Our Structure and Sessions at Ardingly Nursery
We offer three nurturing groups designed to support every stage of your child’s early development:
Ducklings – Our youngest learners (age 2+)
Lambs – Growing independence and learning through play (age 3+)
Piglets (Pre-School) – Confidently preparing for school in the year before Reception
Nursery Session Times
We provide flexible sessions to suit your family’s needs:
7:15am–8:00am – Breakfast Club (Pre-booked only)
A calm, gentle start to the day with a healthy breakfast and time for relaxed play.
8:00am–9:00am Ducklings & Lambs / 8:00am–8:30am Piglets – Arrival and Registration
Children are warmly welcomed and signed in by their Key Person.
8:30am–12:45pm – Morning Session
Includes a nutritious snack, focused learning activities, and a wholesome lunch.
8:30am–4:30pm – Full Nursery Day
A full day of learning and play, with morning and afternoon snacks, lunch, and naps
where needed.
4:30pm–6:00pm – Night Owls Tea Club
A relaxed end to the day with a hot tea, stories, and quiet play
A Typical Day At Ardingly Pre-School
A Typical Day in Piglets (Pre-School) (Ages 3–4)
Our Pre-School day is all about preparing children for the exciting transition to Reception:
- Morning welcome and registration at 8:30am, building confidence and responsibility
- Focused learning activities linked to our Discovering My World curriculum, establishing early phonics and maths understanding for strong foundations
- Weekly specialist sessions such as Forest School, PE, dance, music and French, enhancing physical development, creativity, and cultural awareness
- Snack, stories, and learning through play, promoting problem-solving and social
interaction - Lunch with friends, followed by calm rest or quiet play to support emotional
regulation - Afternoon activities including library visits, gardening and cooking, encouraging
curiosity and practical life skills - Snack and group time, strengthening communication and preparing for home time
or Tea Club - Every part of the day is thoughtfully planned to support your child’s growth – socially, emotionally, and academically. From building friendships and confidence to developing early literacy and numeracy skills, our goal is to ensure every child feels ready for the next stage of their learning journey.
A Typical Day in Ducklings and Lambs (Ages 2–3)
Every day in our nursery is carefully designed to nurture your child’s confidence, independence, and love of learning:
A warm and gentle welcome at drop-off, building security and strong relationships
Focused learning activities, introducing phonics and early maths for strong foundations
Free play and child-led exploration indoors and outdoors, encouraging independence and creativity
Morning snack and singing time, supporting language development and social skills
Group story or circle time with their Key Person, fostering listening, attention, and emotional connection
Nutritious lunch, followed by rest or quiet time to promote well-being and self regulation
Afternoon activities including creative play, cooking, sensory experiences, and outdoor adventures, developing fine and gross motor skills
Healthy afternoon snack and story, reinforcing routines and a love of reading before home time or Tea Club
Enrichment in Nursery and Pre-School
Your child will enjoy a rich variety of weekly experiences designed to inspire learning and growth:
- Music – Building rhythm, listening skills, and self-expression, delivered by our specialist music teacher
- Dance – Encouraging coordination, confidence, and creativity, delivered by our specialist dance teacher
- PE (for Pre-School and older 3-year-olds) – Developing physical strength, balance, and teamwork, delivered by our specialist PE teachers
- Discovering Our World – Including Forest School, gardening, and nature walks to spark curiosity and a love of the outdoors
- French – Introducing language skills and cultural awareness in a fun, age appropriate way, delivered by our specialist French teacher
- Swimming (Pre-School only) – Promoting water confidence and physical development, delivered by our specialist swimming teachers
- Library Visits – Nurturing early literacy and a lifelong love of books
- Cooking – Building practical skills, independence, and an understanding of healthy eating
- Story Time with Rev Andy, our School Chaplain – Creating moments of reflection,
kindness, and community
