Tag Archive for: self-confidence

Tips for potty training tots: when to begin, how to encourage toddlers, toileting aids and more.

Tips for potty training tots: when to begin, how to encourage toddlers, toileting aids and more.

Achieving potty training success will improve the quality of life for the child, the parent, and other guardians involved in the child's care.One of the key tasks all tots must face, in tandem with parents, is potty training. It’s something we all had to master as toddlers and therefore we know it’s 100% achievable — despite it sometimes seeming to be rather a challenge. Achieving success, though, will improve the quality of life for the child, the parent, and other guardians involved in the child’s care. Learning to master the use of the potty and later the toilet will also be a major boost to self-confidence and independence when the child is at nursery, preschool, and later school. With that in mind, today’s guide outlines our top tips for successful potty training.

First: Some Toileting Milestones

Appropriate timing for starting potty training varies from child to child and situation to situation. That said, the following are rough guidelines for the milestones for many:

  • Most tots stop doing number twos at night by the age of 12 months.
  • Between 2 and 3, some children become dry during the day.
  • By the age of 4, most are completely dry during the daytime.
  • By the age of 6, most are avoiding accidents during both the day and nighttime.
  • Some children, however, may still wet the bed at night beyond the age of 5.

Children cannot help occasional accidents and may indeed be upset by them. It’s essential, therefore, not to scold them or make a fuss about such incidents.

When Should You Begin Potty Training?

Potty training can start any time from 18 months to the age of 3 but most begin between the ages of 2 and 3.Children become ready for potty training at different times — every child is different in that respect, with some starting as early as 18 months and others not training until the age of 3. That said, the majority of little ones begin potty training between the ages of 2 and 3. There are some signs to look out for that will help parents decide when the time is right and we’ll look at those below.

One of the biggest clues that a child is ready to begin potty training is when they become obviously aware of what’s in their nappy. They may, for example, take a peak when being changed, or make it clear they are not comfortable when in need of a change. It could also be as simple as indicating that they are aware when they’re going to the loo in the nappy. Some children may show this by going somewhere quiet and more private when going. Others may do the opposite and make strong eye-to-eye contact with a parent as if to let them know that something is afoot! Such awareness may be key to starting potty training.

Children may also take a lead from parents/relatives or even other children:

A 2½-year-old, who had begun potty training, recently wanted to sit on the “big boy’s toilet” because he’d seen slightly older children doing so at nursery. This was a toileting turning point following what had been, until then, quite a challenging process. (Anecdote from a parent)

There are some practical considerations too. For example, quite a few parents will begin potty training in the warmer months of the year. At such times, there will be fewer clothes worn by children day-to-day, less, therefore, to wash if an accident happens, and likely a working washing line outside to dry everything on. So, by starting during the summer, you can cut down on the workload and potentially save on water and energy.

Encouragement

There are lots of ways to encourage children when potty training.Ensuring children understand the language around toileting is helpful, of course. So, it’s healthy to help children learn the various terms involved, whether talking about a potty, wee-wees, or anything else. Learning appropriate words will empower children to ask for what they need, at appropriate times.

Getting them involved when shopping for toileting products may also give them a deeper interest in potty and toilet training. For example, they may like the look of a potty with a dinosaur on it, or perhaps one featuring their favourite TV character. Other children may like the idea of one of those potties that plays a song when it’s been successfully used.

If there are challenges, families can often get some great success using a reward system. When the youngster successfully uses the potty, they could be awarded a sticker on a colourful, fun-looking potty training chart. Such things are available commercially if you do a quick web search. Another type of reward to be used sparingly could be to award the child a piece of their favourite snack when successful. There’s no doubt this works as an incentive for some little ones.

Another method of encouraging toddlers to use the potty is to walk the child to the potty every 30 to 60 minutes to see if they’re ready to go. The length of time between visits can be gradually extended once that’s working. Visits to the potty are also wise before and after bedtime, following daytime naps, and immediately after mealtimes.

Potty Training/Toileting Aids

Various toileting aids may help with potty and toilet training. Examples include:

  • Various toileting aids may help with potty and toilet training.Potties with designs that are attractive to toddlers e.g. dinosaurs, licensed TV characters etc.
  • Musical potties where a sing-along song is activated on successful use.
  • Portable travel potties — some look like a child’s travel case.
  • Clip-on trainer seats, which attach to adult toilets.
  • Steps to help children reach trainer seats attached to toilets, also allowing them to reach the sink to wash hands afterwards.
  • Pretend toilets and potties that children can use to ‘toilet train’ their own dolls and toys. Such activities can greatly encourage little ones in their own toilet training.
  • ‘Pull-ups’, which are somewhere between nappies and pants/knickers. These may be useful early on or when a child still has occasional accidents but no longer wears nappies.
  • Interestingly, toilet training-themed videos, books, games and songs can also be useful tools to encourage little ones when toilet training as they ‘normalise’ the process.

More Tips for Potty Training Success

  • Making sure that potty training times are fun will help.Only start potty training when your child shows signs that they’re ready. (See the When Should You Begin Potty Training? section above for details).
  • It’s best to start during a quiet time, so there are no distractions.
  • Set a potty training schedule and try to stick to it, so you’re consistent in your message.
  • Try to ensure that your potty training schedule does not conflict with your child’s existing routines.
  • Make potty training fun! (See the Encouragement section above for ideas).
  • Let your child choose their own potty at the store.
  • Buy more than one so you have one in each bathroom/cloakroom and a travel potty.
  • Keep a potty in the bathroom and encourage your little one to use it (or initially even just sit on it) when you pay a visit yourself.
  • Reward your child when successful. Sticker books using fun stickers and a colourful toileting chart can work wonders, for example.
  • Praise your child and their output – it will encourage them.
  • Accidents will happen but don’t make a fuss when they do. Potty training needs to be as stress-free as possible for little ones.
  • Last but not least, remember to encourage good hygiene in your toddler, through handwashing etc.

We hope that our potty training tips are useful and help your child transition smoothly. As we said before, success will lead to more self-confident, independent, and happy children. What’s more, it will also improve the quality of life for parents and caregivers.

An Outstanding Childcare Service in Central Lancashire

We are an outstanding nursery in Clayton-le-Woods, Chorley

An outstanding childcare provider

Little Acorns Nursery, Clayton-le-Woods, Chorley

We are an outstanding nursery in Clayton-le-Woods, near Chorley and offer babies and children under five the very best start in life in a warm, nurturing, home-from-home environment. We also support a range of Government-funded hours and childcare schemes for eligible families. If you’d like to explore a possible childcare place for your child in perhaps the best nursery in Central Lancashire, please get in touch:

As well as being perfectly located for babies and children under five in Clayton-le-Woods (PR6) and Chorley, Little Acorns Nursery is also convenient for those requiring childcare in nearby towns and villages. These include Clayton Brook, Clayton Green, Thorpe Green, Pippin Street, Buckshaw Village, Whittle-le-Woods, Farington, Bamber Bridge, Lostock Hall, Euxton, Leyland and Penwortham.

Encouraging Learning Through Play at Home

Encouraging Learning Through Play at Home

Parents play a crucial role in fostering an environment that supports exploration, curiosity, and growth through home-based play.As we discussed in our recent post The Power of Learning Through Play in Early Childhood, play helps babies and children to improve cognitive skills, social skills, motor skills and emotional growth. It feeds the imagination, boosts creativity and fosters a love of learning. Language skills benefit, problem-solving abilities are enhanced, and children naturally pick up maths concepts and even elements of science through play. With that in mind, today’s post follows up with the topic of Encouraging Learning Through Play at Home.

How to Encourage Learning Through Play at Home

Play-based learning doesn’t stop when children leave childcare nurseries; it continues at home, where parents and caregivers play a crucial role in fostering an environment that supports exploration, curiosity, and growth through play. Through the suggestions outlined below, parents can help children more optimally benefit from everything that learning through play provides — while at home.

Create a Playful Space

Designate an area in your home for play — even a corner with a few age-appropriate toys, books, and art supplies may be sufficient.Designate an area in your home for play. It doesn’t need to be elaborate — even a corner with a few age-appropriate toys, books, and art supplies may be sufficient. Ensure, of course, that the space is safe and free from hazards before your child embarks on their play activities.

Be a Playful Partner

Getting involved in your child’s play is hugely beneficial to the quality and impact of children’s play. Play together, ask questions, foster feedback that’s two-way, and encourage imaginative storytelling during play sessions. Your active participation not only deepens the bonding experience but also profoundly enhances their learning.

Limit Screen Time

Screens are now a pervasive part of modern life, and they can be both a blessing and a challenge. TV, educational apps, interactive websites, and streaming services can provide valuable learning experiences, but too much screen time can have adverse effects on children’s development. At the very least, excessive screen time can potentially impede the development of essential social and motor skills. Therefore try to limit the time your child spends on screens, including TV, tablets, and smartphones. Instead, encourage physical, interactive, and imaginative ‘real life’ play — and your child will reap great rewards. It’s a fine balance between accommodating the digital age and ensuring children take part in real-world activities that support educational growth and development.

Embrace Outdoor Play

Outdoor playing and learning covers many of the areas outlined in the Early Years Foundation Stage ('EYFS') learning and development framework.Outdoor play also offers a wealth of learning opportunities. It promotes physical health, stimulates the senses, and allows for unstructured exploration, which all contribute to holistic development. Take your child to the park, explore nature, or simply play with them in the back garden if you have one. Outdoor activities will also foster an appreciation for the natural world. Indeed, we wrote a whole post about the many benefits of outdoor play and another about the huge benefits of nature to children. Take a look at these important topics by following the bold links.

Encourage Pretend Play

Pretend play, such as role-playing with costumes or setting up a pretend kitchen or suchlike, fosters creativity and imagination — and is huge fun for your child. Encourage your child to take on different roles and scenarios during such playtime and watch their creativity and imagination soar!

Read and Explore Together

Reading is a wonderful way to support learning through play.Reading is a wonderful way to support learning through play. Choose age-appropriate books, of course, and be sure to engage in interactive storytelling. Ask and encourage questions about the story, encourage your child to predict what might happen next, and ask them what they might do if it were them in the story. Books and reading teach children so many things and, like pretend play above, truly encourage their imaginations and get their creative juices flowing. Learn more about how you can supercharge your child’s education through reading here.

Let Them Lead

Children learn at their own pace, so be patient and, on the whole, allow them to take the lead during play. Avoid over-structuring playtime; instead, let it flow naturally, following your child’s interests and cues. Doing so will ensure they remain engaged in the activity. Do, of course, sometimes inject new, perhaps creative ideas into their play, though. As adults, we can steer children subtly in their play when there’s an idea or concept that they may not be familiar with and may otherwise have missed out on. Simple examples could include introducing the concept of using different voices for different characters in a role-playing game and showing them a different way to build a structure in a building block or construction-based game.

Celebrate Achievements

Be sure to acknowledge and celebrate your child’s achievements during play. Whether it’s completing a challenging task, creating a masterpiece, or achieving something new, positive reinforcement will make play more fulfilling and boost children’s self-esteem. It’ll also, of course, make the activity more joyful and fun for the child — and that’s a sure-fire way to motivate them to play and learn even more.

Encourage Social Play

Arrange play dates with other children or involve siblings in play activities at home.Arrange play dates with other children or involve siblings in play activities at home. Social play helps children learn essential social skills like cooperation, sharing, and conflict resolution. It’s also a great way to make new friendships, learn from each other, and become a closer member of friendship circles.

Age-Appropriate Toys

When playing involves toys and props, ensure your child has access to those that encourage open-ended play and creativity. Blocks, arts and crafts materials, and imaginative play sets like dolls or action figures are excellent examples as they allow children to lead the direction that their play session follows. With such toys, their imaginations can run riot and they can get truly creative. Rotate the choice of toys and introduce new ones to keep playtime fresh and engaging over time.

An Outstanding Childcare Nursery in Clayton-le-Woods, Chorley

An outstanding childcare provider

Little Acorns Nursery, Clayton-le-Woods, Chorley

Just like at Little Acorns Nursery, your home can be a vibrant hub for play-based learning. A nurturing environment, the right resources and materials, and actively engaging with children during play, will empower them to explore, learn, and grow. By embracing the power of play at home and in settings like Little Acorns, we are paving the way to a brighter future where young minds flourish, curiosity thrives, and discovery is both fun and educational.

Little Acorns is an outstanding nursery in Clayton-le-Woods, near Chorley. Indeed, we are officially an Outstanding Provider according to Ofsted and that’s backed up by our prestigious national nursery award. We also support Government-funded childcare schemes for eligible families, making childcare more affordable for Central Lancashire families. If you want the very best for your baby, toddler or preschooler, register them for a place or bring them on a guided tour and we’ll be delighted to show you around and answer any questions. Get in touch:

Little Acorns Nursery is ideally suited for families seeking an outstanding childcare service in Clayton-le-Woods, Chorley. It may also suit those living nearby in Clayton Brook, Clayton Green, Thorpe Green, Pippin Street, Buckshaw Village, Whittle-le-Woods, Farington, Bamber Bridge, Lostock Hall, Euxton, Leyland or Penwortham.

Why nature is so important to children

We explore the immense benefits of nature to childrenToday we’ll look at the immense benefits of nature to children. While the long-term benefits of nature are reasonably well-known, it turns out short-term exposure to the natural environment also has1 clear benefits for people of any age. The benefits are even more beneficial, though, for young people during their early years, at school and in higher education.

The greatest benefits come when children and young adults are able to spend time actually in the outdoors, surrounded by natural things like trees, flowers, grass and wildlife. Even a short break spent in such an environment will help to restore attention, cognitive function and mental resilience — and this is backed up by many studies. Incredibly, some3 have demonstrated that there are cognitive and performance benefits even when there is just a view of the natural environment, for example sight of green grass and trees through an open window in the classroom. That’s remarkable when you think about it.

The Benefits of Nature to Children

A girl takes a closer look at growing leaves.One of the wonderful things about nature is that immersing oneself in it need not cost a penny. With so many proven benefits, it just goes to show that the old adage that ‘the best things in life are free’ really is true when it comes to nature. Exposure to the natural environment and green surroundings has been shown to have clear benefits …

Attention Restoration

Nature is a great healer; time spent in the natural environment helps to counteract the depletion of mental resources, particularly after periods of perhaps intense mental work, for example following a series of lessons or tasks. The fascinating quality of nature is also key to this as it requires a kind of ‘softer’ attention, with the brain working on an almost involuntary basis. This is part of what’s known as Attention Restoration Theory (‘ART’). It is thought to work in such a way as to allow cognitive function to recover more easily while fascinating beautiful, natural things are being observed, without the need for a heavy voluntary effort on the part of the onlooker.

Exposure to the natural world helps children to learn about and appreciate other living things.The benefits of restored attention skills in themselves should not, of course, be overlooked. Interestingly, research6 involving cognitive tests on school children found that children who had undergone the tests after walking in a natural wooded environment were quicker to answer – and significantly more accurate in their answers – than those who had instead practised mindfulness in the classroom or who had spent time in the school playground during the break.

Stress Reduction

Exposure to, or immersion in nature is also proven to reduce stress, which may otherwise manifest itself emotionally as anxiety, anger, sadness and also fatigue as our bodies and minds try to fight whatever is threatening our wellbeing. Research into this has led to Stress Reduction Theory (‘SRT’), which has shown that, indeed, nature helps us to recover from stress, even causing a physical reduction in stress hormones and blood pressure. It also helps the body to ‘refuel’ the energy depleted during the period of stress. Research findings even went on to suggest5 that the psychological wellbeing of students increased when their school grounds were simply made ‘greener’, i.e. more natural.

Both theories prove that even short-term exposure to nature will help restore attention and cognitive function if depleted through prior activities. This has profound implications for possible use in education settings. As such, exposure to nature, even for short periods, is a wonderful and natural way for children to “recharge their batteries”.

Nature has a huge impact on the mental wellbeing of children of all ages.Almost Endless Benefits to Children

As well as improving attention, cognitive function and mental resilience, there are many additional benefits of nature to children:

  • Improved wellbeing through reduced anxiety, psychophysiological stress4 and negative emotions;
  • Improved academic performance, including in core subjects like reading, writing and arithmetic;
  • Better engagement during lessons;
  • Improved fitness through outdoor play and movement;
  • Stimulation of imaginations, leading to increased creativity;
  • Deeper, more profound thinking and analysis;
  • Improved self-confidence,
  • Increased freedom leading to greater independence;
  • Nature can give children a greater understanding of healthier, greener lifestyles and values.Greater empathy e.g. taking more care of other living things, plants, etc.;
  • A greater understanding of risk and risk assessment;
  • Exposure to the huge variety of sensory opportunities the natural world provides;
  • An often greater understanding of living a healthy lifestyle — and even a greener one;
  • Deeper understanding around keeping things in perspective (what’s truly important and what’s not);
  • Better sleep;
  • Better social skills and the building of friendships through shared adventures and discovery;
  • A profound appreciation for the Great Outdoors and everything that it has to offer.

Incredibly, one U.S. study2 even found evidence for improved earnings potential in later life, equating to a lifetime gain of nearly $30,000, when children grow up in areas with greater natural surroundings.

Forest School is So Important

Forest School teaches children so much about the world, and about themselves.Just imagine, then, how much children benefit from nature when attending a Forest School setting such as that available at Little Acorns Nursery, Chorley. At Forest School, little ones will spend significant time in local green and wooded spaces, so these findings show just how important Forest School is for youngsters. Why send your child to an ordinary nursery, then, when you can send them to a nursery with a Forest School!

At Forest School, children are able to explore and discover in local natural spaces including woodland and other natural habitats. Not only do they discover and learn about the world and all the wonderful living things in it, but Forest School also teaches them about themselves. Forest School is about so much more than a way to teach children about plants, trees, insects, animals, the seasons and so on. With the freedom to make choices about outdoor activities in a more natural way, children build on their social skills, learn about teamwork, leadership, critical thinking and risk assessment as well as honing physical abilities like coordination and motor skills. And, as the research shows, it helps children to excel in other, seemingly unrelated, areas. Forest School represents the opportunity for enormous discovery in every sense of the word.

As well as all that, at Forest School, children are having immense fun! They’re playing and learning while developing physically and mentally — all at the same time. And, as the research shows, exposure to nature is incredibly good for them, even helping them to perform better once they return to the indoor environment.

Little Acorns Nursery, Clayton-le-Woods, ChorleyIf you’d like to learn more about Forest School, try our Ultimate Guide to Forest School here. You can also learn more about our own particular Forest School in Clayton-le-Woods, Chorley, here. Our nursery and pre-school is located in Clayton-le-Woods, near Clayton Green, Clayton Brook and Chorley.  If you’re looking for outstanding childcare for your baby or under-five, we look forward to hearing from you …

Arrange a Nursery Visit Send Us a Message Call: 01772 696 288

Citations — 1: Mason, L., Ronconi, A., Scrimin, S. et al. Short-Term Exposure to Nature and Benefits for Students’ Cognitive Performance: a Review. Educ Psychol Rev (2021). | 2: Browning & Rigolon (2019). | 3: Matsuoka (2010), Benfield et al. (2015), Sajady et al. (2020). | 4: Ulrich et al. (1991). | 5: Kelz et al. (2015). | 6: Cornoldi et al. (1996).

Healthy Eating for Toddlers & Preschoolers

Eating a healthy, balanced diet is incredibly important for under-fives as they're still growing & developing.Eating a healthy, balanced diet is important at any age. However, during their formative years when they’re still growing, it’s even more important for under-fives. Their young bodies and brains are still developing, so getting the right balance of food types, vitamins and nutrients is essential in order to maintain optimum health, cognitive function and even sufficient energy levels. (Regular exercise is also essential, of course – however, we’ll cover that separately in a future post).

The Benefits of a Healthy Diet

The benefits of maintaining a healthy eating regime are far-reaching and important, especially for young children. At this age, it’s important for them to get into good eating habits rather than bad ones. So, setting them on the right path at an early age is essential. As well as feeding their bodies and brains with everything they need to properly develop, some of the significant benefits of healthy eating include:

  • Improved cognitive function and attention, with all the leaning benefits that these will bring;
  • Sufficient energy levels to undertake all their daily tasks;
  • A greater chance of avoiding certain diseases in later life, potentially including high blood pressure, diabetes, heart problems and even cancer;
  • Maintaining more even moods;
  • Maintaining a more healthy body weight and, through so doing, avoiding potential obesity. Avoiding becoming obese also leaves them less prone to bullying;
  • A greater sense of self-image and self-esteem, leading to greater self-confidence;
  • Overall, improved mental and physical wellbeing.

Children who stay a healthy weight tend to be fitter, healthier, better able to learn, and more self-confident.That’s a huge and important list of benefits. Advice from Public Health England also suggests that exposing children to a wide variety of different foods from an early age not only gives them access to greater diversity in what they eat, but is also likely to make children more accepting of new foods as they grow older. And, of course, that greater diversity in food types means a more diverse range of nutrients, vitamins and minerals will be consumed.

“Children who stay a healthy weight tend to be fitter, healthier, better able to learn, and more self-confident.” (NHS)

What Should Under-Fives Eat & Drink?

A good rule of thumb for under-fives is to consume three meals, 2-3 healthy snacks and 6-8 drinks every day. It all needs to be part of a balanced diet, though, using high quality and ideally fresh ingredients if possible.

Drinks

Aside from young babies who will, of course, be drinking milk (we’ll write separate posts about milk and weaning in due course), under-fives and preschoolers should be drinking water and sometimes milk, 6-8 times each day. Drinks rich in added sugar should be avoided and even natural fruit juice, if given, is better when significantly diluted. That’s primarily so as to avoid tooth decay that can otherwise be caused by the natural sugars and acids within the fruit juice.

Food

Children should try to eat something from each of the four main food groups every day.As part of a healthy diet, children should try to eat something from each of the four main food groups every day. These are:

  1. Fruit & vegetables, which contain many beneficial nutrients, for example Vitamin C. Aim for 5 portions per day, each about the size of the child’s cupped hand or fist. If your child is still hungry after eating their set meals, giving them additional vegetables is a great way to satiate their hunger without loading them up with unnecessary calories or sugar.
  2. Protein, which contains not only essential protein but also iron, zinc and many other nutrients. Sources of protein include fish (N.B. include oily fish occasionally), meat, eggs, nuts, pulses, tofu and soya. Aim at 2 protein portions per day, with each portion being about the size of the palm of the child’s hand.
  3. Starch, which is available from potatoes, pasta, bread and rice cereals. Where wholegrain versions of some of these are preferred, they should be introduced only gradually. One portion of these starchy foods is about the size of the child’s cupped hand. Starch gives growing children energy along with essential nutrients like calcium and Vitamin B.
  4. At Little Acorns we are serious about playing our part and serve up healthy, balanced meals each day to our children along with suitable drinks and healthy snack options.Dairy products, which give children much-needed calcium, Vitamins A and B, potassium and more. Aim for 3 portions of dairy products per day. Examples include milk, yoghurt and cheese. Use full-fat options for toddlers and then, from the age of 2, switch to semi-skimmed varieties.

The NHS also recommends that children aged 6 months to 5 years should also take suitable vitamin supplements to boost Vitamin A, C and D in particular. Children with vegan diets would also benefit from a Vitamin B12 supplement.

Healthy Eating at Little Acorns Nursery, Clayton-le-Woods, Chorley

With almost a third of UK children aged 2 to 15 now being overweight, eating a healthy, balanced diet is becoming more and more important. Parents, carers, schools, childcare professionals and nurseries all need to play their part in keeping children on track, with healthy eating habits and lifestyles.

Little Acorns has received a Recipe 4 Health Award in recognition of the healthy food options offered at the settingAt Little Acorns we are serious about playing our part and serve up healthy, balanced meals each day to our children along with suitable drinks and healthy snack options. Breakfast, lunch, afternoon and teatime snacks are all provided and included in our standard nursery fees. Food is prepared each day by Judy, our wonderful in-house chef, using the highest quality, fresh ingredients, sourced from local suppliers. Food allergens are extremely carefully monitored and managed. Any special diets, e.g. vegan or vegetarian, are also catered for as needed — simply forewarn us about any specific requirements and we’ll be happy to accommodate them.

Our nursery has a 5 Star food hygiene ratingLittle Acorns Nursery has a 5 Star Food Hygiene rating and also recently received a Recipe 4 Health Award in recognition of the healthy food options that we offer at the setting. That’s in addition to our amazing NMT Individual Nursery Award.

A Nursery Place in Clayton-le-Woods, Chorley, Lancashire

Little Acorns Nursery, Clayton-le-Woods, ChorleyIf you’d like a nursery place for your child in a multi award-winning nursery in Clayton-le-Woods, near Clayton Green and Clayton Brook, Chorley, do get in touch. Little Acorns is an Outstanding Nursery and is also a wonderful Forest School. So, if you’d like your little one to attend the very best nursery in Central Lancashire, register your interest while nursery places are available. Select an option below:

Arrange a Nursery Visit Send Us a Message Call: 01772 696 288
Our EYFS Nursery Curriculum

Our EYFS Nursery Curriculum

The curriculum at our Clayton-le-Woods nursery adheres to what’s known as the Early Years Foundation Stage (‘EYFS’) framework. This educational framework is specified by the UK Government and its implementation is overseen and appraised by Ofsted. It’s down to individual nurseries like Little Acorns to implement the framework and we strive to do so in the optimum way. This is all achieved in a stress-free, relaxed way, almost entirely through active play. This approach makes learning natural — and immense fun!

“Children learn by leading their own play, and by taking part in play which is guided by adults.” (Department for Education).

The EYFS curriculum covers all the critically important areas of learning and development for babies (from birth) up to children aged 5. As such, it’s a perfect fit for children at Little Acorns Nursery.

The 3 Prime Areas of the Curriculum

There are 7 key areas within the early years curriculum. These include 3 ‘prime’ areas which, in turn, interconnect and enhance the remaining four — each helping to improve the other.

  • Communication & Language is the first of the three prime areas of our EYFS-based curriculumCommunication & Language is the first of the three prime areas of our EYFS-based curriculum. Without good communication and language skills, all other areas of learning could suffer, so these are critically important skills for children to master in their early years. Staff at the nursery therefore encourage rich communications between staff and children — and from peer to peer — from the very first day they join the nursery. Language and communication skills grow naturally to children through engaging, fun activities like role-play, story-telling and question-and-answer games. High quality books and other rich reading materials are also employed by staff to read with children in an interactive way. Using these kind of approaches helps children to learn new vocabulary and grammar, to improve reading and comprehension and to almost effortlessly broaden their language and communication skills as they grow.
  • Physical Development is the second of the prime areas of the nursery’s EYFS-based curriculum. At this formative age, the young children are growing and developing rapidly, so their physical development pace is significant. That’s why nursery staff at Little Acorns will do everything they can to ensure optimal health, wellbeing, strength, Physical Development is the second of the prime areas of the nursery's EYFS-based curriculumcoordination and fitness among the children at every stage. This is all done incrementally through a physical development programme that’s custom-designed for each individual child. This tailored programme takes consideration of their natural abilities, preferences and, of course, any disabilities or limitations. As they grow, the programme of fun, physical activities will help every child to reach their own personal bests for traits like fitness, balance, coordination, hand-eye coordination, agility and spatial awareness. In turn these physical improvements will help with their general wellbeing and happiness. And, at all times, the children will have been having immense fun, making friends and improving social skills, self-confidence and more along the way.
  • Personal, Social & Emotional Development (‘PSED’) is the third of the three prime areas of our curriculum. The personal part of it aims to ensure that children can look after aspects of their lives themselves, independently managing personal needs like cleanliness, toilet training, healthy eating and so on. Personal, Social & Emotional Development (‘PSED’) is another prime area of our curriculumThe social and emotional aspects of it aim to help children fit in with adults and peers around them, support one another, themselves feel supported by others and together learn to manage emotions and behave in acceptable, appropriate ways. As they learn to do all of this, they will become more confident, feel rightly valued, more easily resolve any conflicts and form closer friendships with peers and create stronger bonds with staff. All of this will act as a social and emotional foundation to build everything else upon.

The 4 Additional ‘Specific Areas’ of the Curriculum

Running in parallel with the 3 prime areas, there are 4 additional areas of focus for nurseries like Little Acorns, which adhere to the excellent EYFS framework for their early years curriculum.

  • Literacy is key area of focus in our curriculumLiteracy is the first of the remaining four areas of focus. A curriculum would be sadly lacking if children didn’t end up literate at the end of study. Literacy is absolutely fundamental and will give each young child the very best start when they leave early years settings to start school. On the face of it, it’s all about reading and writing. However, getting these right will help with many other areas of learning. At Little Acorns, we encourage nursery children to take enjoyment from reading. After all, once they can read they will understand so much more about the world from non-fiction material and so much more about the possibilities of the imagination and creativity from fiction books. So, they have access to a wide, rich variety of reading materials. Grammar, spelling, punctuation, phonetics and overall comprehension of a huge variety of topics will all go hand-in-hand with active and regular reading. In a similar way, writing will benefit too, as the children learn to recognise the correct spelling, composition and sentence structure and so on. Exposure to our rich variety of books will feed their imaginations and help them to be more creative themselves. We also encourage our children to verbalise, for example by reading out loud to themselves and others in an interactive way. By so doing, speech, pronunciation and articulation also benefit, as does their confidence to speak up.
  • Mathematics is our fifth area of study within the core EYFS curriculum at Little Acorns NurseryMathematics is our fifth area of study within the core EYFS curriculum at Little Acorns Nursery. It’s another fundamental skill that children need to learn but, as with everything at Little Acorns, we make it fun. Through play and interactive sessions, children will learn the concepts behind mathematics, soon learning to distinguish things like odd and even numbers, number patterns and sequences, concepts like larger or smaller, wider or taller and more or less. Counting will first be mastered from one to ten, then in reverse, then extended to 20 or more. Concepts like volume, shape, measuring and space will also be included. So, by the time they leave our early years setting, they’ll have learnt the requisite maths skills and concepts that they’ll need in order to hit the ground running when they start school.
  • Understanding the World is our sixth key area of focus within the curriculum at Little Acorns Nursery in Clayton-le-Woods, Chorley. It’s a very broad but important area of study for the young children at the nursery and one that’ll stand them in good stead going forwards. Understanding the World is our sixth key area of focus within the nursery curriculumAfter all, there is so much around them and they need to understand it and to give everything they see context. With that in mind, we’ll help them to recognise, understand, describe and even sometimes draw what’s immediately around them. They will also learn about the technology they see and use around them. Our excellent Forest School also gives children ample opportunity to learn about the natural world and the flora and fauna nearby. The children will also learn about the more distant world through things like museum visits, local parks and visiting professionals from the emergency services and suchlike. They will also learn about other communities, both in the UK and abroad, including aspects like culture, beliefs and religions. Once again, having an excellent grounding, at such an early age, in the comprehension of the world will stand them in great stead going forwards.
  • Expressive Arts & Design is the final area of focus within our EYFS led curriculum at Little Acorns Nursery. It’s also one of the areas that children find most fun as it gives them the freedom to express themselves, be imaginative and creative, and even to get messy from time to time. Expressive Arts & Design is the seventh area of focus within our EYFS led curriculumA wide variety of media, equipment and tools are available to them at the nursery and activities encourage the children to get involved and to create. It’s not just art, though; the children can involve themselves in role-play activities, they can sing, dance, tell stories and perform. Their imaginations can run riot and be free as they can express themselves and their creativity in a rich variety of ways.

There will be some changes to the Early Years Foundation Stage guidelines starting in September 2021. In essence, the seven key areas remain the same but more emphasis will be put on early years language and vocabulary within those key areas. Full guidance can be downloaded here.

The Impact of the Curriculum for Children at Little Acorns Nursery

Little Acorns Nursery, Clayton-le-Woods, ChorleyThe EYFS led curriculum at Little Acorns nursery is in large part about helping them to be ‘school-ready’ by the time they reach the age of five. However, it also gives children the very best start in life generally. Every support is given to them to fulfil their own personal bests, reaching their optimum potential in every area of study, through personalised goal-setting, a ‘Key Person’ allocated to every child, continual test-free assessment and an important Progress Check between the ages of two and three. Getting it right in this way during their early, most formative years, is proven to vastly improve outcomes and life chances. So, it’s an incredibly powerful and important approach to their early years education. In a nutshell, it helps every child at Little Acorns Nursery to absolutely thrive.

A Nursery Place for your Child in Clayton-le-Woods, Chorley, Lancashire

If you are looking for a nursery or pre-school place for your baby or child in Clayton-le-Woods, or near Chorley in Lancashire, you really should consider Little Acorns Nursery. It is officially an ‘outstanding’ nursery according to Ofsted. We also have our own Forest School, so children can benefit hugely from everything nature and the outdoors has to offer. We were also the sole winner of best ‘Individual Nursery Award’ in the NMT Nursery Awards 2020 — so it would be extremely hard to find a better nursery or pre-school. If you’d like discuss a possible place for your baby or child at Little Acorns, we’ll be happy to help (N.B. spaces are limited, so please don’t delay). Select an appropriate button below to take the first step …

Arrange a Nursery Visit Send Us a Message Call: 01772 696 288

 

Why *Every Parent* Should Be Involved in Their Child's Education

Why *Every Parent* Should Be Involved in Their Child's Education
Compelling evidence shows that there are enormous benefits for children when parents are closely and proactively involved in their education. Research shows that parents are the key to children's successIndeed, parents can be thought of as key to their children’s success, if they support children’s education in the right ways. We’ll go through exactly what that means, along with some of the many benefits, in this article.

During the earliest years of schooling … students with active parents are almost twice as likely to succeed. (Pinantoan)

Additional research also concluded that children are statistically far more successful in school when their parents “invest time and place value on their children’s education.”

So, How Can Parents Help?

Children will benefit in a multitude of ways when parents involve themselves in the child’s education. That involvement can take many forms …

Parents should proactively research & choose the best setting for their childChoose the Right Setting

Researching and choosing a high quality nursery, pre-school, school and higher education setting, rather than simply accepting the ‘default’ choices, is incredibly important in its own right. Parents should be proactive when selecting educational and developmental settings for their children. Education settings need to be a good fit, of course. Also, though, they need to have good reputations, great feedback from previous and existing students and parents, an excellent track record and so on. If choosing a nursery, for example, is it rated as ‘outstanding’ by Ofsted? Does it have its own ‘Forest School’ where children can benefit from the natural world as well as having great facilities indoors? Are staff high quality, engaging and proactive when it comes to helping children to absolutely flourish, in every way? Parents of successful children will have checked all these things out in fine detail before making a choice.

Engaging With Staff

It's important for parents to liaise with education staff to monitor & help progressParents of successful, grade A students, will generally also have engaged with staff at nursery/pre-school and school. That includes at parents’ evenings, of course, but parents should also be fully abreast of their child’s progress at every point in between. Parents and staff need to talk and feed back to each other about each child under their care and, indeed, that’s exactly what we do at Little Acorns Nursery. This, and a personal development progress folder for every child, is all part of the EYFS curriculum at the nursery in fact. In this way, parents and staff can each see the bigger picture and identify where successes are happening for the child, or where more work is needed — including at home.

Help at Home

Armed with detailed knowledge of their child’s progress, strengths and weaknesses at pre-school, nursery or school, parents are then in a position to really help children at home. Where there is a weakness, the parent can help with extra guidance, knowledge and encouragement. The child in question can then more easily strengthen their skills and knowledge, making strong subjects even stronger whilst allowing weaker subjects and skills to catch up. In this way, and in tandem with education staff, every child can achieve personal bests in every single area. That’s amazing when you think about it.

Parents can read with children (that’s a crucial area and will be the topic of a future post). That’s like gold dust in itself and has been shown to boost language skills by a staggering 20% all on its own.

Parents and even grandparents can help children understand homeworkParents can help children with homework too, of course. They can explain things that the child is perhaps confused or unclear about, in an unrushed, relaxed home environment. Parents can work through their approach to finding answers to questions and explain how they arrived at those answers. This, too, is like gold dust to an otherwise struggling child. It’s one of the reasons why the human race itself has come such a long way — through shared information.

Parents can also help children to understand things like spelling, grammar, punctuation, pronunciation, phonetics and suchlike. With an adult available, many things can be clarified for the child. Parents can also, of course, spot test children in an informal way, to check that new information is being taken in and understood. Sometimes, of course, a child will need to read, or be told something, several times before it ‘sticks’ in their memory — and that’s fine.

Children who are given moral support and encouragement at home will be happier as well as being higher achievers. So, it’s not about being strict; it’s about support. The staff, children and parents are all part of a team that is working towards a shared goal.

In this way, every child can achieve personal bests in every area.

Give children a suitable environment for study at home

Parents should set aside an area in the house for the child to study in. It could be a quiet room somewhere, or an area of the child’s bedroom perhaps. Wherever it is, it should be peaceful, with no distractions, and contain everything the child needs to accomplish their studies, with somewhere for the parent to sit too. Somewhere safe and comfortable to sit, perhaps a desk when they’re older, some child-safe stationery items, paper and suitable light source, for example. Children will become used to using such an area to study in, with all the tools they need at their disposal so, in time, will find working easier and natural there.

The Benefits of Parental Support in Education

“Students with … parents operating in supportive roles are 52% more likely to enjoy school and get straight A’s than students whose parents are disengaged with what’s going on at school.”
(Pinantoan)

So, studies and data all point to children being higher achievers when parents are actively involved in their education. What else, though? What other benefits are there?

• The extra help they receive in core topics like English and Mathematics has a knock-on effect of helping them in every other topic.
• Learning topics and skills more thoroughly also helps to better prepare them for tests and to achieve better grades.
• With their better grades and higher achievement rates, children are likely to go on to better schools and universities, with a wider choice of courses available to them.
There are a huge number of life-changing benefits when parents proactively involve themselves in a child's education• In turn, that ultimately leads to better careers as adults, with higher rates of pay.
• Children with parental support in education are less likely to be stressed or anxious.
• They are often more confident individuals, with higher self-esteem.
• In turn, they are often happier individuals and therefore have a better quality of life.
• Everything they learn through this more rounded approach to education helps to improve other soft skills like critical thinking and problem-solving. It can also give them a good insight into the benefits of teamwork and cooperation with others.
• It’s also a great way for parents and children to form closer bonds and a feeling of mutual support. Indeed, that’s all a key part of a healthy family life.

So, it’s clear to see that close parental involvement in children’s education leads to a myriad of benefits for the child, with far-reaching and profound consequences. Improved outcomes is the really big hitter, of course. And those improved outcomes range across a huge swathe of the child’s life stretching from education and development right into adulthood, careers, wealth and quality of life. It’s nothing short of life-changing. Not many things in life can boast that kind of enormous impact, when you think about it.

At Little Acorns Nursery in Chorley

Little Acorns Nursery, Clayton-le-Woods, ChorleyAs mentioned earlier in this article, Little Acorns Nursery adheres to the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) curriculum for babies and children aged up to five. In recognition of the importance of parental involvement in children’s education, a key part of that is regular liaison between staff and parents, so each is kept up-to-date on progress in every area of the child’s learning and development. A Personal Development folder is maintained for every child and both staff and parents have access to records therein. Indeed, parents are encouraged to add their own notes about their child’s progress at home. All this builds a bigger picture and ultimately means the child will receive a more rounded education, with all the benefits that will bring them.

Little Acorns Nursery is rated ‘outstanding’ by Ofsted, is a Forest School and was also the sole winner of best ‘Individual Nursery Award’ in the NMT Nursery Awards 2020 — an incredible win out of all the nurseries in the UK. If you would like to discuss the possibility of your baby or child attending the very best nursery or pre-school, we’d love to hear from you. Our nursery is based in Sheep Hill Lane in Clayton-le-Woods, Chorley in central Lancashire (PR6 7JH). Spaces are limited, so do get in touch while some are still available (choose a button below; many thanks).

Arrange a Nursery Visit Send Us a Message Call: 01772 696 288

Ultimate Guide To Forest School

The Ultimate Guide To Forest School

Little Acorns Nursery runs Forest School sessions* in Clayton-le-Woods, Chorley, LancashireLittle Acorns Nursery offers Forest School sessions* and, indeed, was the first childcare setting in the Chorley area to offer them. Many parents understand that ‘Forest School’ offers children outdoor discovery sessions where they can explore nature and all that the Great Outdoors has to offer. However, what’s it really about? What is the ethos behind it? How did it come about and what is its history? Perhaps most importantly, what are its benefits to children? Here we’ll answer all those questions and more, in our Ultimate Guide to Forest School.

* Please note: Forest School sessions are temporarily paused but will recommence soon.

Roots

Forest School’s roots1 can be found in the influence of many key proponents of outdoor play, learning and discovery, going back well over a century in places. The influencers include Robert Baden Powell who founded the Worldwide Scout movement, Leslie Paul who founded the Woodcraft Folk which is similar in many ways, Kurt Hahn who founded Gordonstoun with its enormous emphasis on outdoor education (Prince Charles having attended), the work of renowned educational psychologist and early nursery school proponent Susan Sutherland Isaacs, and the McMillan sisters who likewise believed in the importance of learning through play and exploration, having set up the Open-Air Nursery School & Training Centre a little over a century ago in 1914.

Forest School was heavily influenced by Denmark's outdoors ('friluftsliv') approach to early years educationThe biggest influence, however, came from Scandinavia and the play-based, child-centric educational system of Denmark’s outdoors (‘friluftsliv’) approach to early years education. Their revolutionary outdoor system was hugely successful, so nursery staff from Bridgewater College in Somerset visited Denmark to see it in action for themselves. They were so impressed that they founded the first Forest School, following their return to the UK, in 1993.

By 1995, the College had begun to offer a B-Tech Forest School qualification to similarly-minded early years practitioners. Before long, there were Forest School settings across the whole of the UK, Little Acorns Nursery in Clayton-le-Woods being the first in the Chorley area of Lancashire.

Forest School Now

Today, the Forest School Association (‘FSA’) oversees Forest School in the UK. It provides guidance on the Forest School philosophy, principles and values, provides a central reference point for Forest School settings, and oversees the work of Forest School practitioners. Its core framework comprises several key elements:

Regular Outdoor Sessions in the Natural Environment

Forest School sessions take place outdoors, ideally in natural, woodland settingsWith a focus on nature and the natural world, Forest School sessions take place outdoors, ideally in natural, woodland settings. If that’s not possible, natural areas containing trees would be the next best setting, although more urban locations may necessitate the use of school grounds if no woodlands are available locally. In that scenario, practitioners would bring in natural materials such as sticks, logs, fir cones and so on.

The sessions should be regularly attended (ideally fortnightly as a minimum) over the course of the long-term and during all four seasons of the year. They are highly structured too, so as to build upon skills and knowledge accrued as they progress through time. Children will learn naturally as they explore and discover the natural environment and everything found there. Care is taken, though, to minimise any human impact on that environment.

Lessons from Nature

Play is a huge part of Forest SchoolForest Schools focus on each child’s individual interests, skills, preferences and needs as well as balancing them with those of the whole group. Indeed, this builds a community that’s immersed in this natural environment, learning from it and also from one another. Play is a huge part of this and, as always, ensures that learning is immense fun.

Forest School aims to develop the whole person, helping children’s independence, creativity, confidence and resilience to bloom. It’s also holistic and the children will grow spiritually and emotionally as well as physically and linguistically.

It’s interesting to note that Forest School will also teach children skills around identifying and mitigating risk as well as something about the benefits of occasionally failing. Failing is indeed often necessary as part of the progression towards achievement. After all, even countless global businesses themselves failed several times before they eventually succeeded in spectacular fashion.

Forest School Practitioners

Practitioners are required to achieve Level 3 Forest School accreditation and to continuously maintain and progress their own learning. They are, of course, all checked for suitability to work with children and are trained in First Aid as appropriate for the age group and environment in question. Practitioners will continuously monitor and appraise the learning and progress of those under their stewardship, celebrating achievements with them and building future lesson plans around the progress of each individual.

The Profound Benefits of Forest School

Forest School opens children’s eyes to a whole new, magical world. Nature is amazing when you look at it closely and take time to appreciate it. From tiny details to enormous landscapes, it’s an absolute wonder when you stop to look.

Children really flourish in the natural environment - even those who are usually reservedNature teaches children so much — about flora, fauna and the make-up of the world (of course); but it also teaches children about themselves. Children will learn or discover new hard and soft skills when out in the natural world. They’ll discover skills that they didn’t know they had. Leadership, critical thinking, team-working and problem-solving are just a few examples.

Forest School will also help children socially. Bonds will be made and group dynamics may well improve permanently as children begin to understand each other on much deeper levels.

Children will also grow spiritually, away from electronic screens and other technology.

Nature is a great equaliser too — socio-economic background becomes just an irrelevance out in the wild. Many children with previously challenging behaviour also end up positively flourishing with Forest School, as do many who were previously introverted or reserved. Having achieved and celebrated regular successes along the way, confidence naturally grows, hand-in-hand with self-esteem.

Forest School can have a profound and life-long positive impact on children. Many who spent a significant amount of time as a child out in nature, as part of a group or organisation similar to Forest School, can attest the the fact that it was a hugely positive part of childhood, if not the most enjoyable and fulfilling part of growing up. The foundation set during those formative years has gone on to give many a life-long interest in The Great Outdoors and a profound appreciation of nature and the natural world. Many, to this day, are at their most content outdoors, surrounded by nature and free. That is a profoundly positive outcome.

Our Forest School in Clayton-le-Woods, Chorley, Lancashire

Little Acorns Nursery in Clayton-le-Woods, Chorley, runs its own Forest School as an integral part of the setting’s outstanding childcare activities and curriculum. To slightly paraphrase the Forest School Association’s own definition, it is …

“an inspirational process that offers children regular opportunities to achieve, develop confidence and self esteem through hands-on learning experiences in a local woodland environment.”

If you would like to explore the idea of your child attending our Forest School sessions in Clayton-le-Woods, Chorley, then do get in touch (please choose a button below). Spaces are limited but we currently have a few places available for under-fives …

Arrange a Nursery Visit Send Us a Message Call: 01772 696 288
Ofsted Report: “Outstanding Childcare Provision” from Little Acorns Nursery

Ofsted Report: “Outstanding Childcare Provision” from Little Acorns Nursery

An outstanding childcare provider in Clayton-le-Woods, Chorley, Central Lancashire

Last month we reported on Little Acorns Nursery winning best ‘Individual Nursery’ award at the National NMT Nursery Awards. When you consider that the nursery was selected from all the other possible nurseries from across the entire UK, that’s an incredible feat! It should now come as no surprise, then, to learn that Ofsted’s most recent report also scored the nursery as ‘Outstanding‘ — in every category.

In this post, we’ll go through Ofsted’s report to see what they said about the nursery and why they were so impressed during their inspection.

Ofsted Report for Little Acorns Nursery, ChorleyThe Ofsted Report Concludes that Little Acorns Nursery Provides …

So, “Outstanding” — right across the board! Click the report image to download/view it in full (Acrobat PDF format) or read the highlights below.

We’ll cover each of those areas in more detail below. First, though, we’ll highlight some general comments received in the Ofsted Report. Every one of them is extremely positive; indeed Ofsted had literally nothing negative to say about this outstanding Chorley nursery anywhere in their report …

Continuous Improvement “to the Highest Possible Levels”

In the Ofsted Report, the inspector recognised the culture of continuous improvement at the nursery, saying:

“Managers are highly reflective and extremely passionate about continually raising the quality of service to the highest possible levels. Together with their dedicated staff team, they conscientiously evaluate all aspects of the provision to identify and consistently make sharply targeted improvements.”

Exceptionally effective observation & assessment of children“Exceptionally Effective Observation & Assessment” of Children

The Ofsted Report also highlighted how exceptional the staff are in their approach to children’s learning, saying:

“Staff complete exceptionally effective observation and assessment methods that focus on children’s individual needs and all aspects of their learning. They know precisely the progress and attainment of every child, meaning any small gap or delay in children’s learning is swiftly recognised and addressed.”

On Preparing Children for School …

In regard for the nursery’s expertise in preparing children well for school, the Inspector’s report said:

“Staff have high expectations of what children can achieve and teach with passion, energy and purpose. They help them to make excellent progress in their learning, including being well prepared for school.”

At Little Acorns, literally everything we do has a purpose behind it, so it’s great to see this recognised by Ofsted.

“Rich & Well-Resourced Learning Environments”

We have rich and well-resourced learning environments, both indoors and outside

Ofsted also recognised the outstanding learning environment at Little Acorns, commenting:

“Staff are extremely successful in creating rich and well-resourced learning environments, both indoors and outside. Children confidently choose from the highly stimulating resources set out in a very relaxed and homely atmosphere. They have plenty of opportunities to explore and investigate indoors and outside, and their creativity is supported exceptionally well.”

Learn more about our learning environment, resources and activities here.

“Superb” Behaviour

The Ofsted Inspection also highlighted the incredible behaviour, care and consideration demonstrated by the children. They reported:

“Children’s behaviour is superb. They show exceptional care and concern to their friends, the resources and the environment. For example, they alert their friends of their presence when using wheeled toys, so they do not crash into each other.”

This is wonderful feedback and shows that we teach children good manners, encourage exceptional behaviour along with respect and consideration for others  – and for the world around them.

“Exceptionally Strong” Parent-Teacher Relationships

Another critically important element of successful learning and development is the relationship between parents and the setting. In regard to this, Ofsted were incredibly impressed, saying:

“Relationships with parents and other professionals are exceptionally strong. Parents feel valued by the staff in supporting their children’s learning. The highly effective communication systems ensure that parents are fully aware of their children’s experiences and how to continue this support while at home.”


In due course we will cover more detail about why parent support for children’s learning and development is so crucial — and impactful — whilst children are at home. That is a huge topic, which will merit its own, separate, post in due course, so watch this space.

We’ll now take a closer look at the more specific areas of the Ofsted report for Little Acorns Nursery.

The Little Acorns Nursery team celebrate their award winOutstanding Effectiveness of Leadership & Management

The Ofsted Inspector was evidently extremely impressed with quality of leadership and management at the nursery:

“The managers are highly experienced and qualified leaders. They offer staff targeted support and training to expand further their knowledge of high-quality early years practice.”

They continued: “For example, following training, staff redesigned the environment to successfully enable children to develop their own ideas, inspire their curiosity and imagination and explore the world. Safeguarding is effective. Staff are extremely well trained in child protection issues and are highly confident about what to do should they have any concerns about any child in their care. Managers follow rigorous procedures to ensure staff’s suitability. They thoroughly evaluate every aspect of the provision to continuously improve outcomes for children. Action plans show targeted improvements, such as continuing to nurture children’s love of outdoor adventure, sensory play and unique experiences in the natural environment.”

Outstanding Quality of Teaching, Learning & Assessment

The quality of teaching, learning and assessment at the nursery was also strongly praised by Ofsted. As part of this, their report recognised how well the approach to continual assessment works at the nursery and how the planning of tasks and learning activities is tailored to each individual child. They highlighted the following:

“Well-qualified and experienced staff carry out regular assessments of children’s learning and development. This provides them with an exceptionally clear understanding of children’s interests and their next steps in learning.”

They went on to explain this in more detail: “Children’s interests and areas of development are consistently used to plan the environment and activities. For example, in the baby room, there is a strong focus on enhancing speaking skills and in the toddler room staff focus on mathematical learning. Staff nurture children’s imagination, creativity and curiosity while handling and exploring natural and real-life objects. Staff nurture children’s enjoyment of books while reading stories aloud with them and they sing nursery songs using props. Staff enable children to take the lead in their play, to ‘have a go’, interact and build on their strong desire to learn. For example, children confidently name colours, enjoy counting objects and recognise numerals they find submerged in water.”

A child enjoying the outdoor nursery facilities with a staff memberOutstanding Personal Development, Behaviour & Welfare

The Ofsted Inspector also praised how well staff approach the personal development, behaviour and welfare of babies and children at the nursery. Importantly, they also recognised how this approach positively benefits those children:

“Staff constantly praise children’s achievements. This contributes to the high level of confidence and independence children display.”

The Ofsted Inspector further explained: “They learn to listen to others and join in routine activities, such as sweeping the floor and setting the table” also adding: “Children’s physical development is well supported. For example, young children develop good control of their movements as they clamber up steps and ramps. Children access well-organised outdoor play areas and use a wide range of resources.”

In regard to healthy, hygiene, welfare and well-being, the report says:

“Staff place the utmost priority on children’s health, hygiene, welfare and well-being. Babies are relaxed, settled and secure in the care of nurturing staff. ”

They went on to say: “Children enjoy regular walks and outings outside of the nursery, and staff use these opportunities to further broaden children’s experiences of people and communities.”

Outstanding Outcomes for Children

Awards and glowing Ofsted reports would mean nothing if they didn’t improve outcomes and life choices for children. Here again, though, Ofsted recognised the huge positive impact that Little Acorns Nursery has on children and babies under its care, commenting:

“All children make excellent progress given their starting points. They develop many important skills that help prepare them for their future learning, and they are exceptionally well motivated and eager to learn. Children are extremely successful at learning to do things for themselves …”

An Outstanding Nursery for Your Child in Clayton-le-Woods, Chorley, Central Lancashire

Children enjoying a Forest School session with Little Acorns Nursery, Chorley, PR6Are you looking for the best nurseries or pre-schools for your baby or child? Then consider Little Acorns Nursery in Clayton-le-Woods, Chorley, in Central Lancashire. Officially rated as “Outstanding” by Ofsted and picking up the best Individual Nursery Award in the National NMT Nursery Awards, nurseries and pre-schools simply don’t get any better than Little Acorns. We have a few spaces available at time of writing so, if this is of interest, please get in touch very soon to avoid disappointment:

Arrange a Nursery Visit Send Us a Message Call: 01772 696 288

 

 

Our Autumn 2020 Newsletter.
The newsletter is also downloadable as a pdf here

Spanish lessons have been going amazingly well at Little Acorns Nursery in Clayton-le-Woods, Chorley, Lancashire. The children are really loving their early learning!