A CARLISLE-based nursery is providing a fun and safe environment for the children of key workers.

Stone Eden Nursery is taking advantage of blue skies and sunny days to get children out and about in their large garden area - whilst ensuring they are following the government guidelines.

There are smiles all around as they get stuck into their daily activities.

Jennifer Reeves, manager of the nursery, said: “Luckily, we have such a nice outdoor area and the sun is shining everyday so we are managing to get outside, which is great as well for social distancing.

“We’re keeping them well spread out and in the fresh air which is definitely helping with the situation.

“In the rooms, they are continuing to do some sensory play but obviously making sure all of the toys are cleaned on a daily basis.”

Across Cumbria, for early years learning, there are about 80 children attending the 15 settings that are open on a daily basis.

At Stone Eden Nursery, they currently have anywhere between 15 to 20 children each day.

Jennifer said: “Some of the children have come from other settings so they have had very little settling in.

“Usually we would offer a couple of weeks worth of settling in sessions and we haven’t been able to do that, but they have settled really well.

“The staff have managed to keep them busy and keep them occupied.”

When they are not enjoying the great outdoors the youngsters are continuing with their sensory learning, painting, and learning how to properly wash their hands.

The daily routine helps to keep things somewhat normal for the young children.

“It is is quite nice around the nursery, it is calm and they are still engaged in nice activities,” said Jennifer.

“The staff are doing a great job providing new, different, exciting activities for them to do.

“There is a lot of painting going on but just the usual daily routine is key really: keeping it regular so they know where they are at and what they will be doing next.”

The number of children attending school fluctuates on a day-to-day basis. Yesterday, there were 90 schools open across the entire county with about 515 children attending.

Despite their young age, the children have picked up that something is different - although perhaps they have not grasped the finer details.

Jennifer said: “They are probably just aware that we’re doing a lot more of washing hands.

“We have done some washing hands activities like putting flour on your hands and then asking them to go and wash their hands to make sure that all of the flour is off,t o demonstrate germs and how they would stick to your hands.

“Our rooms are quite big luckily, they are quite airy so we can keep them at a decent distance.

“They know it is strange and they know it is quieter in the nursery because we have only got seven members of staff in the setting just to care for essential worker children.”