Building a Love of Learning

“In the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) all children are making excellent progress consistent with their age and development. By the end of Reception the majority are exceeding many of the Early Learning Goals and some are working to a level two years above their chronological age.”

ISI Report 2018

Fostering a love of learning early on is paramount to a child’s well-being and education. In the Nursery, we provide a nurturing, joy-filled environment, fostering a sense of safety and belonging that is crucial to their growth and learning. With the guidance of our highly trained staff, we deliver stimulating activities that cater to each child’s individual pace and developmental needs. Through play and adult support, children relish in learning foundational skills that fuel their reading, writing, and scientific curiosity.

Our curriculum offers a diverse range of experiences. Children explore nature during woodland walks, spark their creativity through play, build character, and have fun. Every child is encouraged to embrace independence and cultivate practical life skills such as cooperative play and communication.

In Pre-Nursery, Nursery, and Reception, we cover the seven areas of learning as per the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) curriculum, which we adapt to meet our children’s needs and align with Ardingly’s ethos.

Our learning opportunities are structured around themes or topics, with durations ranging from a few weeks to a term, based on children’s interests and exploration paths. We often kick-start topics with a beloved book or author, promoting maximum engagement with learning.

At Ardingly, play is not just for fun; it’s an integral part of learning. Different types of play include:

• – Imaginative Play: We supply simple items to fuel children’s creativity and storytelling, enabling them to act out their life experiences or explore different personas.
• – Energetic Play: Our facilities cater perfectly to the development of physical skills like balance, spatial awareness, and hand-eye coordination, all while promoting active engagement.
• – Small World Play: With our range of toys, children can simulate real-life or imaginary scenarios, fostering collaboration, choice-making, physical dexterity, and an understanding of mathematical concepts.
• – Sounds and Musical Play: Rhythm, dance, singing, and rhyming enhance listening skills and can be used to build phonics and numeracy skills.
• – Building Blocks: By building and knocking down towers, children derive emotional satisfaction and develop counting skills, hand-eye coordination, and teamwork and communication abilities.