Flintshire: Country House Childcare launches with Development Bank support

A new nursery offering outdoor learning and child-led play has opened in Alltami, Flintshire, following financial support from the Development Bank of Wales.

Country House Childcare has been established by Caroline Aindow, a local childminder and mother of three, who has transformed her family home into a registered day care setting. The nursery caters for up to 60 children aged between nine months and 12 years.

The development was part-funded by a six-figure loan from the Development Bank of Wales, enabling the conversion and fit-out of the property. The nursery now employs seven nursery nurses and a qualified forest school leader, with a focus on active learning using natural resources.

Surrounded by fields, forests, and a nature reserve, the facility follows ‘the curiosity approach’, a modern education style designed to create ‘thinkers and doers’ by encouraging child-led development. The three-acre site includes outdoor learning areas, an allotment, a man-made beach, a forest school, a mud kitchen, and a mock construction site. A large playing field provides further space for physical activity.

Children also have access to seven themed indoor rooms, including a sensory room, construction room, cooking area, messy play zone, arts and crafts space, a real-world home corner, and a disco room. Babies have a dedicated ground-floor space with direct access to the garden.

The nursery is open five days a week and offers wraparound care, school pick-up and drop-off services, and a holiday club. An open day for prospective parents and children is scheduled for Saturday 8 March.

Caroline Aindow said: “We believe in children having a freedom of choice, and understand they need space to learn, develop and grow to reach their full potential while making memories to cherish forever. We make this our ethos of everything we do.”

She added: “My background is in outdoor education. It is my passion for nature and active learning that inspired me to develop my childminding business and open a nursery so that more children can benefit from the best possible start in life. My dream of opening a nursery that combines child-led play with the natural outdoors has finally become a reality thanks to the support of the Development Bank.”

Chris Hayward, Investment Executive at the Development Bank of Wales, said: “Childcare is an integral part of growing a thriving economy as it allows more people to work. This is particularly important in rural areas like Flintshire, where parents can struggle to access high-quality and affordable childcare.

“The safe and nurturing environment offered by Country House Childcare gives children the opportunity to be outside, explore nature and develop their curiosity for life. It’s a great facility that will benefit children and their parents alike.”

The loan for Country House Childcare was sourced from the £500 million Wales Flexible Investment Fund, which is financed by the Welsh Government. The fund provides financial support for Welsh businesses through loans, mezzanine finance, and equity investments, with terms of up to 15 years.