A nursery dedicated to giving children the best possible start.
Sector
Education
Value
Seven figure sum
Size
3,200 sq ft
Completed
2026
Duration
12 weeks
Location
Leicestershire
Little Woodlands is the second venture created by the family behind Shardlow Hall Day Nursery.
After 14 years of running a successful nursery, and with demand for places continuing to grow, the family decided to open a second location just five minutes down the road.
They already knew how they wanted children and families to feel: calm, welcome, curious and at home. What they needed was a space that could make that vision work in practice.
Where we started
Little Woodlands was never going to be a traditional nursery.
Years of experience had given the team a clear view of what makes a real difference to children, families and staff. They wanted natural materials, specialist spaces and an environment that supported learning without feeling busy or overwhelming.
The challenge was turning all of that ambition into a building that worked just as well operationally.
Every space needed a purpose. The layout had to support supervision, communication and smooth daily routines, with each decision shaped around the needs of children.
Where we focused
We focused on helping Little Woodlands turn a strong vision into a clear, practical and safe environment.
Rather than simply designing around a list of ideas, we worked through each one with the team to make sure it had a clear purpose and genuinely improved the space.
This helped strip away anything that wasn’t earning its place and kept the focus firmly on the elements that would make the biggest difference.
We also helped the team prioritise where to invest. If something wasn’t the best use of budget, we flagged it and found a better solution. That meant more went into the spaces and details that genuinely supported children, families and staff.
What changed
The result is a nursery that feels calm, considered and purposeful from the moment you walk in.
The environment has been shaped to encourage curiosity and independence, giving children the freedom to explore at their own pace.
Just as importantly, the space works for the people looking after them. We implemented a dedicated staff hub, a wellbeing room and a collaborative workspace to give the team somewhere to recharge, reflect, and plan away from the busy nursery environment.
The impact
For families, the space brings an immediate sense of warmth, trust and belonging.
For children, it’s a space that encourages exploration, builds independence and creates the kind of early experiences they’ll remember.
And for the team, it’s an environment designed to help them feel valued, supported and proud of where they work.
Blueprint became much more than a design company. They became genuine partners who cared about creating the best possible nursery, not just completing a project.
"- Ellie McNicol, Director, Little Woodlands Children’s Day Nursery
