Play and Learn

Babies: 8 weeks to 1 year
We provide a welcoming, homely atmosphere, so that each baby receives the same type of comforting and reassuring routines they would at home. Your baby’s key carer spends time really getting to know your baby, their likes and dislikes, their routine and feed patterns. The carer is also available to support and advise you on any of the important steps in your baby’s first year from weaning to crawling.

All of our staff are experienced and qualified in baby care, and each Sixpenny location has a tranquil room with a calm atmosphere.
The children have fun exploring their world, in a safe and stimulating environment.

Toddlers: 1-2 years old
Things happen at a slightly faster pace for the toddlers, creating a livelier atmosphere. They have fun and make friends while painting, playing with moulding dough, doing puzzles and listening to stories, and they join the older children for music sessions. Every session is carefully planned to give the children lots of enjoyment, as well as covering areas of learning and development.

Early Risers: 2-3 years old
Our experienced staff provide a calm atmosphere in which the children can learn, while still having fun. A flexible, daily programme offers the children varied learning opportunities through discovery and play, within a well planned and structured environment.

Every month, there is a new topic or theme that co-ordinates the children's activities and project work. The children often join the pre-school for breakfast, lunch and tea; they also participate in music and sport activities.

The early phonics system is introduced at this stage to develop the children’s knowledge of letter shapes and sounds. Our staff spend time reading to the children, using many books with rhyme, rhythm and repetition.  Games are played to help develop the important skills needed for reading.

Pre-school: 3-5 years old
As the children approach school age, they follow a new topic each month. The staff provide creative activities and learning opportunities throughout the day. Each key carer builds a good relationship with the children in their care, finds out their interests and abilities, and encourages them to interact through play. The staff develop fun ways to help the children improve their language skills. Creativity is positively encouraged and children are observed to see how they tackle small challenges. Throughout their time with us, each child will receive the support they need, while learning in a fun-packed environment.

Your child’s achievements are recorded in their personal journal, which we regularly review with you so that you can assess the level of their progress.

Within each topic we implement the Early Years Foundation Stage and the early learning goals in six areas:

• personal, social and emotional development
• communication, language and literacy
• problem solving, reasoning and numeracy
• knowledge and understanding of the world
• physical development
• creative development

In each session, the children spend time in the garden: playing in the sand, gardening, or riding bikes and tractors. They explore the environment around them by going on nature walks. Games are played within the garden and in the outdoor covered areas in the grounds of most Sixpenny locations.

Phonics is an important part of learning during the pre-school years and provides a thorough foundation for reading and writing. The correct letter formation is also encouraged from an early age.

We maintain excellent links with all local schools, and regularly invite Reception teachers to the nursery to ensure a smooth transition into school.