Our homely nursery is split into four areas; Hummingbirds, robins, Owlets and Owls.

Hummingbird Room

Babies aged 8 weeks up to around 18months -2 years occupy the upstairs space of the nursery. The Hummingbird room accommodates up to nine babies with up to three members of staff. There is a separate kitchen to prepare snacks and bottles, a sleep room and a large open plan play area which can be sectioned off to allow more focused activities aimed more specific to the children’s ages, for example the older babies may be encouraged to join in with a craft activity while the non-mobile babies are offered some sensory play.

There is a wooden floored section where the babies enjoy various messy play activities. There is a nappy changing station built into the room with storage available for nappies and wipes which ensures good safeguarding practice. The babies join the toddlers once or twice a day in the toddler room to allow them to have access to continuous provision and full use of the garden activities. This usually occurs anytime during the day that suits each child’s routine. This time with the toddlers allows the transition from the baby room into toddlers to be smooth when the time comes.

The baby staff members plan activities based on the children’s individual needs and next steps, to allow them to develop prime skills such as communication and language, physical and social and emotional development through fun and engaging activities.

Robin Room

As a child approaches 18 months – 2 years old, discussions will be held with parents about the transition process into the robin room. Where necessary, “settle in” sessions will be held so the child is able to form strong attachments with the staff as they move down. If a child is not ready to move, this transition may be delayed until such a time as we all feel confident the child will cope.

The garden can be accessed via French patio doors, which are kept opened for the children at all times (except meal times). This allows free flow and gives the children more choice and independence of what they play with and how they learn. The toddler staff plan activities based on the children’s individual needs and next steps, to allow them to develop prime skills such as communication and language, through fun and engaging activities.

Toddlers are aged 18 months – 3 years old and have continuous provision to enable them to use an inside area and separate garden especially equipped for their needs, which is located at the quieter back of the nursery. The robin room only accommodates up to eight toddlers at any one time with two staff members.

Children that are toilet training will be supported to do so in the bathroom shared with pre school.

Parrot Room

We currently split the preschool children between two rooms depending on the year they are going to school – Owls are the older half going to school first and Owlets and the younger half going the following year.

The room has a large open plan inside area which includes a craft area, roleplay corner, book area, small world play, carpet area and more. The pre-school children also have access to the front garden allowing continuous provision and giving the children more choice and independence of what they play with, how they learn, and to follow their own interests and develop these interests further. The children are encouraged to learn and develop motor skills, risk taking, caring for the environment and can roleplay in the mud kitchen and construction zone.

The pre-school staff plan fun, stimulating, educational and engaging activities to meet each child’s next step and interest, and to accommodate all seven areas of the Early Years Foundation Stage. The preschoolers have access to two toilets which are located next to the room. If a pre-schooler is in a nappy, their nappy will be changed in the designated changing area in the room or the toilets, staff will work with parents to support the child with toilet training when they are ready. Owls and Owlets are split into their groups for majority of the day to do age appropriate activities, Owls particularly focus on school readiness such as being independent and emotional regulation.