Roots

Roots is for children ages 18 months – 2.5 years and is based in the smaller classroom in The Nurture Room. The room has 8–9 children a day.

Our day

We think carefully about how each session is planned and how we spend our time. Throughout the course of the morning your child will participate in the following:

Welcome

Children are supported to leave their carer and welcomed into Roots. They are encouraged and supported to take off their coats and shoes and put away their belongings. Children then access the activities on offer in our classroom and greet their friends. We begin the morning with a short circle time, an opportunity for children to connect with us and each other.

Explore & learn

Children are able to freely explore activities and resources on offer. These will match children’s level of development and aim to extend and enhance their thinking and learning. We believe in using a wide variety of open-ended resources to help spark imagination and stimulate thinking. During this child-led play time, the children are supported by experienced teachers and Early Years educators who help guide and challenge their play where appropriate.

Teacher led time

Throughout the day we have a number of times when we come together as a group for a short time for stories, singing and music and movement.

Meal times

Meal and snack times are an important part of the day for children developing their independence and social and communication skills. Children have a snack of fruit in the morning and a snack of a healthy carbohydrate in the afternoon. For lunch families can decide if they purchase a school dinner (charged at £2.85) or provide a packed lunch. If providing a packed lunch, families must ensure it meets the healthy lunch box guidance.

During the week we may also cook things together which are offered to the children such as smoothies, ice lollies, fruit salad and healthy cookies as part of learning about healthy eating. We also run Taste Ed as part of circle times, a programme encouraging children to taste and eat a wide range of fruit and vegetables.

The outdoors

Roots children have access to their own outdoor space designed for our youngest children. We spend lots of time outside everyday no matter what the weather. We take advantage of the fact that space can help develop children’s gross motor skills in addition to offering them lots of open-ended activities that challenge their thinking. Children, when they are ready, also make the most of the wider outdoors environment as part of the school grounds which further supports their understanding of the world, confidence and physical development.

Rest time

After lunch children in Roots have a sleep. If your child has grown out of their day time sleep, they will join the Fruits children for their afternoon activity.

Home time

Home time is a key transition point for everyone involved: you, your child and our team. Before you arrive we will send you a handover for the day which will include what your child has eaten, toileting and any other significant detail from the session. When you arrive, we will bring your child out so as not to unsettle the other children. When we handover, please feel free to ask any questions you have about your child’s day or arrange another time to chat to us in greater depth about a concern you have or your child’s development.

Ages

The Nurture Room is primarily a nursery for children aged 18 months to around 2.5 years. At approximately 2.5 years old we will support children progress to our Shoots group based in the larger classroom.