Learning and Playing
Learning and Playing
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A Happy, Homely and Vibrant Atmosphere
Little Learners is a drop off playgroup which provides a seamless learning experience for children aged 2 to 4 years old.
Our varied and exciting programme provides an excellent foundation for learning. It ensures that when the children enter pre-preparatory or nursery primary schools, they are confident, well-grounded and ready to face the challenges ahead.
Within the context of carefully planned sessions of play-based learning, the Early Years Foundation Stage Curriculum allows the children to enjoy learning, make independent choices, make friends and form relationships with those around them.
The Early Years Foundation Stage offers a wide range of opportunities for learning. Our preparation for children’s future education is thorough and our timetable offers a balance of structured play and small group activities. The children are assigned a Key Worker who is responsible for planning and teaching children individually. Each child has a Learning Journey book which starts when they begin Little Learners.
Every session is carefully planned by myself, a qualified primary school teacher, and by all our members of staff. We ensure that the children are offered both child-initiated and teacher-led activities in order to enable all of the children to achieve their full potential.
Little Learner’s hall is decorated with bright displays of the children’s art work, a testament to the creativity of the children. We offer a happy, homely and vibrant atmosphere with an emphasis on forging strong home and Little Learners links, to ensure the children make a confident and happy start to their education.
Parents are welcomed into Little Learners, and we very much operate an open door policy. We have open mornings, organise "show around" and free trial sessions.
Curriculum Overview
We offer a diverse and fun programme for 2-4 year olds that encompasses the Early Years Foundation Stage Curriculum.
Within this framework, we introduce a variety of structured play, activities, role play, songs and educational toys to stimulate creativity and critical thinking.
As well as introducing colours, phonics, shapes and numbers, we also present different cultures and themes within learning. In this way, we not only promote an appreciation and understanding of the outside world, but also extend language development and communication skills.
We place a huge value on our lovely outdoor space, where games and activities support physical development and where the children can learn about nature through watching things grow.
All that we do at Little Learners is underpinned by learning how to share, be considerate and show empathy towards others. Ours is a place not only of self-discovery, but also somewhere where first friendships and new bonds are formed and often blossom.
Going Beyond the Curriculum
We believe children are literally little sponges with a huge capacity to absorb information, given the right encouragement. This is why we like to extend our teaching beyond the curriculum. For example, we are one of very few nurseries to offer French lessons within our timetable.
We also like to encourage children to pursue their interests. For example, if a child expresses an interest in dinosaurs, then we will do our utmost to develop this passion and extend the learning process. We would do this by looking at dinosaur pictures, through drawing, painting, learning the names of different dinosaurs or through story reading, songs and games.
At the heart of our philosophy is a desire, not only to instill a solid foundation and thirst for learning within children, but also the confidence to go on and flourish at the next stage of their education. Whether it is a nursery school or one of the local state, private or pre-prep schools. We are always at hand to help individual children prepare for formal school assessments, should it be required.
We would love to see you and meet your little learner.
We offer regular open mornings and offer free trial sessions, so please do get in touch.
Timetable
09.30am - Children arrive
09.30am - 10.30am
- Adult led activities in small groups, small group key worker activities
10.30am - 10.35am
- Tidy up time
10.35am - 10.45am
- Music and nursery rhymes
10.45am - 11.00am
- Snack
11.00am - 11.45am
- Free play, small groups daily activities (French Fridays – an introduction to French language)
11.45am -12.00pm
- Yoga
12.00pm-12.20am
- Free play
12.20pm - 12.30pm
- Circle time
12.30pm - Home time for morning children
12.30pm -1:00pm
- Lunch
01:15pm - 2:10pm
- Free play, key worker activities
02:10pm - 2:15pm
– Tidy up
02:15pm - 2:30pm
- Carpet/circle time
02:30pm - Home time
Early Years Curriculum and Topics
Autumn
My New Classroom
Traditional Tales
Celebrations
Autumn and Winter
Spring
Growing
Spring
Mother's Day
Animals
Summer
Water
Summer
Father's Day
Mini Beasts