The Nursery Rooms and Pre-School Format

Mazehill Nursery has been carefully designed, built and structured into separate areas providing environments specifically tailored to the needs of different age groups.

The high staff ratio enables small groups of children to have the attention and care of several members of staff. The equipment, toys and materials have been carefully chosen to cover all aspects of children's play and learning, from music and books to the 'home corner' and outdoor play; all to British Standards. The outdoor areas consist of an apparatus area, a garden area for planting with grassed area, and a large motor skills area.

Birth to three rooms

By using the Birth to Three Matters (DFES Sure Start 2002) framework we offer effective practice with babies and very young children, sending a clear unequivocal message underlining the importance of home and family working together with carers to lay the best possible foundations for life and learning. It is a recognition and celebration of the individuality of babies and young children. By incorporating the four aspects from the framework we allow babies and children to develop at their own pace, to make unhurried discoveries and allow for much repetition as well as trying out new ideas. This encourages children to become increasingly independent, making their own choices.

The Nursery Rooms

The following rooms are the baby sections and work in unison with one another. They have areas for play and stimulation with a quiet area for sleeping. These rooms also have a milk kitchen and separate changing area. Babies attending the Nursery will be provided with nappies, milk and/or solids carefully prepared by our fulltime cook. Fresh produce is used daily and new tastes are introduced after discussions with parents. First tastes are fresh vegetables and fruit, pureed to accommodate a babies delicate pallet and digestive system. Fish and chicken will be the first meats to be introduced as these are easier for babies to digest. Parents will be required to complete a questionnaire giving various information relevant to their child. A high staff ratio of 1 qualified carer to 3 babies will be maintained. A brief summary of baby's day at the Nursery, outlining how much sleep, along with when and what was eaten, will be given to parents at the end of each day's attendance along with any new triumphs and activities.

The Yellow Room/Heads up Lookers and Communicators

This room caters for the very young babies. Part of our practice is the emotional wellbeing of babies and children, making them feel special, understanding their needs, and helping them to become confident babies. Our activities encourage them to explore and discover, develop trust and close relationships. Babies are stimulated and encouraged to develop their cognitive and sensory skills, hand and eye co-ordination and the beginnings of language development. The use of 'Treasure Baskets' and 'Heuristic Play' are included in the weekly routine, as are other activities such as water play, baby massage, singing and experiencing various tactile materials.

The Pink Room/Sitters, Standers and Explorers

This is an area for pre-toddler aged babies. At this stage of development the children are becoming mobile with an increasing interest in exploring the environment and progress from the crawling stage to standing and to walking. Their ability to co-ordinate and manipulate objects means that further activities can now be introduced. We continue to focus on developing babies social skills by helping them to 'find a voice' and 'making meaning' (gaining attention, making contact, encouraging conversations, pointing, naming, making sounds and words) As within all the rooms regular photographs are taken to capture the pleasure and the ambience of the children whilst learning through play.

The Green Room/Movers, Shakers and Players

This is the toddler area and is a natural progression from babies' development to gradually encouraging language skills and learning more about the environment around them, playing and enjoying one another's company and also the experience of sharing with other children. We continue to develop and encourage children's self assurance by helping them to understand themselves as a separate being, with strengths and skills, growing into a sense of self worth and competence. Activities help them to gain confidence, recognise what they can do and experience success.

'Heuristic Play' and tactile activities also play an important part in the day's events.

Speech development is encouraged both individually and by group activities through story telling, singing, music and simple action nursery rhymes. Playing games, sharing toys, taking turns and observing and copying each other all help to encourage the development of co-operative play skills.

The Orange Room/Walkers, Talkers and Pretenders

The Orange Room introduces children to a slightly more structured experience of nursery and also a gradual introduction to pre-school skills. The learning process is integrated into thoughtfully planned activities and toddler play in preparation for the pre-school areas. The Orange Room offers the use of various tools and equipment through the Creative Workshop and Mark-making table, as well as many other activities such as sand/water play, tactile play, construction and the Home Corner to name just a few. Giving opportunities for children to be creative by making their own marks, pictures, objects, stories and music encourages children to develop their imagination, develop concentration, use their senses for learning and many more. We provide a happy, stimulating and reassuring environment where children are becoming increasingly independent. Orange Room children still need plenty of cuddles and reassurance too as they begin to 'grow up'.

Nappies will be provided for children in the toddler rooms.

Early Years Government Funding Rooms/The Foundation Stage.

Activities in the following rooms are based upon frequently differing themes which cover all areas of Language and Literacy, Mathematics, Personal and Social and Emotional Development, Knowledge and Understanding of the World (Science, History, Geography, R.E.), and also Physical and Creative Development. Resulting from our OFSTED inspection, we are able to offer 12.5 hours free education per week to 3 and 4 year olds for three terms. Please enquire for full details.

The Red Room

Situated in an adjacent building, the Red Room offers a lively atmosphere for children who by now are developing at an incredibly fast pace and are eager to learn and experience much more. The Red Room works in unison with the Purple Room. Activities are based on themes which cover the Early Learning Goals. The Foundation Stage focus is on children developing their Social Skills, Numeracy Skills, Language and Literacy, Knowledge and Understanding of the World, Creativity, and Physical Skills.

The Red Room offers opportunities for children to explore and use different textures, materials and tools on the Creative Workshop and Mark-Making table. Construction toys, sand/water play are available daily. Activities are based on children's choice.

We provide a happy, stimulating and reassuring environment where children are becoming increasingly independent.

The Purple Room

The Purple Room offers the same as the Red room, the difference being that the Purple room is a much larger class of children'. The Purple Room continues to develop the Foundation Stage and implement the six areas of Learning. The children continue to choose what activities they wish to participate in throughout the session. Children in their last Term of Nursery have the opportunity of taking reading books and words home - Oxford Tree Reading Scheme. Activity books are also available for the eldest children. Although these additional activities are available it is important to stress the necessity of allowing children to work at their own pace and stage of development.

It is our aim to introduce the children to the learning process without losing the elements of fun and adventure which are so important in these formative years.

By the time the Red and Purple Room children leave Mazehill Nursery they are well prepared for their transition to School. Pre-school skills in all nursery curriculum areas are well developed giving the foundation necessary to take the next step towards formal learning.

Meal Times

The Nursery has an onsite fulltime cook. We provide fresh meals which are prepared and cooked daily to include breakfast, a healthy mid morning and mid afternoon snack, two course meal for lunch and a two course meal for tea with drinks. A vegetarian meal as an alternative is offered where necessary. Our meals ensure all the necessary proteins so essential for babies and young children's development are offered daily. Menus are displayed in the reception area and are available to take on request.