Little and Big Nursery
The 'Little' ratio is one member of staff to four children (up to the age of three).
The 'Big' ratio is one member of staff to eight children (over three years of age).
Our primary and secondary aims here are the same as for the babies and toddlers. A third aim however, is to encourage the children to develop their independence and to start to be responsible for their own actions.
Children will enter the Little Nursery around the age of two years. Again, there are numerous activities ensuring that the children are given maximum opportunity to allow all-round development.
Children will be taught how to join in a group and play together. They will be introduced to various pre-learning and practical life experiences that lay the foundations for the Early Years Room.
It is recognised that children learn best through practical experience. We therefore aim to provide a rich play and learning environment.
Activities include:
- sand, water and messy play
- imaginative role play
- creative play
- books, stories and computer activities
- co-ordination activities - threading and sorting
- puzzles including the recognition of shape and colours
- language development activities - learning rhymes, alphabet, matching sounds and pictures
- practical number activities - counting, sorting numbers and shapes
- practical life experiences - freezing, melting, magnetism, weights and measures
Special weekly sessions include:
- music and movement
- mini gym
- cookery
- drama/role play sessions
- 'French Times' - our specifically designed pre-school French programme for the 3+ years of age groups
All children who are ready, will be encouraged to take an interest in the alphabet, counting and recognition of numbers, but the main emphasis of the Little & Big Nursery will be on social development and activities, which are foundation-builders for education.
All of this may sound like hard work and indeed it is. However, young children do enjoy being challenged and to succeed and to show off their newly acquired skills. The children will be learning whilst having fun!
"Children's language skills are being developed to enable them to express their ideas and thoughts. They speak confidently to share their experiences about night and firework displays and they listen intently to stories". Ofsted, November '06