(Image: submitted)
A NEW preschool and nursery is set to open in the heart of Ilkley early next year.
The Railway Children Nursery Group has announced plans to launch a new setting at Ilkley Station Plaza in the former Alpkit store, which closed its doors in September after more than five years of trading in the town.
The nursery is due to open in January 2027 and will provide places for babies, toddlers and preschool children aged from nine months to five years.
Building on the approach already developed at the group's existing nurseries in Menston and Hawksworth, the new setting will combine forest school principles with child-led learning, encouraging children to learn through exploration, real-life experiences and strong links with the local community.
Owner Zandra Monroe-Cochrane said the nursery aims to create calm, meaningful environments where sustainability is at the heart of everyday learning.
She said: "We are committed to creating environments that feel calm, natural and meaningful for children.
"Sustainability is central to this. We prioritise using sustainable resources, choose materials that can be reused or repurposed, and encourage children to understand how their actions connect to the world around them.
"In our current settings, we draw inspiration from a range of early years philosophies including the Curiosity Approach, Hygge and Forest School to create a curriculum that feels natural, meaningful and grounded in real experiences."
An artist impression of the new Ilkley venue due to be opened in Ilkley by The Railway Children Nursery Group (Image: submitted)
Children attending Railway Children nurseries are encouraged to use authentic materials and everyday objects, including ceramic plates, metal cutlery and glass jars, helping them develop confidence, responsibility and practical life skills.
Role-play areas feature real fruit and vegetables, allowing youngsters to touch, smell and prepare food while learning about healthy eating and reducing waste.
Any leftover food is composted to help children understand how materials can be returned to nature.
Outdoor learning also plays a key role in the nursery's approach.
Rather than relying solely on private outdoor space, children regularly visit parks, libraries, woodlands, shops and care homes as part of their learning experience.
The Ilkley nursery plans to make full use of its town centre location by developing partnerships with neighbouring businesses and organisations.
Planned activities include buying ingredients from Marks & Spencer, learning how to make pizza at Pizza Express and posting letters at the local post office.
The nursery also hopes to establish links with dementia groups at the Clarke Foley Centre and expand its existing partnership with Abbeyfield Care Home.
Ms Monroe-Cochrane said such experiences help children develop confidence, independence and social awareness while strengthening their connection to the local area.
She added: "By engaging with real places and real people, children learn to navigate different environments, develop social awareness and enjoy the richness of the outdoors in all seasons."
The opening will also create new employment opportunities, with the group eventually planning to recruit a team of 11 staff members for the Ilkley site.
The nursery is inviting enquiries from both prospective families and anyone interested in joining the team ahead of its January opening.
For further information, parents and prospective applicants can email office.therailwaychildren@gmail.com.