Baby Bears
Three months – One Year 1:3 RatioWe completely understand how difficult it is for parents to send their precious little baby to nursery whilst you return to work. You need to feel confident that your baby will get the care, love and attention that they would do at home and that they feel safe and cherished by the adults caring for them.
The staff in the Baby Bears room are experts in their field. They fully understand the needs of babies from sleeping, feeding and weaning, communication, movement and play. They work closely with parents/carers to ensure that there is consistency between their routine at home and nursery, supporting them at every stage of their exciting development and giving endless love, cuddles and attention.
The room is soft and cosy with lots of different toys, textures, sounds and visual aids to stimulate their rapidly developing senses and encourage their development in all areas. They are also introduced to painting and craft such as hand and feet painting and get to go outside everyday in the garden for lovely walks around the local area.
Because babies spend most of their time on the floor and putting things in their mouths, we follow very strict hygiene practices, regularly sterilising toys and equipment and steam cleaning the floors.
Learning to walk is one of the most exciting milestones in your little one’s development, and we are there to encourage and support them at all times as they gain their balance and confidence.
Bear Cubs
One – two years 1:3 RatioBy the time your child reaches Bear Cubs, their language and communication skills are most likely well underway and they are starting to say actual words and be able to tell us what they want. Their inquisitive minds enable them to confidently explore all the different toys and equipment such as sand and water, puzzles, animals, cars and books. They enjoy lots of baking, craft, singing and are encouraged to start following simple instructions such as washing hands before snacks and meals and joining in for songs and story time.
We create family albums for each child to encourage close relationships and links between nursery and home and support their emerging social skills with their friends through learning to share toys and take turns.
Every day is an adventure for our Bear Cubs and we make sure each day is as exciting, challenging and as fun as the next, whether it be in our lovely bright stimulating rooms, outside in our garden, or on adventures around the canal or parks.
We are there to ensure that as our Bear Cubs make that amazing transition from babbling babies, unsteady on their feet, to confident chatty toddlers that we provide the comfort, support and stimulation that they need to fulfil their full potential.
Little Bears
Two – three years 1:4 RatioYour little ones will have certainly found their feet by the time they move up to being a Little Bear! In their lovely big room, they can charge around from one activity to the other, including sand and water troughs, role play and dressing up areas, soft play, cars, dolls, kitchens, building blocks or relax in the cosy book corner. They have access to the garden and go out at every available opportunity. Walks around the countryside and canal are part of their everyday activities, to see the canal boats and go on nature trails.
Here, potty and toilet training starts to begin, with easy access to separate toilets and potty facilities. We work closely with parents/carers to support toilet training and encourage the children to practice good personal hygiene by thoroughly washing their hands after visiting the potty or toilet and before all snacks and mealtimes.
We love to get messy and do lots of craft, using lots of different materials and explore lots of different textures. Key skills will really start to develop such as learning colours, shapes and counting and emerging fine motor skills.
We look to develop the children’s concentration skills ready for their transition to Pre-school. Through singing, story and circle time sessions, they will learn to take turns and listen patiently to others. It’s at this age that their social skills really start to develop and real friendships start to emerge.
Emotions can run very high at this age as their minds are developing at such a fast rate and they have not yet learnt to cope with these new feelings such as excitement, frustration or anger. They are also starting to develop their own opinions and may start to test the boundaries. Our staff have years of experience and fully understand the reasons behind this behaviour. They respond by setting clear boundaries, mixed with lots of love, affection and patience.
Most importantly, we have lots of fun in a safe, stimulating and loving environment.
Pre-School
Three – Five years 1:8 RatioPre-School is a very important time where we start preparing your little ones for school.
Our Pre-School rooms are full of exciting activities and equipment to encourage their skills and imagination to develop. They will start to develop all the necessary skills that they will need to give them the foundation they need for when they start school. They will further develop their pencil control and start writing letters including their own name, learn to cut safely with scissors, put on their own coat and shoes, start to serve their own meals and snacks and help to clear up after play and meal times.
The children are encouraged to develop a strong love of books and often love playing ‘teacher’ reading aloud to their friends. Their concentration, language and communication skills are now very strong and they thrive on the praise and respect given to them by the staff who treat them all as special individuals.
They grow their own vegetables and go on local trips to the surrounding parks. They perform a Christmas Carol event as well as taking a part in a Pre-School Graduation ceremony.
We can confidently say, that our Pre-Schoolers really do get the very best start ready for school and we are very proud of all of our happy, clever and confident children.
