A day at the nursery
When working with children, particularly in the Early Years there is not really a `normal' day... Only exciting, new adventures to learn from.
The children use the resources, staff and their imagination to explore and learn in a way that adults could never have expected. However, typically, our day's timings are:
Activities on a typical day
Activities on a typical day
When the children arrive each session they can select their own activity, which could include sand or water play, dressing up, play-dough, puzzles, drawing, small and large construction sets and much more. On most days these activities will be offered both indoors and outside. The session’s activities then include: group time; a mixture of adult and child led activities; snacks; small world play: role play in the home corner; messy play in the creative area; using the computer, CD player, or other ICT equipment, music, story time and outside play.
Outside Play
Outside play is valued as an essential learning resource within the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS), particularly within the principle of ‘Enabling Environments’. The EYFS states:
Being outdoors has a positive impact on children's sense of well-being and helps all aspects of children's development.
Being outdoors offers opportunities for doing things in different ways and on different scales than when indoors.
It gives children first-hand contact with weather, seasons and the natural world.
Outdoor environments offer children freedom to explore, use their senses, and be physically active and exuberant.'
We offer play every day in our two on site areas (garden and playground) and also have weekly outside education sessions. This takes place within the primary school grounds. By giving daily outdoor access to children we are providing them with a basic need for well being, high quality play, and deep involvement. We are simultaneously helping to satisfy their strong urge to explore and make sense of their world.
The Outdoor Environment gives children the freedom to: run, climb, throw, investigate, exploe, dig, grow, nurture, discover, invent, experiment, create, construct, interact, talk, make friends, hide, relax, imagine, tell stories, find patterns, make marks, make music, have responsibility, be independent, excited, energetic, adventurous, noisy… Therefore, please consider the weather and dress your child accordingly.
Outside Education
This is held weekly. The children arrive in nursery and after a brief circle time they all put on the waterproof jackets and trousers provided by nursery and their own or nursery Wellington boots and set off for either the Primary School’s Nature area or our own area in the front garden. Ratios are kept low with an ideal maximum of 10 children with 2 staff.
It gives hands on experiences in a natural environment providing excitement and adventure for the children, who are free to explore and manipulate the world around them using all of their senses.
Outside Educations sessions take place in a risk assessed area with a high adult to child ratio. It offers a safe and supportive setting in which children develop physically and emotionally through co-operative activities and play. The sessions take place all year round so children can experience seasonal and weather changes and learn to be resilient.
Many of the activities are child-led, and the activities will follow the direction in which children choose to take them. They may decide to work independently, developing problem solving skills and creativity, or they may join other children and work in pairs or groups. This is excellent for children’s social development, as they will learn how to collaborate within a team, and how to share their ideas and listen to others.
Adults support and guide the children, but don’t always direct their learning. This gives the chance for children to really develop their imagination and creativity when carrying out tasks. The children will stay out all morning including snack and story.
Lunch and Snacks
Children bring their own packed lunch, which is stored in a dedicated fridge. Advice and ideas for contents of a healthy lunch box are available from Nursery.
Snacks are provided by the Nursery. We aim to encourage healthy eating habits and avoid foods with a high salt, fat or sugar content as a general rule. We include foods from different cultures at different times of the year. We like to celebrate children’s birthdays and cakes can be brought in to do this, staff will check any allergies with parents.