make your mark
We provide lots of different resources around the Nursery for children to make their mark. Chalks, pens, felt tips and crayons are always on offer, at the writing centre and in other areas. Clipboards, paper, notebooks and diaries are available to write on or in, and there is sticky tape, glue and scissors too.
Get squiggling!
Get squiggling!
make a splash
Having access to water allows children to develop maths skills as they fill and empty containers, and think about how and why things happen. Water play is sensory, and as the children stand around the tray it becomes social as they engage with their friends. We provide interesting resources to develop curiosity, and the water can also be a soothing activity for our little Nursery people.
Sometimes we get really wet! It's all part of the fun.
Sometimes we get really wet! It's all part of the fun.
Sandpit
We are so lucky to have our own indoor sandpit in Nursery. Sand is brilliant for digging and pouring, and the children love to explore whilst they sit and play. We add different objects to extend the play, and encourage children to take off their shoes and socks if they want to.
Life's a beach at Highfield Hall!
Creative Corner
Being creative with different resources allows children to use their imagination and express themselves, whilst trying out new ideas. They can experiment with colour and texture, and develop their sense of touch and observation skills. Often we focus on the process and not the product, and at times it can get a little messy! Using all their senses helps children to engage and learn about the world around them.
Being creative with different resources allows children to use their imagination and express themselves, whilst trying out new ideas. They can experiment with colour and texture, and develop their sense of touch and observation skills. Often we focus on the process and not the product, and at times it can get a little messy! Using all their senses helps children to engage and learn about the world around them.
marvellous maths
Maths is everywhere! We encourage the children to see patterns and numbers around the environment, and to count everything! In the maths area there are lots of resources to encourage counting, sorting, number recognition and ordering, as well as measuring and comparing. These often get transported to different areas!
play dough kitchen
Play dough is a brilliant resource for young children!
Play dough is a lovely sensory material which children can squash, squeeze and mould. As well as developing their sense of touch and learning about texture, children are strengthening hand and finger muscles. This is vital as they grow up and begin to use pens, pencils and other hand held tools and equipment with more control. Play dough can be made into anything! And we can make patterns in it too.
Play dough is a lovely sensory material which children can squash, squeeze and mould. As well as developing their sense of touch and learning about texture, children are strengthening hand and finger muscles. This is vital as they grow up and begin to use pens, pencils and other hand held tools and equipment with more control. Play dough can be made into anything! And we can make patterns in it too.
share a story
We regularly share books in Nursery, with individual children, small groups and the whole class. Children learn so much from sharing a story-new vocabulary, listening skills, how to answer questions, talking about characters and their feelings-these are just a few reasons why books are so vital to children’s development. Often children want the same story over and over again-this is great! They are learning language and rhythm off by heart.
Reading to your child every day gives them a great start in life. Let’s snuggle up with a book!
Reading to your child every day gives them a great start in life. Let’s snuggle up with a book!
home corner
The home corner is where children can act out experiences from home and develop their imagination. We like to add different textures, lighting and interesting domestic role play artefacts to develop their play and curiosity.
build it
In the construction area the children can choose wooden blocks of varying shapes and sizes. The blocks are open-ended, which means they can be anything! As they build, the children are learning about shape and size, and problem solving as they construct. They can develop their own ideas, and play collaboratively to create large and complex structures. We add people, cars, animals etc to extend the play, and of course chalk and writing equipment for planning and messages!