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In line with our national guidance, Realising the Ambition, we are a free flow nursery where learning through play is at the heart of what we do. You can find more information about learning through play here.
At Law, the children have a full day of free-flow play, allowing them to choose which areas they would like to access and play in. We are working on developing our outdoor space to ensure the outdoor learning environment offers more literacy and numeracy opportunities to ensure enhanced learning throughout the whole setting. We ensure children experience as little interrupted play as possible. Below we’ve shared our flexible daily routine. Please note, we stop the children only at morning gather and lunch gather. Children are encouraged to join in returning the toys and then to gather.
GATHER TIME
The purpose of gather time is to give our children the opportunity to be a part of a small group, where they can have quality interactions with other children and consistent practitioners. Gather time is a short time where the key workers/practitioners come together with their group of children. We everyone to join in, however we respect children’s wishes and understand that some children may prefer to continue to play.
To maximise the learning opportunities during our gather time, we have trialled reducing the size of our groups to promote greater adult-child interactions. We recognise that smaller groups can ensure all children have quality interactions with familiar practitioners.
During morning gather, we focus on a well-being check in to allow children the opportunity to share how they are feeling. We prepare children for the day ahead and for them to be aware of what’s happening in the nursery. This promotes predictability in order for children to feel confident about their routine for the day. It is also a good opportunity for practitioners to share the learning experiences on offer around the setting.
During this planning phase, before lunch, the children have a story and engage in literacy learning experiences such as answering questions about the book i.e. “Did you like the story? Which characters are in the book? Can anyone remember what happened when...?”
Having smaller groups has created more opportunities for children to interact with the key worker and practitioners can tailor their interactions around children’s interests and offer differentiated learning to meet all children’s stages of development.
The children will still be in Seal, Starfish or Dolphin group but your child may now refer to their coloured gather group now too. These groups will be made up from children the Starfish, Dolphins and Seals. Feedback from our practitioners has been very positive this week, sharing that the children have been excited to join up with some new friends.
Please note there will not be a change to your child’s key worker at this time. This will provide the children with more consistency of familiar practitioners at gather time, as a result of the team’s shift patterns. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to speak with a member of the team.
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