What Your Child Will Need at Nursery

Nursery Bag

Every child is provided with their own nursery bag, which is kept on their peg at nursery.

Parents/carers should provide a selection of spare clothing for us to keep in their child's nursery bag.

We recommend including:

• underwear and socks
• trousers, leggings or joggers
• a spare top
• a spare jumper or cardigan
• any additional clothing appropriate to your child's individual needs.

Children learn through active, hands-on experiences and we actively encourage them to explore, investigate, get messy and enjoy their environment! Wet, dirty or soiled clothing will be placed separately and returned to parents/carers at the end of the child's nursery day. Please regularly check your child's spare clothes to ensure they are still the correct size and suitable for the season.

Water Bottle

Please provide your child with their own clearly labelled water bottle each day.

Children have access to drinking water throughout the nursery day and are encouraged to recognise when they are thirsty and develop independence in looking after their own needs.

Wellies & Outdoor Clothing

Outdoor learning is an important part of life at Leyland St James’s and children access our outdoor environments throughout the year.

Please provide:

• a pair of named wellington boots to remain at nursery
• a suitable coat for the weather

The nursery provides waterproof clothing for children to use during outdoor and Forest School experiences.

If you would prefer your child to have their own waterproof suit or waterproof clothing, you are very welcome to provide this and we can keep it with their nursery belongings.

During warmer weather, children should also bring an appropriate sun hat. Please name all personal belongings wherever possible.

Sleep & Rest – Seedlings

Some of our younger children may need to sleep or rest during their nursery day.

We provide appropriate sleep mats and nursery bedding, so families do not need to bring bedding from home.

Bedding is stored appropriately and regularly laundered by the nursery.

Children are supported sensitively according to their individual sleep and rest needs, and information about sleep is shared with parents/carers.

If your child uses a comforter or dummy to settle to sleep, this can be discussed with their key person as part of their settling-in arrangements.

A Day Full of Possibilities

There is no such thing as an ordinary nursery day at Leyland St James’s.

Our environment has been carefully planned to give children opportunities to make choices, follow their interests and become confident, independent learners.

Throughout their day, children experience a balance of:

• child-led play and exploration
• adult-led learning experiences
• small-group activities
• stories, songs, rhymes and communication-rich experiences
• creative and expressive activities
• physical play and movement
• mathematical exploration
• early literacy experiences
• sensory and investigative play
• imaginative and role play
• construction and problem solving
• indoor and outdoor learning; 
• opportunities to develop independence, friendships and confidence.

Our practitioners observe what children are interested in, what they can already do and what they are beginning to learn. We then use this knowledge to carefully extend their experiences and support their next steps.

Learning Without Limits

Our nursery environment is rich in open-ended resources.

Rather than children always being shown one way to use something, we encourage them to think creatively, experiment and develop their own ideas.

A block might become part of a tower one day and a telephone, car, cake or piece of treasure the next.

Natural materials, loose parts, construction materials, sensory resources and carefully selected enhancements encourage children to:

• use their imagination
• solve problems
• make decisions
• work collaboratively
• develop resilience
• test their own ideas; 
• become increasingly independent learners

We believe that some of the most powerful learning happens when children are given the time and freedom to become deeply involved in their play.

Indoor & Outdoor Learning

Our children are not limited to learning inside a classroom.

We provide opportunities for free-flow indoor and outdoor learning, allowing children to experience the curriculum in different ways.

Outdoor learning provides opportunities for children to develop:

• physical confidence;
• coordination and strength;
• communication and teamwork;
• curiosity about the natural world;
• calculated risk-taking;
• problem-solving skills; and
• an understanding of their environment.

Children are encouraged to experience the changing seasons and enjoy the outdoors throughout the year.

A little rain, mud or cold weather is often the beginning of a fantastic learning opportunity!

Forest School

Children have opportunities to participate in Forest School-led experiences with our qualified Forest School teacher.

These experiences allow children to learn beyond the traditional classroom environment through exploration of the natural world.

Activities may include exploring nature, investigating seasonal changes, using natural resources, developing physical skills, working together and learning how to manage appropriate risks safely.

Forest School supports children's confidence, resilience, independence and wellbeing while encouraging a lifelong curiosity about the world around them.

Gardening Club & Growing Together

Children also have opportunities to take part in our gardening activities.

From planting seeds and caring for growing plants to discovering insects and understanding where food comes from, gardening provides meaningful opportunities for children to learn about responsibility, patience and the natural world.

Children can observe changes over time and experience the excitement of seeing something they have planted begin to grow.

Beyond the Nursery Gates

We believe children's understanding of the world should extend beyond the nursery environment.

Where appropriate, children may take part in walks and visits within our local community, providing real-life experiences and helping them develop a sense of belonging within their local area.

These experiences may include exploring our surroundings, noticing seasonal changes and visiting places within the community.

We also welcome visitors into nursery so children can learn directly from people within their community and wider world.

This may include visits and experiences involving services such as:

• the library;
• community organisations;
• emergency services;
• health and wellbeing professionals; and
• other visitors who can enrich children's learning.

Celebrating Together

Building relationships with our families is an important part of nursery life.

Throughout the year we provide opportunities for parents and carers to come into nursery and share experiences with their children.

Our Stay & Play sessions and family events may take place throughout the year, including around:

• Christmas;
• Easter; and
• the summer term.

These sessions give families an opportunity to experience the nursery environment, spend time learning and playing alongside their child and celebrate their child's experiences with us.

Details of individual events are shared with families nearer the time.

Blossoms Graduation

At the end of their final year in Blossoms, we celebrate the children's nursery journey with a special graduation event. This is an opportunity to recognise how much the children have grown, celebrate their achievements and mark the exciting transition from nursery into their next adventure at school.

Graduation arrangements and any associated charge are communicated separately to Blossoms families nearer the time. The graduation charge is not included within the nursery's usual consumables charges.

Growing in Confidence & Independence

Nursery is about so much more than preparing children academically for school.

Throughout both Seedlings and Blossoms, we support children to become increasingly confident in doing things for themselves.

This can include learning to:

• put on their own coat;
• choose and access their own resources;
• recognise and look after their belongings;
• pour drinks and manage mealtimes;
• wash and dry their hands;
• use the toilet independently when developmentally appropriate;
• make choices;
• communicate their needs;
• resolve small problems;
• build friendships; and
• ask adults for help when they need it.

These everyday experiences help children develop the confidence, resilience and independence that support them throughout their education.

Every Child Is Known

Relationships are at the heart of our nursery.

Children are supported by practitioners who take the time to get to know their individual personalities, interests, strengths and needs.

Through our key-person approach, communication with families and ongoing observation of children's learning, we aim to ensure that every child feels:

safe, valued, included, confident and ready to explore.

Parents and carers are an important part of this partnership, and we encourage families to share achievements, interests, changes and significant experiences from home with us through Famly and through conversations with the nursery team.

Ready for Your Adventure?

For most children, everything they need to bring is very simple:

• A labelled water bottle
• Named wellington boots
• Appropriate outdoor clothing
• A selection of spare clothes

We'll provide their nursery bag, waterproof clothing, sleep bedding where required and, most importantly, plenty of opportunities to play, explore, discover and grow.

We look forward to welcoming your family to Leyland St James’s C of E Primary School and Nursery and beginning your child's Seedlings or Blossoms adventure with you.