Our Toddler room is a fun and bright large room where we encourage learning through play. Our aim is for toddlers to develop skills, confidence and build relationships. We recognise it is important for children to explore their own interests and surroundings while playing. The toddlers are given a choice of activities daily, but we also plan activities based on the children’s interests and next steps.  Practitioners are spontaneous throughout the day and are ready to take the lead from the children.

In Toddlers the children are around 14 months to 21 months.  In Toddlers we encourage independence, and the children are encouraged to say please and thank you.

As part of the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) Statutory Framework it is good practise to assign each child a key carer, we do this in every room within the nursery, although we very much work as a team and all practitioners get to know the children in our setting. We extend toddlers development by providing good activities that link to our curriculum, we have topics for toddlers to enjoy and we create artwork with them where they use different skills.

Practitioners encourage and model good language to toddlers, at this age we expect to see their vocabulary grow, we read stories and sing lots of nursery rhymes to help with language skills.

We ensure toys and puzzles extend from the play they have had in baby room to encourage progression.  We provide many toys where the parts connect so toddlers must work out how to build, we have small word play to encourage imagination and language.  Toddlers play outside each day where possible, we have a mud kitchen, water play, a slide, diggers, small bikes and much more.  Sensory play such as playdough, water, sand or pasta play is always available to toddlers and this is often linked to the home corner for the toddlers to transfer their play between the two.

In Toddlers all food is provided by us, we can cater for food allergies, intolerances and other dietary needs. We ask you to provide nappies, wipes and creams.  The children need a bag containing spare clothes that can be left on their peg for their nursery week.  We ask for a pair of wellies and a puddle suit for the autumn/winter months and sun cream, a hat and swim wear for the summer months.

We ask for family photos so we can make a “who is special to me book”, for the staff and children to share together.

When we feel Toddlers are ready physically, emotionally, and have enough language to communicate with others they will slowly visit Tweenies room for a few weeks to settle in. Practitioners carry out a good handover of the child’s needs and share important information. 

So then Toddlers move to Tweenies room!

Our Tweenies room is a very spatial and bright room for our 2-year-olds where we encourage learning through play. Our aim for Tweenies is to build friendships, develop their independence by being able to help with their self-care, and develop skills and confidence.

In Tweenies the children are around 24 months to 33 months. We encourage independence and toilet training. When we think your child is ready to toilet train, we will have a discussion with you and agree when to commence this; during this time we will need extra spare clothes.

Tweenies are encouraged to drink from an open cup without handles and eat with a spoon and fork.  Tweenies have water available to them throughout the day and we encourage them to drink regularly. 

As part of the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) Statutory Framework it is good practise to assign each child a key carer, we do this in every room within the nursery, although we very much work as a team and all practitioners get to know the children in our setting.

We extend Tweenies development by providing good activities that link to our curriculum, we have topics for Tweenies to enjoy and we create artwork with them where they use different skills. Practitioners encourage and model good language to Tweenies, at this age we expect to see their vocabulary grow, we read stories and sing lots of nursery rhymes to help with language skills. 

We ensure toys and puzzles extend from the play they have had in Toddlers room to encourage progression.  We provide many toys where the parts connect so Tweenies must work out how to build, we have small word play to encourage imagination and language.  Tweenies play outside each day in all weathers, we have a mud kitchen, water play, a slide, diggers, small bikes and much more.  Sensory play such as playdough, water, sand or pasta play is always available to Tweenies.   

A statutory requirement of the EYFS is that we complete a ‘2 year old progress check’ between the age of two to two and a half. Practitioners in Tweenies will complete this collaboratively and then arrange a time to meet with parents to discuss this.  We will have recognised ‘next steps’ to work towards with your child and share them with you.

Tweenies move onto Middles room when we feel they are ready physically, emotionally, are toilet trained and have enough language to communicate with others. 

Then Tweenies move to Middle room!

Our Middle room is a lovely, bright large room. In Middles the children are encouraged to learn through play, extending their development and experiences.  Our aim for Middles is to build independence and to form friendships and play together.

In Middles the children are approximately aged 2 years 9 months – 3 years 6 months. 

We ensure toys and puzzles extend from the play they have had in Tweenies room to encourage progression.  Middles play outside each day in all weathers, we have a mud kitchen, water play, digger area, small bikes and a quiet book and dressing up corner with a stage and this is where the children put on plays or sing. 

Sensory play such as playdough, water, sand or pasta play is always available to Middles.  We extend Middles development by providing good activities that link to our curriculum, we have topics for Middles to enjoy and often turn the home corner into what the topic is that month. Practitioners encourage and model good language to Middles.  The practitioners in Middles will expand their learning through the vocabulary they use during circle time and talk about the day a head. Middles throughout their week will take part in storytime, singing, movement and music, and going on walks.

As part of the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) Statutory Framework it is good practise to assign each child a key carer, we do this in every room within the nursery, although we very much work as a team and all practitioners get to know the children in our setting.   

Middles have a mid-morning snack, hot lunch and mid-afternoon snack. They are encouraged to drink from an open cup and eat with a spoon and fork but will start to introduce a knife near the end of Middles. They sit socially around the table with their own personalised place mat for lunch and snack times. In Middles we encourage independence in getting themselves undressed and able to put their shoes and socks on. The children sleep in their room after lunch, on a mat on the floor with their own bed bag of bedding.

They are also taught to use the toilet independently and wash their hands and face, a practitioner is always there to help and guide them if needed. 

During the Autumn term before going to school the Middles children move to our pre-school Bigs room.

Bigs is our pre-school room, and this is the last phase the children will spend with us. It is a big room with classrooms both inside and outside. We encourage learning through play and our aim for Bigs is to be ‘school ready’ by the time they leave us for their next adventure.

In Bigs the children are around 3 to 4 years and all in the same academic year group. Bigs spend a part of their morning having ‘learning time’ where their activities are structured, and they are encouraged to sit at the table to complete tasks set.  This could be puzzle based, drawing, peg boards, Unifix bricks, number work, phonic based games and other activities that encourage the children to sit and concentrate as much as they can.  After learning time, the children play outside or play with the other toys available to them within their room, they have a good range of art and sensory equipment and are encouraged to use their imagination and play together socially.  Topic work is carried out in Bigs where they learn facts and features about things for example, space, seasonal, cultural, people who help us or life cycles. One of the favourite topics is ‘occupation’ which is where parents get to come and talk about their jobs. As Bigs are our eldest children they are given some small responsibilities, they help staff with small jobs, this could be taking clean bibs to Baby room or taking a message to someone, they enjoy this greatly. Bigs throughout their week will take part in storytime, singing, movement and music, PE and going on walks when they can as a group, they enjoy our local fields situated behind the nursery.

One of the most important parts of our Bigs pre-school room is ensuring the children are ready for going to school, this means teaching independence in many areas, dressing, toileting, eating, being able to cut their own food by using a knife and fork, expressing themselves using words, trying to solve their own conflicts where they can, practitioners are always on hand when the children need help but we want them to try for themselves first.  We encourage a love of learning where the children can express themselves and be confident learners, we focus on involving as much language and literacy into every aspect of what the children do, this includes learning poems, reading lots of stories to the children and singing new songs. We show them how to hold a pencil correctly, they are taught how to write when they start school, but we will show them how to write some letters.

Bigs have lunch in their room where they drink from an open cup, use a larger knife and fork and pour their own drinks, they then rest and have quiet time after lunch.  The afternoon in Bigs is more relaxed where the children can free play as they wish. 

The children in Bigs are asked to bring in a water bottle, and a bag with spare clothes. They will be provided with a bag for them to use whilst they are with us in Bigs.

We follow the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) Statutory Framework and all our learning is planned around meeting these goals, so the children get a well-rounded start to their education. Bigs take part in Nursery Rhyme challenge, and they perform a nativity play at Christmas time, they learn new songs at this time, and all have the chance to be a character in the play. In the summer Bigs enjoy a sports day where the children learn to work as a team.  At the end of the academic year Bigs will also have a Graduation celebration, these are all events where parents can attend.  Practitioners in Bigs liaise well with the school the children are moving onto; this could be via a phone call or some teachers come and visit the children in our setting.  A written report always goes to the school from us where we share your child’s strengths with their new teacher.

Bigs are now ready to leave us to move onto their school, we wish them good luck!