Tik-Tok children's page

Our philosophy is to promote an environment of high quality childcare in close partnership with parents. We enable children in our care to reach their full potential in an exciting, stimulating and educational atmosphere, geared to each child’s individual developmental and specific needs.

POPPIES AND BUTTERCUPS ROOMS
These are homely rooms catering for children aged 6 weeks to 1 year.
These rooms offer a visual bright, friendly and stimulating atmosphere.
Activities include:

• Water play
• Paint sessions
• Sensory activity
• Co-ordination skills
• Free-play and one to one

NAPPY CHANGING
Parents are required to supply their baby with nappies, wet wipes and creams. Terry nappies are welcome as well as disposables.

BUSY BEES AND LADYBIRDS ROOM
These are spacious rooms for 1 to 2 year olds where children are encouraged to interact more closely with their peers. The children are encouraged to work in small groups on simple topics such as colour, shape, body parts, animals and their noises.

Activities include:

• Stories
• Painting
• Nursery rhymes
• Creative play
• Sensory development and movement to music
• Construction sessions
• Table top toys
• Indoor and outdoor play

RAINDROPS AND SUNBEAM ROOMS
Home to our 2 - 3 year old children, both playrooms are furnished with wet and dry play surfaces as well as outdoor play areas.

Children are encouraged to reach their full potential and develop socially, physically, intellectually, creatively and emotionally through topics such as shape, colour, numbers, animals and all about me.

Children are also encouraged to interact with their peers through small group time.

Activities include:

• Stories
• Painting
• Nursery Rhymes
• Creative Play
• Sensory Development
• Construction
• Table Top Toys
• Music and Movement
• Outdoor Play

Working in partnership with parents, potty training is encouraged.

The playroom is set out within the guide lines of high scope to promote independence and create a smooth transition into out Sunflower and Daisy Playrooms (3 - 5 years)

BIRTH TO THREE MATTERS

From birth children are already competent learners with rich experience from which to build upon. The staff that work with our 0 - 3 year olds are supported by "Birth to Three Matters". This is a framework that supports staff in recognising and valuing our youngest children, giving us the opportunity to provide quality and effective practice that encourages and stimulates young children's growth and development.

The framework is built up of four different aspects:

• A Strong Child
• A Skilfull Communicator
• A Competent Learner
• A Healthy Child

The above aspects celebrate the skill and competence of babies and young children, highlighting the inter-relationship between growth, learning, development and the environment in which the children are cared for and educated.

Two principles of the framework are that parents and families are central to the wellbeing of the child and that relationships with other people are also of crucial importance in a child's life.

Through effective practice, encouraged by the framework, children should develop into confident, communicative, competent and healthy children, ready to move onto the next stage of learning, which at three would be the "Foundation Stage Curriculum".

SUNFLOWER AND DAISIES ROOMS
Two of our large spacious rooms furnished with wet and dry areas.

These are the homes of our 3 to 5 year olds.

Through working to the QCA’s (Qualification and Curriculum Authority) Early Years Curriculum our children are gradually prepared for school. Weekly topic plans are carefully set by staff to ensure that our children achieve the Early Learning Goals by the end of the Foundation Stage.

These are:

Personal Social and Emotional Development
The opportunity is given for children to play together in a loving and caring environment enabling them to express and share their feelings with others.

Through the introduction of High Scope we aim to promote choice and independence for the children within our care

Children are given time and space to focus on activities and experiences and develop their own interests.

For those children who may need to be alone away from the rest of the group the book corner and rest area are available.

We provide the opportunity for play and learning that acknowledge children’s particular religious beliefs and cultural backgrounds through providing positive images in the use of books and stories, celebrating a variety of festivals, puzzles and small construction.

Sibling interaction
We feel it is important for siblings to be given every opportunity to spend time together throughout the day.

Communication Language and Literacy
Communication and language development is incorporated through story telling, reading, picture cards, role play and music sessions (which include both singing and dancing). We have fully trained staff who are aware of the benefits of conversing with the children, particularly on a one to one basis.

The children are encouraged to develop pencil control and pre-writing skills, as well as hand - eye co-ordination through a variety of activities. An I.T. area is available where educational games are offered.

Mathematical Development
Maths and Science are incorporated into our daily routine through the use of number work, weighing, sequencing, sorting, symmetry, problem solving and then recording our finds into the children’s own work books.
Science activities include investigating how and why things work, all about ourselves and movement. Asking lots of questions such as why, when, where, how are encouraged.

Knowledge and Understanding
Our aim is to enable children to become more aware of their surrounding environment. Through topic work and encouraging exploration, observation, problem solving, decision making and discussion to gain information, our children are able to understand more about the world around them. Our recognition and acceptance of different cultures is portrayed through the use of books and stories, celebrating a variety of festivals, puzzles and small construction.

Physical Development
The nursery offers both indoor and outdoor play space for physical activities. Whilst indoors the children are encouraged to participate in music and movement and under the guidance of the British Gymnastics Association, several staff are now trained and hold weekly gymnastic sessions within the nursery. Through this the children’s skills in balance and co-ordination, body and spatial awareness are monitored closely.

Outdoors, teamwork is encouraged through the playing of games and the use of outdoor equipment such as hoops, balls, skittles and skipping ropes.