Trustees (volunteers) as a not-for-profit organisation. All places are taken by children of students or staff of the University, with the benefit of cost reductions for staff parents from a salary sacrifice scheme, and by university-term contracts and differentially lower fees for student parents.
The current Trustees are:
- Ms Caroline Smith – (Chairperson) – c.smith@abdn.ac.uk
- Ms Katrina Foy – kfoy@abdn.ac.uk
- Mr Adelaja Israel Osofero – aiosofero@abdn.ac.uk
- Dr Gerry Hough (vice Chair) – g.hough@abdn.ac.uk
Parents Plus
Parents Plus was the driving force that helped to establish Rocking Horse Nursery in 1989. Parents Plus is now made up of current parents who support the nursery with the following:
– to work together with the Rocking Horse Nursery Management and the Trustees Board to develop the nursery experience for the kids.
– to help raise funds
– plan extracurricular activities for the children
– support the nursery in its activities