Learning and Play

Spring Nurseries  

The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) is a statutory requirement adhered to ensuring all children aged 0-5 years receive optimum opportunities to learn and grow.  All Spring Nurseries follow this along with the vision of an inspiring learning ethos which encompasses pedagogy, Montessori, Reggio, HYGGE and the Curiosity Approach. 
 

  • The Curiosity Approach is modern-day approach that looks to modify and reset educational practices for our children by bringing curiosity, awe and wonder. It is about equipping an environment with home resources and providing opportunities for the children to be inquisitive. It is a provocation and a stimulus to allow children to be critical thinkers, instilling an eagerness to explore and create.  It is an approach where the child is the centre of their own development.
     
  • The Reggio Approach focuses on express art and design as the central role in learning and teaching, also focussing on positive relationships between child and practitioner. Children are encouraged to take control over their own play, whilst learning through their senses. Practitioners will provide a rich environment so that our Spring children can learn and express themselves in many ways. Reggio is a learning approach where children’s voices are heard, they are given the opportunity to input their wishes and ideas which are then taken into consideration before any decisions are made. 

Our enabling environments adopt the Hygge approach. This is where practitioners attitude to life is to focuses on living in the moment and feeling the joy there is in everyday routines and activities. Hygge environments are warm, cosy and homely. It’s an environment where children can explore the natural environment, given natural resources to play with, ensuring a calming atmosphere for children to embrace in wonder and joy. Our Spring environments are carefully designed and prepared to encourage independent thinking, strong non-verbal communication, life-long learning and collaborative play and teaches respect for materials and resources. Through not having to purchase new items but taking time to enjoy special moments using traditional items children will experience a rich home environment in the nursery.  Children’s imaginations are fired when playing with loose parts constructed from natural materials. 

We believe it is important for the children’s voices to be heard – children lead the planning. From a single interest leading to a multitude of opportunities through Schema play. Schemas are behaviours that children go through when they are exploring the world, whilst investigating how things work. Children have a very powerful drive to repeat actions, move things from one place to another, cover things up, put things into container and so on. Practitioners will observe practice to look at what the child is doing, what schemas are used and provide further opportunities, activities and resources to scaffold the learning forward.   Principles of the  EYFS –birth to 5 matters will support children’s learning.  Staff will observe children and plan “what’s next or next steps” to continue with child’s interests, extending their learning  further supporting a child’s holistic development.  Ensuring next steps challenge children further so they do not stagnate or regress with their development. Practitioners are aware children all learn in different ways and through their positive relationships they will create enabling environments where children will learn and explore and reach their full potential. 

School Readiness

At Spring, our aim is to get children at a school ready developmental and educational level.

During your child’s time at Spring Nursery we will support both children and parents with being ready for school. Staff will continue to support children in all areas focusing on personal, social and emotional development ensuring children are independent and emotionally cope with separation from their parents or carers.
Independence skills are always encouraged, but it will be particularly important to make sure that children can put on their own shoes and coats, and manage self care without adult help, by the time they leave for school. Self serving food and disposing of unwanted food will be encouraged to prepare children for school meal times.

The transition to school can be even more difficult for some children and requires careful preparation. In the last term before they go to school, children should be able to talk about what they think school will be like and are offered plenty of role play opportunities (e.g. school uniforms to dress up in), and provided with a range of books about starting school.

Local schools are often invited to visit the nursery, and arrangements made to take children to visit the school that they will be attending in the term before they leave.

A summative assessment transition report will be completed and parents can share this with  their child’s new teacher.

Children leaving Spring Nurseries will be curious about the world around them and ready to learn new skills.

At Spring, our aim is to get children at a school ready developmental and educational level. 81% of our Spring Nursery children are on track with their development and 7% are ahead of expected development progress.  

School Readiness

At Spring, our aim is to get children at a school ready developmental and educational level.

During your child’s time at Spring Nursery we will support both children and parents with being ready for school. Staff will continue to support children in all areas focusing on personal, social and emotional development ensuring children are independent and emotionally cope with separation from their parents or carers.
Independence skills are always encouraged, but it will be particularly important to make sure that children can put on their own shoes and coats, and manage self care without adult help, by the time they leave for school. Self serving food and disposing of unwanted food will be encouraged to prepare children for school meal times.

The transition to school can be even more difficult for some children and requires careful preparation. In the last term before they go to school, children should be able to talk about what they think school will be like and are offered plenty of role play opportunities (e.g. school uniforms to dress up in), and provided with a range of books about starting school.

Local schools are often invited to visit the nursery, and arrangements made to take children to visit the school that they will be attending in the term before they leave.

A summative assessment transition report will be completed and parents can share this with  their child’s new teacher.

Children leaving Spring Nurseries will be curious about the world around them and ready to learn new skills.

Spring Oscars

At Spring Oscars, we are passionate about play. Children’s imaginations are limitless, and our playful environments encourage children to learn, explore, create, and develop through their play. Play is the main focus within all our settings, and we believe that children should be leaders and creators in their own play environment.  

By following a play-based curriculum, supported by up-to-date Playwork theory and best practices we offer children a chance to experience a wide, varied and stimulating range of play opportunities, encompassing a broad range of different Play Types, from loose parts play to creative play, physical play, dramatic play and many more.  

You will find The Playwork Principles embedded in our practice, with staff on hand to facilitate and support the children’s play experiences, while encouraging them to take the lead.  

At Spring Oscars, we actively promote children’s participation through planning and evaluation, ensuring that every child’s voice is heard, and our activities meet the needs of each child.