Bumble Bee 2 and Butterfly Groups

Bumble Bee 2 group for children aged 2.5 to 3 years old and Butterfly group for children aged 3 to 5 years old.

Our Garden classroom is dedicated to our children aged 2.5 years old to 5 years old. Each age group has their own name ( Bumble Bee 2 and Butterfly) and are offered differentiated activities according to their age, individual needs and abilities.  The Garden classroom offers a wide range of ractivities for the children and our team focuses on Continuous Provision to ensure both groups are provided with continuous and constant resource so allow them to explore their interests, start projects or consolidate learning.

The classroom has direct access to our extensive garden where the children can enjoy various activities including water play, sand play, basket ball, football but also gardening! Our children are taught how to grow their own vegetables and will soon get the taste them too!

Whilst in the Bumble Bee 2 group the children’s fine motor skills continue to develop and they enjoy making  things using a variety of natural materials, looking at pictures, words and listening to stories. Children can play with sand and water, balls and hoops, tend to the plants and play with their friends.

Our art area allows our children to develop their co-ordination skills, taking part in more messy and fun play as they finger-paint and make models to bring home for you. They have access to a huge array of art materials and books. Children enjoy the reading area as a place for quiet time to themselves. There is a  dedicated ‘Home Corner’ , where they can practice important life skills and role-play. Role-play and dressing-up games cultivate the children’s friendships and encourages their self-expression.

All children are given opportunities to explore and develop at their own pace. There are areas within the room which allow your child to explore freely and offer them both independence and the security of adults when needed.

Singing & music play a large part in encouraging our toddlers to become more confident and communicative. We actively involve them in the making and baking of cakes and biscuits (with the expert help of the kitchen staff), which they can take home for their family to enjoy!

The children can enjoy activities such as mark making, using a variety of materials, looking at picture books and listening to stories, all of which are important steps in literacy. Self-help and independence soon emerge as we support and encourage children with eating, dressing and toileting. Joining-in with conversations is an important way to learn new things and helps your child to think about the past, present and future. Children in our Bumblebee Room enjoy learning new skills and your child will now automatically join active play with other children, with little or no encouragement.

Whilst in our Butterfly group, children have an increased interest in joint play such as make-believe, construction and games which help them to learn the important social skills of sharing, co-operating and conflict resolution. Children also learn more about helping adults in everyday activities and finding a balance between independence and complying with the wishes of others. The children are encouraged to express their ideas and feelings through a variety of activities including drawing, model-making, stories, dance, music and role-play. The children discover a larger world of sound, colour, shapes and textures, letters and numbers, and how to use them to communicate their ideas, stories and feelings.

Your child still needs the comfort and security of special people. Close warm relationships with key carers form the basis for much background learning, such as encouraging healthy choices in food and exercise. At this age children are also becoming more aware of their community and conversations with adults become a more important source of information, guidance and reassurance.

In our Butterfly group children enjoy watching and interacting with their peers and their literacy and numeracy skills can develop rapidly with the support and wide range of materials and activities that we offer. Your child will now be building a stronger sense of their own identity and the wider world.

At this stage of your child’s development we recognise your child’s need for greater stimulation and now our activities are designed to stretch their skills and abilities. Our dedicated staff concentrate on promoting your child’s independence. Our main focus at this stage will be to instill in your child the confidence to interact with other children and encourage their friendships and trust through play. We help to prepare them for their next big step into Primary school, with fundamental independent skills.

We find that having attended nursery a child’s transition to reception and school life generally will be much smoother and less daunting. They are accustomed to a busy, stimulating environment, with gentle but reinforced routines and more structured activities. In the event that your child may be having a specific difficulty or behavioural issue, our experienced senior staff are exceptional in identifying potential problems; they will offer advice and support, and work to adapt care appropriately.