Badgers (Preschool)
Our Badgers room covers our oldest children aged 3-4 years.
In the Badgers room cloakroom there is a self-registration board, our children locate their picture of themselves on the board and choose a peg for their coat and bag to hang on for that session, at the end of the session they obtain their belongings and replace their picture on the self-registration board in readiness for next time.
The Badgers and Squirrels have their own defined space within a larger room. As part of our Curiosity Approach ethos, the environment and children’s play space as much as possible is calm and a place where children become engaged in deep levels of sustained shared thinking. We have created an enriching environment, which we hope will instil an appreciation of the world around us, leading to enhanced learning experiences and a more holistic approach. We offer the children ‘hands-on’ experiences’ planting and growing, playing outside, going for walks in our community, forest school sessions and nature hunts. There is a cosy corner for reading stories or a quiet time, creative activities, malleable play, sand, water, a carpeted area, with lots of books available throughout the setting. We have construction, loose parts, a home corner with authentic resources. Children enjoy music, dancing, musical instruments, mark-making, cooking and yoga. We use natural materials such as wood, stones, shells and pinecones, to promote sensory play and creativity.
We have four different garden spaces. The influences of the indoors are mirrored outdoors. Our nursery day allows for ample outdoor exploration. Our indoors have been designed seamlessly into the outdoor areas and vice versa, allowing the children to move freely between the environments and experience nature first-hand.
There is a covered area around the entire back of the building allowing the children to access the outdoors, at all times, whatever the weather. The areas are enclosed and secure. There is a small area of artificial grass and rubber crumb play surface at the back of the building, allowing for large scale play.
The higher-level grassed garden is accessed via a slope. Up to an area with a water wall and sand table. There is a separate mud kitchen, and grassed area with a low-level climbing frame, a willow den, an upright tractor tyre and a conservation area with bug houses and bird boxes.
Books and Community Library
We have lots of books, dotted around the setting and cosy nooks, for a quiet corner, promoting a love of books. We have a community library situated at the front of the building. Hopefully fostering a love of books and learning that will stay with the children throughout their lives.
The Community library is an ideal way for children to have different stories at home, throughout the day or as part of the bedtime routine.
It is also an area where children and parents or educators can come together to share stories and to bond over the joy of reading, and it enriches our learning environment. It allows children to lead in their own learning journey. To empower children to choose books that are of interest to them. It is a vibrant hub of discovery.
Creative & Malleable Play
Freedom of choice and access to a wide range of materials is crucial to the quality of children’s creative and imaginative experiences. Young children need opportunities for creative and imaginative play. Opportunities for discussion, of meeting of minds and sharing ideas, integrated into children’s experiences are fundamental to the production of high quality learning. The creative area at Brock House day nursery is designed in such a way to encourage the use of different types of media, which encourages children to form their own ideas and to learn the value of self expression.
Construction
Along with loose parts, guttering, pipes and tubes, we use large and small modular bricks. As well as building with our modular bricks, they can be used for mathematical ideas and problem solving. The children create miniature environments and experiment with concepts like designs, symmetry and balance. The blocks can also support literacy, as it starts representational play and learning. The blocks can assist story-telling and role-play, as children act out their ideas.
Children’s physical movements are strengthened as they use their muscles to transport and build and as they gain a sense of balance that comes with manipulating hallow bricks. The children absorb maths and physical concepts in the process. As the children interact they learn to communicate and solve problems, share resources and respect each other’s ideas.
Building with blocks follows the Curiosity Approach. As building with blocks is open ended, there are no wrong methods or outcomes. Therefore our children can develop confidence and freedom to explore, create and lead their own learning.
If you’d like to see the nursery ‘in action’ call: 01823 251257. To book an appointment and Deana or Becky will be happy to help you.