At Cottontails we have created a warm and welcoming space for our Toddlers that directly reflects the ‘homely’ environment our Baby Room creates. Our Toddler classroom is adapted to suit the development of children from 18months to 2years and 8months of age. 

A toddler’s natural independence is cured within our Toddler classroom, as they are encouraged to explore our well-resourced learning areas from physical challenge on our indoor climbing frames, messy play, construction, reading and reflection to acting out the roles within our roleplay station. We encourage our toddler children to express their blossoming personalities through a range of activities, discovering their likes and dislikes with their friends.  

Our friendly and attentive practitioners are highly skilled and qualified to ensure they can provide every child with the very best care and early education; personalising activities to suit the development needs and preferences of the children within their care.

Routines within every child’s development are important to ensure they are aware of differing times of the day, from welcoming children into the classroom, through circle and song time to mealtimes and nap times. Our Toddler Room practitioners communicate the routines to prepare children for the transitions in the day. 

Supporting children to understand their learning and routines through verbal communication, visual que cards and Makaton signs is effective within the development of a child’s early communication. As children acquire the ability to communicate verbally or through the use of Makaton, it supports positive interaction between our children, practitioners and their peers. Boosting every child’s ability to express their thoughts, wants and needs is important to the development of positive relationships. 

Set within a semi-rural location our nursery boasts an extensive outdoor garden, complete with a Toddler and Nature Garden! Our children are able to explore the nursery gardens throughout the day, enhancing and stimulating their understanding of our world outdoors, no matter the weather!

As a village nursery our children will often venture of trips outside of the nursery, in line with our termly topic teachings. 

The nursery operates half termly topic teachings, introducing topics through ‘wow’ moments; inviting visitors into our nursery, exploring life outside of our nursery through trips, and through active investigations.

Learning and achievements, including milestone goals, are celebrated through the use of our Nursery app. where parents can communicate directly with their child’s carer and be part of our Cottontails community. Your child’s key information, online learning journal, dietary and toileting habits are all recorded using our app. This allows our parents to be actively involved within their child’s learning and time at Nursery, every step of the way! 

Our parents and families are important to the life of our nursery as the hub of our community. Throughout the year we hold parent’s evenings, community open days and craft fayres to graduation ceremonies and sports day, performances and coffee and tea mornings. We value our community and those who live here. Instilling these community values within the everyday life of the nursery will provide lasting memories for our children that will help to shape their values and identity as an adult