Activities

We provide a lot of open-ended play equipment for the children to explore and investigate. The children themselves determine what to do, how to do it and what to use. Their play is unrestricted and there is no fear of doing it ‘wrong’ since there is no ‘correct’ method or outcome.

We encourage risk-taking during playtime.

It allows the children to learn about the world around them whilst making their own decisions about their own safety. Risky play supports children in testing their limits, exploring their boundaries and keeping themselves safe.

We have outlined a few of our more specific activities that the children can participate in throughout their week.

Our staff have ongoing training to enable them to hold music sessions even if Mary isn’t there every time.

All material is carefully researched and delivered in a manner appropriate to the age groups. The children quickly respond to the structure and the happy environment of the sessions.

During this time, children learn to understand and enjoy using the language of music through the fun of working together. The children acquire basic musical skills in rhythm and pitch through singing, listening, playing percussion instruments, moving to music and musical games etc. Each child has a kit of 5 instruments and a glockenspiel.

All material is carefully researched and delivered in a manner appropriate to the age groups. The children quickly respond to the structure and the happy environment of the sessions.

Music play time 

Music contributes to all areas of the Early Years Foundation Stage.

Christmas Sing-Along

At Christmas time the children who attend Buttercups and Sunflowers have the opportunity to participate in our annual sing-alongs. The children begin practising the songs in the Autumn and perform wonderfully when the big day comes – and you’ll love it!

Songs are included from all of the cultural festivals that occur around this time of the year.

The Main Garden

There is an outdoor toilet block for the children’s convenience and rainy day wear and umbrellas so that they can enjoy outdoor play come rain or shine.

The area has been specifically designed to provide fun learning opportunities. Imaginative open and covered play equipment allows the children to enjoy outdoor play in all weathers.

The large grassy area provides a physical space with a climbing frame and a mud kitchen. There is also a vast variety of fixed equipment in the garden, such as; a mark making shed, a sensory unit, a platformed water station, an imaginative stage and a buddy bench.

The garden also benefits from a large, sheltered sand pit that the children can climb into and imagine that they are at the beach.

We have an array of loose parts for children to play with while outside, such as; bikes, trikes, hoops, bats, balls and much more.

The gardening area is full of activity throughout the year and we grow and eat some of our own fruit and vegetables. Children also explore and study the wildlife that inhabits the area using magnifying glasses.

The Snowdrops Garden

Snowdrops unit have a separate garden to the older children and have 2 sets of French doors leading out to a large all-weather decking area from their rooms, giving them easy and independent access to the outdoors. As well as a decking area, our babies have access to a grass area and a large patioed area.

Sensory Room
There is an exciting sensory room in this unit and the children love to explore it regularly. The equipment provided encourages children to investigate using all of their senses and includes scented bags, glow in the dark toys, tactile materials and vibrational music.

Yoga
Our practitioners have been trained in baby yoga and all are able to plan and implement, yoga routines for the children. The yoga routines are based on ability groups and there is generally a group for the young babies, the toddlers and the rising two’s. The children enjoy stretching into new positions and using ribbons and scarves to express themselves.

Music Playtime
We are very lucky to have a qualified music teacher at Scallywags and the children really enjoy experiencing various types of music and sounds. From a young age, the children are encouraged to develop rhythm through the use of drums and many more instruments. In this unit, the children also enjoy using song sacks and practice turn taking as they choose pictures that match a song.

Literacy – Phonics

Our Pre-school children are so enthusiastic about letter sounds and letter formation through the use of Jolly Phonics. We inform parents at the beginning of each week as to what sound we are focussing on that week so that they can continue exploring the letter sound at home. We incorporate games such as silly soup and Binky Bunny into making phonics fun.

Scallywags Going Home Library

– is based in Sunflowers for Pre-School children to take a book of their choice home for the week and bring it back the following week.

The children are encouraged to choose a book at their leisure, with help from a member of staff if needed, then to sign it out once they have picked. There’s a wide selection of books to chose from such as fairy tale to fact books.

Baby Yoga

We have a qualified baby yoga co-ordinator for the under 2’s. We feel it is very important for all children, including young babies to be able to express themselves. Our babies love the quiet time, the stretching and the physical activity of learning some basic yoga moves with our staff and discovering what their bodies can do.

So when you come to pick up your child or just to visit, you may walk into a room with lots of bums in the air. Please don’t be alarmed, it’s only our baby yoga class! You may even want to join in!