EMINENT scientist Professor Robert Winston outlined the importance of early years learning as he cut the ribbon at a new Petersfield nursery.

The award-winning presenter of TV?series including Child of our Time and The Human Body said he was delighted to be officially opening The Avenue Day Nursery and Pre-School, a “wonderful” new resource for the town.

“When a child is born, they immediately start making connections in their brains that will last their whole lifetime,” he said.

“In the first year of life, a baby learns more, and at a faster rate than they will ever do again. Early experience is pivotal in making us who we are as adults.”

Unaware on Monday that they had a distinguished visitor in their midst, the youngsters, aged three months to five years, carried on playing in the discovery space and sensory room.

Professor Winston has worked for a number of years with the nursery’s founding company, Exscitec, on Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) development and outreach.

STEM?is at the heart of The Avenue’s nurturing ethos of learning through play and practical activities