The Muddy Boots Nursery story so far…
Right-back in 2011, our owners Andy & Anna found themselves running 3 weekly Parent & Toddler groups in the Acomb area of York. The groups were thriving, but talking to the families, it became apparent that there was a real need for great childcare in the area.
At a similar time, they were approached by the owners of a small Pre-School, who had opened in Poppleton Business Park but had decided it wasn’t for them. It quickly became the first Muddy Boots, which after a LOT of hard work, planning and preparation, was relocated into our first proper site at the old Manor School in January 2012.
Starting with only a few children, we worked tirelessly to build the nursery up to a full and thriving setting, developing the staff team and striving to keep improving, sometimes against the odds – including a catastrophic overnight fire in 2015.
After 5 fantastic years in the old Manor School, it was time to move on! After a long search for the perfect place, we secured a site on Boroughbridge Road in York, which featured 9 acres of land, an old barn and stables, all of which were converted into our custom-designed, well-loved Muddy Boots Poppleton site.
Then, in 2018, the opportunity arose to take on a nearby setting on the grounds of Westfield School in Acomb. The building had been purpose-built but needed a bit of TLC – and we couldn’t resist. After plenty of renovations, we opened our second Muddy Boots site, including a fantastic Out-of-School Club we called Pioneers.
We never stop dreaming into the future of Muddy Boots, as well as keeping our eyes open for settings to join the family, resulting in opening Muddy Boots number three in Wilberfoss – which we absolutely love having as part of the family.



Muddy Boots – From an empty old school to a thriving nursery and preschool
Lots of fun and hard work have made Muddy Boots what it is today – these pictures show the journey of the nursery so far. A huge thank you to our family and friends who have helped us along the way!
You can now book a Show Round at either Muddy Boots site directly through our website! Click book now and pay us a visit soon… we can’t wait to meet you!
Book a Show Round now!What our parents say…
-
“You have been amazing in what you have done for Niamh, despite her only attending one day per week. She is an independent young lady who settles really well with other people and absolutely loves coming each week. We cannot thank you enough.”
Jo, Parent -
Really happy with Muddy Boots. My lad always so excited to go every day. Staff always very helpful and friendly and comes home with lots of things he has done, like cooking and making things. He really loves the staff there and talks about them all the time at home. Cant recommend enough.
Ste, Parent -
Friendly staff, a safe environment and a wealth of resources have made this nursery the perfect choice for our daughter. She is very happy there and her development has progressed rapidly since she started there. We are particularly impressed by the nursery’s reporting procedures and look forward to reading her learning journal. We are always told what she has been doing during the day and it is obvious that the staff make every effort to get to know the children really well. This shows by how happy our little girl is when we take her in on a morning. We love that the children are encouraged to be outside as much as possible!
Sarah S, Parent -
My son had been going to Muddy Boots for a couple of months and he has fitted in so well, mainly due to the staff. Without sounding cheesy it really has the feel of it being a home from home. He always has lots of fun and really has come on leaps and bounds in his development since joining. I cannot recommend them highly enough.
Katie E, Parent -
We love Muddy Boots! From our very first visit all the staff have been very helpful, friendly and it is clear to see that they love their job and are so committed to each individual child and their development. We love that the kids are involved in the decision making on what they shall do and can just be kids. We’d recommend Muddy Boots to anyone, our daughter is very happy there and so are we.
Sandra B , Parent -
Muddy Boots has a very relaxed yet focussed atmosphere. The staff are very supportive and approachable to children and parents. You feel able to discuss any issues your child may have as well as any preferences you would prefer the staff to facilitate. My daughter settled very quickly and she already has very settled and positive routine she carries out each week.
Kate H, Parent -
The care that is given to our son is outstanding. His learning is very individual and incorporates his interest at any one particular time. The staff are very knowledgeable and always very helpful. I would have no hesitation in recommending Muddy Boots Nursery to anyone.
Dan G, Parent -
We love Muddy Boots- it has a wonderful, informal and happy atmosphere. The staff are so helpful and my son loves every minute of his time there. No fussing, no bureaucracy, happy kids and staff having fun. I would recommend this nursery to anyone who wants tired but happy kids at the end of the day, who want their kids to have some exercise and fresh air and don’t mind them coming home muddy. We also love the fact that the staff are so happy and clearly enjoy their jobs, are interested in the kids and their development and are motivated and enthused by their work.
Alex, Parent