About Toddlers facilities

Children in The Sunshine Room (maximum number 12) are aged approximately 16 months to 3 years. This room is made up of 2 age groups 16 months to 2 ½ years and 2 ½ years to 3 years. As children in these 2 age groups have different requirements and abilities, activities are planned with both groups in mind.
 
The Education Department has identified 6 key areas of learning as part of the National Curriculum for 3 – 5 year olds, and although the Toddlers are under 3 years, we use the curriculum as a guideline for our planned activities. These areas must be an integral part of any Day Nursery´s timetable and are listed below
 

 
At 9 months nursery we have identified areas of learning, which have been designed in order to stimulate development in each of these 6 areas. The principle areas are listed below:
 

Home Corner

Personal & Social/Knowledge & Understanding of the World.

Book Corner

Language & Literacy/Knowledge & Understanding/Maths.

Bounce Area

Physical Development/ Personal & Social

Messy Corner

Creative Development

Music Corner

Language & Literacy/Creative/Maths/Physical Development.

Construction Corner

Maths/Creative Development.
 
These areas of learning are integrated into the EYFS Framework, which provides support, information, guidance and challenge for all those with responsibility for the care and education of babies and children from birth to three years.
 
It is important that the Framework is considered within the context of the National Standards for Under Eights Day Care together with the Curriculum Guidance for the Foundation Stage. The Framework takes as its focus the child and steers away from subjects, specific areas of experience and distinct curriculum headings. It identifies four Aspects, which celebrate the skill and competence of babies and young children and highlights the interrelationship between growth, learning, development and the environment in which they are cared for and educated.
 

These four ‘Aspects’ are:

A Unique Child: Every child is a competent learner from birth who can be resilient, capable, confident and self-assured. 
 

Positive Relationships: Children learn to be strong and independent from a base of loving and secure relationships with parents and/or a key person.

 

Enabling Environments:  The environment plays a key role in supporting and extending children's development and learning.

 

Learning & Development: Children develop and learn in different ways and at different rates and all areas of Learning and Development are equally important and inter-connected.

In the Toddler Room, it is our aim to encourage children to:

Toddlers learn through play and are given the flexibility to choose activities themselves. They start every morning with circle time, where they have the opportunity to share experiences with their peers, talk about the weather and the day ahead and sing songs relating to the alphabet, numbers and counting.
 
The toddler years are particularly sensitive ones and it is essential that each individual child receives the stimulation and guidance they need in their play and learning.
All parents receive detailed developmental records for their child every 6 months and this is followed up with a one to one meeting between parents and keyworker. This is an opportunity to discuss progress to date and establish developmental milestones for the future.