Key to Success

In each  of our settings we strive to maintain the same warm atmosphere.  Our settings are decorated as you would expect to find at home.  There are pictures, plants and rugs.  The use of colour and art is vital to stimulate a child, but not over stimulate, and hence our colours are subtle.

We believe music and lighting are also key factors in helping to relax children, we consider very carefully our choices in all these areas.  We want children to be stimulated but believe that it is also important for children to feel relaxed - 'play is the work of children, 45 hours a week is exhausting for an adult, what about a child of two?'.

We encourage the children to engage in 'free flow play', this means that we provide the children with the opportunity to make choices about what they would like to do each day. 

Although we follow the EYFS (Early Years Foundation Stage) curriculum we believe that we achieve more if a child has chosen to paint or play outside or read in the book corner.  This allows us to meet the children's needs more effectively - what good is it to say 'no' to a child who asked if they can do some sticking and gluing because it is not on the planning for today!

Our routines are flexible to enable these spontaneous activities to take place and the staff have the freedom to run with a child's particular interest or idea. 

Although we follow the EYFS our aim is that children who are still so young should enjoy the whole day and not be forced to participate in activities they do not like.

"All learning should be accomplished through play and all play should be enjoyed"