York Biotech Campus’ new onsite nursery officially opens
At York Biotech Campus (YBC), we are celebrating the opening of Little Years Sand Hutton, a new nursery for both campus occupiers and local families.
The family-run early years nursery group has completed a £50,000 transformation of the former nursery building located on campus. Little Years has put life back into the building with free-flow spaces to encourage children to explore and grow at their own pace. Every room has been thoughtfully designed to create a calm environment that reduces overwhelm and actively encourages meaningful connection between age-groups.
The opening represents the latest addition to our amenities, which already include an onsite fitness centre, restaurant as well as conference facilities, which are available for both occupiers and external organisations.
The new nursery includes interlinking playrooms, age-specific learning environments, dedicated sleep rooms and a specially designed child-sized kitchen to support hands-on learning around nutrition and life skills. Children also benefit from access to a large outdoor garden space designed to encourage play, exploration and development. With places for up to 55 children per day, Little Years Sand Hutton provides flexible care options Monday to Friday.
Founded in 2022, Little Years combines elements of Montessori, Forest School and Steiner Waldorf approaches to create a child-centred environment focused on supporting each child’s individual development. The Sand Hutton nursery is the fifth location for the North Yorkshire-based group.
Liz Cashon, Estates Manager at York Biotech Campus, said:
“We’re delighted to welcome Little Years to the campus and see the nursery officially open. Providing high-quality facilities and services for our occupiers is an important part of creating a thriving campus environment, and childcare is a valuable addition for both those who work here and neighbouring residents. The opening further strengthens our offer as a destination where organisations and people can grow and succeed”
Natalie Bishop, Founder of Little Years, said:
“Opening Sand Hutton is an exciting milestone for Little Years. We’ve created a purpose-built environment that reflects our commitment to giving children the very best start in life, while remaining true to our belief that every child should be encouraged to be unapologetically themselves. We are looking forward to welcoming families and becoming part of the York Biotech Campus community.”
Natalie is also Chair of the York and North Yorkshire National Day Nurseries Association and sits on multiple advisory boards within the early years sector.
Families interested in learning more about the nursery or interested in booking a showround, can contact the team directly at [email protected].