Our preschool room can accommodate 16 children between the ages of 3 and 5 years old Our staff:child ratio for children 3 years and over is 1 to 8, as children are becoming more independent and preparing for school.
Children at this age follow the Early Years Foundation Stage Principles and participate in activities that will gently and successfully prepare them for the transition to school. Our team maintains a flexible routine to allow them to meet each child’s individual needs during this important stage of school readiness. We aim to provide many different opportunities for children to enjoy learning through play, with a strong focus on outdoor learning. We go on regular trips to the beautiful Braywick Nature Reserve behind the nursery to explore the world around us, find bugs, spot birds and collect natural resources to extend our learning.
We have regular group time sessions where children are encouraged to use their best listening skills, promoting team work as they join in with group games.
Our committed preschool team design activities to ignite your child’s creativity and nurture a passion for learning.
Child Development
Our early years practitioners ensure all children are meeting their personal developmental goals and achieving the highest standard of learning available in accordance with the seven areas of learning and the Wise Owls Curriculum. Every child has a key person who develops an in-depth understanding of their key children; their interests, their ability and their ongoing development. Staff will provide verbal feedback to parents at the end of the day. We foster an open and cooperative relationship with parents to ensure we can nurture the needs of each and every child. Learning and development milestones are recorded on our digital app.
School Readiness
Every day our preschool team thoughtfully design activities and experiences that enhance a child’s abilities in social interaction, play, language, emotional growth, physical skills, literacy, and fine motor skills, preparing them for the school years ahead.
Developing Independence
At this age we focus on building every child’s independence. Developing independence is a vital factor in a child’s development, and supports preschool children in becoming school ready. The Early Years Foundation Stage supports independence stating that every child should learn resilience, confidence and self-assurance. Children’s confidence grows as they learn how to become independent. As they begin to master new skills, they see themselves as being capable.
Meals & Nutrition
We believe good nutrition is essential to the healthy growth and development of children. We encourage, and at times, inspire children to try a variety of food they may not have tried before. Meal times provide another opportunity for social interaction and independence. We encourage all preschool children to self-serve their own meals under close adult supervision. We aim to give the children as much choice as possible at snack time. Our caring team is always close by to lend a hand and encourage good manners.
TAKE A LOOK AROUND
Come and learn about the benefits of preschool.
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A typical day in preschool
From the moment our preschoolers step through the door, they are embraced by an environment that values their curiosity, nurtures their potential, and respects the world around us. A typical day in preschool is filled with engaging activities designed for both education and for the holistic development of each child. From group time discussions that ignite conversations about the world around us to hands-on activities that foster fine motor skills and environmental awareness, every task is designed with the intent to inspire and educate. Our preschool team are adept at blending learning objectives with play, understanding that the best kind of learning happens when children are happy and engaged.
Breakfast
Upon arrival at nursery, preschoolers self-serve their breakfast between 7:45am and 8:30am offering a variety of different cereals.
Morning routine
After breakfast children have the opportunity to freely explore a range of learning resources thoughtfully planned by our preschool team.
The essence of our preschool programme lies in the carefully planned, yet flexible, activities on offer — ranging from sensory and messy play to exploring the wonders of our outdoor environment, each moment providing an exciting opportunity for learning and growth across all seven areas of the EYFS.
At approximately 9am, preschool children sit down for group time where they are encouraged to sing songs, read stories and share stories with each other. This aids school readiness as it encourages listening and speaking skills, and develops important social skills, like the art of conversation. Children will have the opportunity to play in the garden.
At 9.50am children will be asked to wash their hands in preparation for snack.
Snack time
10am is snack time and this consists of a variety of healthy options with a cup of milk or water.
Before lunch, all the children help tidy up the activities that were set out for the morning, they then sit down for a story while learning to wait patiently for their lunch.
Lunch time
After washing their hands children are encouraged to self serve their lunch and pour their drinks under close supervision. This allows them to make their own choices and promotes a good level of independence.
Afternoon routine
As the day unfolds, children are encouraged to explore, question, and collaborate, fostering an environment where every voice is heard and valued. In the afternoon, children have free reading time where they can explore different stories with their friends, providing the opportunity to discuss what is happening in their stories.
After this, children will venture to the nature reserve behind the nursey and explore different physical activities, such as climbing trees, digging in the mud and jumping off logs. If the weather is inclement, they will play in the garden at nursery where a wide variety of activities are provided to further develop skills in line with the seven areas of the EYFS. Practitioners will frequently interact with the children to enhance their learning by supporting and extending their understanding and knowledge with questions that further their critical thinking.
Tea Time
Tea is served at 3:30pm following the same routine as lunch.
