Curious Explorers Nursery, Crookham Village

Curious Explorers Nursery, based in the village of Crookham, Hampshire, is set within a former village shop and family home that has been thoughtfully transformed into a warm, home-away-from-home children’s day nursery. Dedicated to creating a perfect childcare setting where children can grow, develop, and learn in a fun, safe, and stimulating environment, the nursery provides early years education and care for children from birth to five years old.

As part of an internal space refresh, the nursery required a high-performance soft flooring solution for one of their key indoor classrooms, which is used daily for floor-based learning, reading circles, and active play.

After discussing the nursery’s needs, the decision was made to install a loose lay mat in Lincoln Green from the Wellington Velour range.

Product Selection

This mat, from Heckmondwike’s Wellington Velour collection, is specially designed for education and childcare settings. It offers a balance of durability and comfort, while also incorporating sustainable materials.

• Fibre Construction: 90% polypropylene and 10% recycled polyester
• Backing: Rubber waffle for stability on hard flooring
• Size: Bespoke (up to 4m x 4m)
• Weight 1880gsm
• Thickness: 11mm
• Colours Available: Five, with Lincoln Green chosen for this project
• BREEAM Rating: A+

Why Wellington Velour?

The Wellington Velour range is designed with learning environments in mind. For this nursery setting, key factors behind the product selection included:

• Softness and Comfort: The 11mm thickness provides a cushioned surface suitable for extended sitting or crawling, creating an inviting space for children during activities like story time or floor games.
• Durability: The fibre blend ensures strong resistance to flattening, wear and general use. It maintains its structure and appearance even with high daily footfall.
• Non-Slip Stability: The rubber waffle backing offers excellent grip on the nursery’s vinyl subfloor, keeping the mat securely in place without adhesives.
• Accessibility: Rubber ramp edging was fitted to reduce trip hazards and provide smooth access for wheeled items
• Ease of Maintenance: The surface is simple to clean, essential in a nursery environment where hygiene is paramount.
• Environmental Responsibility: The product includes recycled content and holds an A+ BREEAM rating, aligning with the nursery’s wider sustainability goals.

Installation and Fit-out

The mat was manufactured to fit various areas used throughout the day for different functions, making the flexibility of a loose lay format especially useful. The mat can be repositioned or removed if the space needs to be reconfigured, without damage to the floor underneath.

The Lincoln Green colour was chosen by the nursery staff to bring a calming, natural tone into the room. Its visual contrast with the surrounding floor also helps define the mat as a dedicated learning and play zone.

Post-Installation Feedback

Following installation, staff reported immediate benefits in both function and atmosphere. Children naturally gather on the mat during key parts of the day such as group reading and music sessions. The clear visual boundary helps children understand the structure of the classroom and where different types of activity happen.

The softness and warmth of the surface has also improved comfort, especially for longer sitting sessions. Staff appreciate the practicality of the rubber backing, which keeps the mat firmly in place without curling or slipping. Cleaning has remained straightforward, with no issues reported around maintenance or hygiene.

Interested in a Similar Solution?

Whether you’re designing a new early year’s space or upgrading an existing classroom, our Wellington Velour loose lay mats offer the flexibility, comfort, and performance you need.

Contact our team today to discuss your requirements or request a sample.