Ages and stages
Your child's learning journey
Early Years Foundation Stage
The focus on children as unique learners who do well in enabling environments, with guidance on the learning and development requirements can be found in the Early Years Foundation Stage Publication.
Early learning covers the three prime areas, Personal, Social and Emotional Development, Communication and Language and Physical Development.
We as providers must also support Literacy, Mathematics, Understanding of the World and Expressive Arts and Design in addition to the above. We must acknowledge active learning and help children become critical thinkers, developing their own ideas and strategies.
We work closely with parents to achieve this, sharing your child’s learning journey, asking you to contribute to it, and help us best support your child’s learning opportunities. You are the most important person in your child’s life, and we recognise that you are your child’s main teacher. We are here to support that learning, to help your child reach their full potential. We work closely with local schools to ensure a smooth transition when your child is ready.
Caterpillars: 0 - 2 years
Caterpillars have their own sleep and play spaces, and outdoor play area. A warm welcoming room rich with play equipment and experienced and well trained keyworkers, our babies are off to a great start.
Daily opportunities to engage with our under 3’s is encouraged to promote language and communication and personal, social and emotional development. Underfloor heating in the winter provides a comfortable environment to crawl and have tummy time and aims to encourage physical development.
The nursery is securely enclosed with key code door entry, and appropriate safeguarding training is completed by all staff. We know the importance of mutually trusting relationships between staff and parents, and the value this brings to each child’s development and routines.
A book is provided to share information from home to nursery, and is used to also inform you of your child’s day, activities, diet and sleep patterns. Parents are warmly invited to contribute to their children’s learning journeys, and photographs can be emailed to our admin team, with details of events, family occasions etc that you would like included.
The nursery provides fragrance free wet wipes or cotton wool depending on your preference. All meals can be provided on site (please speak to the administrator). We ask that you provide nappies, as every child uses a different product, and spare clothes.
Butterflies: 2 - 3 years
Butterflies regularly play with our 3 & 4 year olds. This is because research from Ofsted Early Years suggests that younger children have more learning opportunities when playing alongside their older peers. With an environment richer in language and broader play opportunities, these children benefit from greater challenge with appropriate adult support.
Staff encourage good manners, support the use of everyday life skills such as using cutlery, drinking from a cup, pouring drinks and toilet training. We work with parents/carers to reduce the use of dummies as this affects children’s language development at this stage, and can be orthodontically detrimental. Please speak to your child’s keyworker if you require assistance with any of these areas.
Role play, sand, water and playdough, and painting form part of our daily routines, alongside outdoor play and plenty of fresh air.
Ladybirds: 3 - 5 years
Much of the learning that takes place in our ladybird room is child led. Staff plan for a wide range of learning opportunities to take place such as story time, circle time and self registration, but we know that children learn best when we follow their interests. With this in mind, staff are trained to track and support these very important learning opportunities.
With a wide range of resources, interesting books, and exciting playspaces, the children can make friends in an environment in which they feel safe and secure. With free flowing in and outdoor playspaces, your child can choose to put on a rainsuit and splash in puddles in the rain, or sit down with their favourite book if they prefer a quiet space on their own or with an adult.
Snack time is always any important part of the children’s day, and self service ‘Cafe Snacks’ allows your child to eat when they are ready. If they are enjoying a particular activity, why leave it, when they can have snacks a little later when they are ready. They can choose from a selection of healthy choices, and sit with their friends to enjoy this very social time.
The Ladybirds are very much preparing for school readiness, enjoying play, recognising their name in print, hanging their coats on their peg, eating, drinking and using cutlery independently, learning to sit through a story, managing the toilet and handwashing, some of the skills they will need on entry to school. Staff encourage independence, and offer support where required recognising every child is different. We aim to develop confident learners who enjoy feeling accomplished.
Holiday Club
Much of the learning that takes place in our ladybird room is child led. Staff plan for a wide range of learning opportunities to take place such as story time, circle time and self registration, but we know that children learn best when we follow their interests. With this in mind, staff are trained to track and support these very important learning opportunities.
With a wide range of resources, interesting books, and exciting playspaces, the children can make friends in an environment in which they feel safe and secure. With free flowing in and outdoor playspaces, your child can choose to put on a rainsuit and splash in puddles in the rain, or sit down with their favourite book if they prefer a quiet space on their own or with an adult.
Snack time is always any important part of the children’s day, and self service ‘Cafe Snacks’ allows your child to eat when they are ready. If they are enjoying a particular activity, why leave it, when they can have snacks a little later when they are ready. They can choose from a selection of healthy choices, and sit with their friends to enjoy this very social time.
The Ladybirds are very much preparing for school readiness, enjoying play, recognising their name in print, hanging their coats on their peg, eating, drinking and using cutlery independently, learning to sit through a story, managing the toilet and handwashing, some of the skills they will need on entry to school. Staff encourage independence, and offer support where required recognising every child is different. We aim to develop confident learners who enjoy feeling accomplished.