NURSERY ROOMS
Each room has its own unique atmosphere and personality, but all rooms follow the Early Years Foundation Stage and the Montessori philosophy. Each week, you will receive an update on what your child has been learning, their physical health, and their general well-being. Activities are planned according to the children’s interests as well as what they need to learn.
Each member of the team is passionate about working with children and we want your child to feel safe, secure and most of all happy so that they can develop to their full potential. Children are closely observed in their play so that their interests can be nurtured and developed. We encourage children to investigate and explore their surroundings, and provide activities which enrich this important area of development.
Flopsy Bunnies
In our baby room, you will find dedicated staff experienced in caring for the youngest members of our little community. They will be treated with gentleness and respect and nurtured with kindness and a thorough knowledge of child development. When your baby enters the nursery, staff will work with you to make sure that their routine is disrupted as little as possible and will be happy to talk to you on the phone should you be worried about them or just want to know what they are doing. Daily feedback will be provided throughout their stay with us, so you will not miss any of their little achievements, and a digital camera will always be available to capture a private pictorial record for you to access via our Eylog parent app.
Babies of this age are developing fast, and the activities provided reflect this; there are mobiles, rattles and teething toys for the youngest babies, treasure baskets for the ‘sitters’ and furniture that is safe for the crawlers to pull themselves up on. There is also a baby gym to practice manoeuvring steps and slopes, mirrors for self-examination, musical toys, pop-up toys, and others that require the child to push, turn, or pull knobs and buttons to elicit a response.
Nursery rhymes, action songs and finger plays are beginning to be learnt at this age and books are always available to look at individually or with a favourite adult. Staff in Flopsy Bunnies are also trained in baby signing and use it alongside language to support babies' understanding. There is space for up to nine children in this room.
Flopsy Bunnies welcomes babies up to 14 months
Tiggywinkles
Tiggywinkles is one of two
Toddler rooms
Children move to either Tiggy Winkles or Timmy Tiptoes at 13-14 months and remain there until around their second birthday. Four members of staff look after up to twelve toddlers. Children in this room are encouraged to become more independent in the areas of eating and dressing, for example, they learn drink from open cups and feed themselves. The room is equipped with age-appropriate toys and activities, such as building blocks, dress-up clothes, role-play resources, and heuristic play bags. Messy play is an important part of the creative process at this age and this is reflected in the many opportunities that are planned for this. A secure outside play area helps the children’s rapid physical development and stories, songs and games develop their language. The focus in this room is to have fun with lots of hands-on learning experiences.
Timmy Tiptoes
Children move to either Tiggy Winkles or Timmy Tiptoes at 13-14 months and remain there until around their second birthday. Four members of staff look after up to twelve toddlers. Children in this room are encouraged to become more independent in the areas of eating and dressing, for example, they learn drink from open cups and feed themselves. The room is equipped with age-appropriate toys and activities, such as building blocks, dress-up clothes, role-play resources, and heuristic play bags. Messy play is an important part of the creative process at this age and this is reflected in the many opportunities that are planned for this. A secure outdoor play area supports children’s rapid physical development, while stories, songs, and games help develop their language. The focus in this room is on having fun through hands-on learning experiences.
Timmy Tiptoes is one of two
Toddler rooms
Puddleducks
In Puddleducks, children between the ages of two and three enjoy a day full of fun and learning. This is a time when the children want to, and are encouraged to, become more independent. Self-help skills, such as dressing and brushing teeth, are important at this stage and help build self-esteem. Toilet training is a significant part of their development, and staff work closely with parents to ensure it is a stress-free experience for all.
In Puddleducks, children are provided with activities across all areas of learning, and our large outdoor area gives them the opportunity to develop their gross motor skills and social interaction with one another. Being outside is an important part of the day and we often go for walks to the pond or visit the horses.
We follow the Montessori approach by giving children the freedom to choose their activities, time and space to complete them at their own pace and encouragement to put them away when they have finished. We focus on practical life activities, including cutting, pouring, threading, sorting, pegging and much more. We enjoy creative activities and get very messy! Lots of fun! Story and song times are important parts of the day, as they engage the child and encourage discussion and vocabulary development, as does singing. Our focus is on fun with learning. Happy children make better learners as “Every Child Matters”. There is space for up to twenty children in this room.
Puddleducks is the room for children aged 2 to 3 years
Nutkins
In Nutkins we continue to help the children increase their independence, but we are always ready to help when needed and encourage older children to help the little ones. In addition to practical life activities, which will help them to cope with buttons, zips and poppers and also with pouring their own drinks, carrying trays, cleaning up spills, sweeping etc., they will be introduced to the Montessori equipment. Much of this is for the refinement of the senses and involves things like matching colours, fabrics, textures, smells and sounds.
We aim to spend as much time as possible in the garden, where activities are set up for the children that make the most of the space and the natural environment. When possible children are given a choice as to whether they play outside or inside and they are able to move between the two areas independently, moving resources around as they please. They learn that whatever they get out has to be put back in the correct place. In Nutkins, the basics of mathematics and reading are introduced through play in a fun and interesting manner so that the children learn in a natural, self-motivated way. There is space for up to twenty children in this room.
Nutkins is the room for children aged 3 to 4 years
Jeremy Fisher
Jeremy Fisher is our first
pre-school room
In Jeremy Fisher, we have space for just ten children; this small number gives summer-born children an extra boost to prepare them for starting school with their older peers. We continue to
help the children increase their independence, but we are always ready to help when needed, ensuring that they are able to look after their own physical needs, such as dressing, using the toilet and sitting still when necessary. Activities are a balance of Montessori and supporting exercises, plus jigsaws, construction and role play, amongst others. The teachers follow each child’s path of learning and encourage maths, reading and writing if the children demonstrate that they are ready. As much time as possible is spent in the garden or exploring our nearby woods.
Hunca Munca
Hunca Munca for children
aged 4 to 5 years
Hunca Munca is home for our oldest children and has room for up to sixteen children. Art, music and movement all feature prominently in the everyday program of activities. Your child will learn to socialise with others, to share, to take turns and be kind and polite to both their peers and the adults in their life. They will discover the wonders of the world around them and learn to enjoy the process of learning itself. When the time comes for them to go to school, children are physically, socially, and intellectually ready to take on their next challenge.
Nursery Facilities
Babies Rooms
Older Childrens Rooms
Child sized toilets
At Footprints we have child sized toilets and nappies are provided for younger children. Toilet training is a big part of their development and staff work closely with parents to make this a stress free experience for all.
Hand Washing and Teeth Cleaning at Footprints
At Footprints, we see everyday care routines as valuable learning opportunities that support children’s independence, wellbeing, and self-care skills. Throughout the nursery, children are encouraged to wash their hands thoroughly with soap and water and to dry them carefully after using the toilet, before meals, and after outdoor play. With consistent routines, gentle reminders, and positive role modelling from adults, these practices soon become second nature, and by the time children are ready for school they are confidently managing this for themselves with only occasional prompts.
In keeping with our Montessori-inspired ethos, children are supported to take increasing responsibility for their own care. When children turn two and move to Puddleducks, tooth brushing becomes part of the daily routine after lunch. With sensitive support to apply toothpaste and guidance on brushing all areas of the mouth, children gradually develop the skills and confidence to care for their teeth independently. This calm, respectful approach helps children build healthy habits for life while fostering pride in their growing independence.
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