Our two preschool rooms can accommodate up to 40 children between the ages of 3 and 5 years old. Our youngest preschoolers will spend time in our Tawny Owl room, getting ready for the big jump to our preschool cabin for the year before they head off to school. 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 development. We aim to provide many different opportunities for the children to develop and experience the outdoors with regular trips around the surrounding farmland to meet the horses, spot wildlife and collect natural resources for further learning.
Our preschoolers have all they could desire with access to a large garden with a sand pit, nature zone, a mud kitchen, a cosy home corner, a construction area, chalk boards, a wooden obstacle course, a bug hotel and large play equipment. 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.
Included within your daily childcare fee is breakfast, snacks, lunch and tea. We ask parents to provide a change of clothes, especially socks & underwear, and if required please provide nappies and wipes if your child requires them at this age.
Child Development
Our early years practitioners ensure that every child meets their personal developmental goals and attains the highest standard of learning, following the EYFS seven areas of learning and the Wise Owls Curriculum. Each child is assigned a key person who gains a deep understanding of their interests, abilities, and progress. Parents are invited to participate in parent consultations throughout the year to learn about their child’s development. We prioritise fostering an open and collaborative relationship with parents to cater to each child’s needs effectively. All learning and developmental milestones are documented 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
We would love to share our lovely day nursery with you.
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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 7:30am and 8:15am 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 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 outside in the morning, digging for worms, balancing on the play equipment, role playing in our outdoor kitchen and much more.
Before lunch all children will be asked to tidy up the activities that were set out for the morning, they then sit down for a story or song while they wait patiently for 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 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 go into the garden and explore different physical activities, such as the stepping stones, the obstacle course, digging in the mud and cooking in the mud kitchen. There is also sand and water play available. 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.
There are toilets provided in the preschool cabin as most of the children within the room are toilet trained.
