9- 23 month and two year old provision
Babies (9 - 23months) & Toddlers (2 - 3 years) rooms
Here at Chapel End, our Babies and Toddlers Rooms provide a warm, caring and stimulating environment for children from 9 months old. We understand that starting nursery is a big step for both children and their families, so we work closely with parents and carers to ensure that every child feels happy, safe and secure.
Our youngest children are supported by caring and responsive adults who get to know them as individuals, building positive relationships and helping them to develop confidence and independence at their own pace.
The children have access to a range of carefully planned experiences and resources, both indoors and outdoors, which encourage them to explore, investigate, communicate and develop through play.
All about Learning in our Babies & Toddlers Rooms
Learning in our Babies and Toddlers Rooms is based on the individual needs, interests and developmental stages of each child. We recognise that children develop at different rates and provide a balance of adult-led experiences and opportunities for children to explore and play independently.
Our practitioners are there to support, model and extend children's learning through their interactions with them. We use everyday routines, play and experiences as opportunities for learning and development.
Communication and language is at the heart of everything we do. Adults talk to children throughout the day, introducing new words, sharing stories and songs, responding to children's attempts to communicate and encouraging them to express their needs, interests and ideas.
Children have opportunities to explore a wide range of sensory experiences, including sand, water, messy play, music, mark making and natural materials. These experiences help children to develop their senses, curiosity and understanding of the world around them.
Physical development is also an important part of our provision. Children are encouraged to crawl, climb, walk, balance, run and explore their environment as their physical skills develop. We provide opportunities to develop both gross and fine motor skills through play and everyday activities.
We recognise the importance of routines in supporting young children's development. Mealtimes, snack times, sleep and rest, nappy changing and toileting are all treated as opportunities to develop relationships, communication, independence and self-care skills.
Our Curriculum
Your child will learn through play, exploration and positive interactions with caring adults.
Our provision supports children's development across the seven areas of learning in the Early Years Foundation Stage.
Communication and language
- develop their understanding of language through talking, singing, rhymes and stories
- develop their confidence in communicating their needs, interests and ideas
- listen and respond to adults and other children
- develop their vocabulary through a language-rich environment
- enjoy sharing books, stories, songs and rhymes
Physical development
- develop their gross and fine motor skills
- explore movement and develop their balance, co-ordination and control
- develop their confidence in moving and exploring their environment
- develop increasing independence in feeding, dressing and personal care
- begin to understand healthy choices and the importance of physical activity
Personal, social and emotional development
- develop secure and positive relationships with familiar adults
- develop confidence and a positive sense of themselves
- begin to recognise and express their feelings
- develop relationships with other children
- begin to understand routines, boundaries and expectations
- develop increasing independence and confidence
Literacy
- develop a love of books, stories, songs and rhymes
- enjoy looking at and sharing books with adults
- develop an understanding of sounds and rhythm
- explore mark making using a range of materials
- begin to develop an understanding that marks and pictures can have meaning
Mathematics
- explore number through everyday experiences and play
- develop an understanding of size, shape and quantity
- explore patterns and relationships
- develop early counting skills
- use mathematical language such as big, small, more, less, up and down
Understanding the world
- explore and investigate the world around them
- develop an awareness of familiar people and places
- explore natural materials and the outdoor environment
- investigate different textures, sounds, smells and materials
- begin to understand changes in the world around them
Expressive arts and design
- explore a range of sounds, music and instruments
- enjoy singing songs and rhymes
- explore colour, texture and different materials
- develop their imagination through sensory and creative play
- express themselves through movement, music, art and role play
Characteristics of Effective Teaching and Learning
Even from a very young age, children are naturally curious and eager to explore their surroundings. We provide opportunities for children to develop the three characteristics of effective teaching and learning identified by the EYFS:
- Playing and exploring – children investigate their environment, explore materials and try new experiences.
- Active learning – children develop their concentration, practise new skills and keep trying as they learn.
- Creating and thinking critically – children explore possibilities, make connections and begin to develop their own ideas.
Our practitioners carefully observe and respond to children's interests and developmental needs. We use these observations to plan experiences that provide appropriate challenge and help each child to make progress.
Areas Inside Our Babies & Toddlers Rooms
Our rooms are carefully organised to provide young children with opportunities to explore and develop through play.
Our sensory areas provide opportunities for children to explore different textures, sounds, colours and materials using their senses.
Our book areas provide a cosy space where children can share stories, explore books independently and enjoy songs and rhymes with adults.
Our mark making areas provide a range of age-appropriate resources for children to make marks, explore different materials and develop their fine motor skills.
Our construction areas contain a range of blocks, stacking toys and open-ended resources which encourage children to build, balance, join and investigate.
Our malleable and messy play areas provide opportunities to explore materials such as playdough, foam, water, sand and other sensory resources.
Our small world and role play areas allow children to explore familiar experiences, develop their imagination and begin to develop their understanding of the world.
Our creative areas provide opportunities for children to explore paint, colour, music, movement and a range of creative materials.
Our Outdoor Environment
Our outdoor environment provides children with opportunities to develop their physical skills, explore nature and investigate the world around them.
Children have opportunities to climb, crawl, walk, balance and move using a range of age-appropriate equipment.
Our sensory and natural areas allow children to explore natural materials such as leaves, sticks, stones, soil and plants.
Our sand and water areas provide opportunities for children to explore filling, emptying, pouring and transporting whilst developing their early mathematical and physical skills.
Our creative areas allow children to explore paint, chalk, mark making and other materials in an outdoor environment.
We provide a range of open-ended resources that children can move, carry, stack and combine, encouraging them to explore their own ideas and develop their problem-solving skills.
Throughout the day, our adults join children in their play, following their interests, modelling language and introducing new experiences and vocabulary. We want our youngest children to develop a love of learning, confidence, curiosity and independence from the very beginning of their journey at Chapel End.
Working in Partnership with Parents
We believe that working closely with parents and carers is an important part of providing the best possible start for every child.
Parents and carers know their children best, so we value the information they share with us about their child's routines, interests, personality, development and individual needs. This helps us to provide a consistent and nurturing experience for every child.
When your child first joins us, we take time to get to know them and work with you to support their transition into nursery. We recognise that every child is different and that some children may settle quickly, while others may need more time, reassurance and support.
We work closely with families to establish familiar routines around sleep, meals, nappy changing, toileting and comfort, ensuring that children feel secure and cared for throughout the day.
We share information with parents and carers about their child's experiences, achievements and development and encourage families to share their child's learning and experiences from home with us. This helps us to build a complete picture of each child and plan experiences that reflect their individual interests and needs.
Regular communication between home and nursery helps children to feel secure and supports consistency between the two environments.
We want every child to feel happy, safe, valued and confident, knowing that the adults around them work together to support their development and wellbeing.