The Busy Bees

Welcome to our Nursery

We aim to be one big family where our priority is to ensure that all the children feel safe and happy, within a calm and nurturing environment.

We have places for 26 children during our morning and afternoon sessions  with a dedicated outdoor space overlooking the large school grounds that surrounds the school.

The Early Years Foundation Stage

We believe that the children's time at school should be a nurturing and enjoyable experience in which they are able to discover, explore and create in a secure and happy environment.  

The children learn through a mixture of planned and child-initiated play activities.

We follow the guidance given in the Early Years Foundation Stage Curriculum (2014) and also plan activities to take into account the children’s differing interests, needs and abilities

Outdoor learning

All our children are encouraged to spend lots of time outside every day and take part in "Forest School' activities each week.

We play outside in the school grounds or in the Rookery at the bottom of the school field.

We ask that children wear suitable clothes to play outside as we go outside whatever the weather. This may include a warm coat, hat, scarf and gloves or a sun hat.

All the children will need a pair of wellies with their name clearly written inside. They can be kept in a bag on their peg or on the wellie stand outside.

We will provide waterproof jackets and over trousers for the children to keep their school clothes clean and dry.

The 'Statutory framework  for the Early Years Foundation Stage' 2014 states that children should:

    Show curiosity about objects, events and people

    Use their senses to explore the world around them

    Initiate activities

    Seek a challenge and take a risk

    Make predictions and test their ideas                             ​

The outdoors is an ideal place to cover these statements and allow the children to learn through exploration, movement, play, talk and sensory experiences.

We do lots of different activities that are both challenging and exciting. Some of the activities are led by the adults involved and some of the activities are child initiated as the children explore the space

around them. These include storytelling, den building, role play, imaginary play, creating art from natural resources and learning about nature and the environment in which we live.

'Stay and Play' 

Would you like to stay and play with your child at school for a hour?

Try an craft activity together, read a story, build a model or play outside whatever the weather.

Come and spend some time with your child and their friends.

You are welcome anytime.

For more details see Mrs Draycott or Mrs Harper.

 Don't forget...

If you have any worries or questions we are available to speak to at the beginning or end of each session, or you can telephone school to make an appointment.

You can also email Mrs Draycott at:

sarahdraycott@whitwell.derbyshire.sch.uk

Explore the sections below to see photographs of the children 'learning through play' inside and outside ...