Little Explorers Day Nursery

Caterpillar room is for our children aged under two years and has a primary focus on the prime areas of development. We take a heuristic approach to learning in Caterpillar room whereby opportunities are offered where children can freely explore and develop interests. It offers open access to their own conservatory area and a designated garden which is partly covered, so it is accessible for all children, regardless of the weather.

Caterpillar and Cocoon room work closely together to ensure the transition between rooms is done at the right time for the child and at the child’s pace, and there will be times throughout the day when they join for shared learning activities.

Caterpillar garden: This area has been designed by staff for our youngest members of the nursery, where they are able to freely explore a wide range of activities. The area is accessible in all weathers as part of the garden is covered, enabling our non-mobile babies access outside even on rainy days.

This room is for children aged between two and three years. It offers nappy changing facilities and direct access to the cocoon garden. We focus on supporting play through a heuristic child-centred approach, with staff supporting children’s developing language skills through a play-based approach.

Cocoon garden: This area supports the inquisitive two year old and provides a mud kitchen, bug area, painting area as well as lots of space for a wide variety of activities.

Butterfly room is for our three and four year olds, which has its own designated room with toilets and access to our large garden space. It has a heavy focus on being independent and refining play skills so children are confident to have a go, share and take turns. The ‘Jigsaw’ program enables children to develop their emotional literacy and an awareness of their own wellbeing which really supports their personal, social and emotional development. We actively encourage all children to be as independent as possible and we encourage children to have a go at cutting up their own food with a knife and fork and putting on and off their own shoes and clothing, so children are well prepared for joining school, but more importantly have essential life skills.

Butterfly garden: This area supports our pre-schoolers in developing not only their physical skills but their thinking skills, as children are encouraged to assess their own risks. This area has a large mud kitchen and digging area, a boat, a dinosaur area, as well as quieter areas which support small world play and our love of books and stories.