Shoots and Fruits

Our larger classroom is for our “Shoots” children aged around 2.5-3.5 and are “Fruits” children aged 3.5-5. Our “Shoots” and “Fruits” children also have access to a large dedicated garden space which is used throughout the day.

Children will be led and supported by a team of experienced and well qualified staff who get to know the children as individuals and have high quality and meaningful interactions throughout the day.

Our day

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

Welcome

Children are welcomed into the nursery and supported to follow a morning routine to develop their independence including hanging up their bag and taking off their shoes and putting them in their drawer. We begin the morning with circle time in “Shoots” and “Fruit” groups, an opportunity for children to connect with the team and each other, followed by time to focus on their personal and social development.

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 and ideas where appropriate.

Teacher led time

Throughout the session we have a number of times that we come together in children’s “Shoots and Fruits” groups. These include story time, circle times focussing on communication and language as well as early maths. During these adult led times we introduce ideas, concepts and new vocabulary which can then be consolidated and built on through subsequent play.

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

The outdoor environment is an extension of our indoor environment. 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. We also take advantage of the extensive grounds and facilities as part of the school site including a playground for bikes and trikes, the allotments, fields for exploration and games and adventure playground.