Our Approach
At Unique Day Nursery, emphasis is placed on learning through play, exploration and discovery. The provision of high quality interactions, resources and activities enables children to gain the appropriate skills to acquire, develop and maintain social, communication and academic skills.
Our approach to Early Years reflects the Reggio Emilia and Montessori Philosophies. These innovative and inspiring approaches to early childhood education, values the child as strong, capable and resilient; rich with wonder and knowledge. At Unique Day Nursery, we place emphasis on the innate curiosity of children and aim to assist them with understanding their world and who they are in it.
As such, children are provided with the tools to enable them to develop their confidence, independence and their curiosity to learn. Subsequently, this will enable children to leave our provision, prepared with the social skills, and the academic skills to begin their journey within mainstream school.
The Foundation Stage should be filled with learning, exploration and discovery. As such, our provision enables children to be
independent in their learning
and therefore, provides opportunities for reflection and evaluation. Our timetable therefore reflects a balance of adult led and child led activities – structured sessions and freeflow.
At Unique Day Nursery, we believe that in order to foster a love for learning, children need to feel happy, safe, secure and confident. As such, we ensure that we provide stimulating learning environments within which, children can independently engage in activities and experiences that facilitate their holistic development.
Our immersive EYFS curriculum is designed to place the child at the forefront of their learning, by reflecting the interests and needs of individual children. Our well resourced continuous provision, provides ‘invitations to learn’. Through carefully planned enhancements and learning provocations, children are provided with opportunities to explore, revisit and build upon their knowledge, skills and understanding.
Unicorn Room
3 months - 18 months
In Unicorn room, we provide a warm, nurturing and stimulating environment where your child's earliest experiences are carefully supported and celebrated. We understand that a child's first years are a period of rapid growth and development, and our curriculum is designed to meet each baby's individual needs, while laying strong foundations for future learning.
A Nurturing Start
We prioritise strong, secure attachments between babies and their key person. This helps your child feel safe, valued and confident to explore the world around them. Care routines such as feeding, nappy changing and sleep times, are treated as important opportunities for one-to-one interaction, communication and bonding.
Learning Through Play
Babies learn best through sensory exploration and play. Our curriculum offers a wide range of age appropriate experiences including:
- Sensory play with textures, sounds, lights and natural materials
- Heuristic play to encourage curiosity and independent exploration
- Music, singing and movement to support early communication
- Tummy time and physical play to build strength and coordination
Supporting Development
We follow each child's interests and developmental stage, supporting progress across key areas:
- Communication and Language - through talking, singing, stories and responsive interactions
- Physical Development - through movement, climbing, grasping and fine motor activities
- Personal, Social and Emotional Development - through secure relationships and positive interactions
Our approach is guided by observation. Practitioners carefully watch and listen to your baby, planning experiences that build on what they already enjoy and can do.
A Home-From-Home Environment
We work closely with parents/carers to ensure continuity between home and nursery. Daily feedback, shared routines and regular communication, help us to meet your baby's individual preferences, from sleep patterns to favourite activities.
Safe and Stimulating Spaces
The Unicorn room is designed to be calm, inviting and safe, with soft areas for play, cosy corners for quiet time and engaging resources that encourage exploration. We also provide opportunities for your baby to engage in activities and experiences within our outdoor play area.
Working in Partnership
We value your knowledge of your child and encourage open communication. Together, we support your baby's development, well-being and happiness, by providing a loving, responsive environment where your baby feels secure, grows in confidence, and begins their lifelong journey of learning.
Pegasus Room
18months - 3 years
Pegasus room is an engaging environment, where children are supported as they grow in confidence, independence and curiosity, At this stage, children are eager to explore, communicate and make sense of the world around them. Our curriculum is designed to nurture these natural instincts through play-based learning and meaningful experiences.
Building Independence
Toddlers are learning to do things for themselves, and this is encouraged from self-feeding and handwashing, to choosing activities and helping with simple tasks - we support children to develop confidence in their own abilities. Our practitioners provide gentle guidance, encouragement and praise, to help each child feel capable and proud.
Learning Through Exploration and Play
Play remains at the heart of our curriculum. We provide a rich variety of opportunities that support curiosity and discovery, including:
- Creative play such as painting, mark-making and messy play
- Role play and small world activities to develop imagination
- Construction and problem solving activities
- Sand, water and sensory experiences
- Music, singing and movement sessions
Supporting Key Areas of Development
Our curriculum supports all areas of your child's development, with a focus on:
- Communication and Language - expanding vocabulary, high quality interactions, story and rhyme times
- Physical Development - developing coordination, balance and fine motor skills, through active play
- Personal, Social and Emotional Development - building relationships, learning to share and take turns, managing emotions
We recognise that every child's development is individual and unique. Practitioners observe and respond to each child's interests, planning activities that extend their learning and keep them engaged.
Encouraging Social Skills
Toddlers begin to form friendships and learn how to play alongside and with their peers. We support turn taking, sharing and understanding emotions, through gentle modelling and consistent routines, helping children to feel secure and confident.
A Language-Rich Environment
We provide a language-rich environment where children are encouraged to express themselves. Through stories, songs, rhymes and everyday conversation, we help build strong communication skills, that underpin future learning.
Indoor and Outdoor Learning
Pegasus room offers a balance of indoor and outdoor experiences. Carefully planned areas provide opportunities for focused play, creativity and spaces for quiet activities such as sharing books. Outdoors, children can explore and develop their gross motor skills in our sand and water areas, as well as large loose parts area.
Working in Partnership with Parents
We value strong partnerships with parents and carers. Daily updates, shared experiences and regular communication, ensure that we are meeting your child's individual needs and that we celebrate their achievements together.
Our aim is to create a safe, stimulating and caring environment where your child can explore, develop new skills and grow in confidence, as they prepare for the next stage of their learning journey.
Phoenix Room
3 years - 5 years
Phoenix room provides a stimulating and supportive environment where children are encouraged to become confident, independent learners, as they prepare for the transition to school. At this stage, children are full of ideas, questions and creativity, and our curriculum is designed to build on these qualities, through a balance of child led play and carefully planned adult guided experiences.
Preparing for School and Beyond
We focus on developing the key skills children need for a smooth transition into school. This includes building independence, confidence in social situations, and the ability to listen, follow instructions, and manage simple routines. Children are encouraged to take responsibility for small tasks, make choices and develop a sense of self.
Learning Though Play and Exploration
Play continues to be central to learning within Phoenix room. We provide a whole range of engaging opportunities, including:
- Creative activities such as drawing, painting, collage and model-making
- Role play and storytelling to develop imagination and language
- Early maths activities including counting, sorting, matching and problem solving
- Mark making and early writing opportunities
- Construction and investigative play
Supporting Key Areas of Development
Our curriculum supports all areas of learning, with particular focus on:
- Communication and Language - developing listening skills, storytelling, conversations and enhancing confidence in speaking
- Physical Development - refining coordination, balance and fine motor skills, including those needed for writing
- Personal, Social and Emotional Development - building friendships, developing resilience and understanding emotions
Early literacy and mathematical concepts ate introduced in a fun and meaningful way, helping children to develop a love of learning, rather than focusing on formal instruction.
Promoting Independence and Confidence
Children are encouraged to manage their own personal care, make choices about their learning, and take part in group activities. This helps children to build confidence, resilience and a positive outlook towards new challenges.
A Language-and Literacy-Rich Environment
We foster a love of books, stories and mark making. Through daily story sessions, rhymes and conversations, children develop strong communication skills and early reading and writing awareness.
Exploring The World
Children are naturally curious and we encourage them to ask questions, investigate and explore. Activities are often inspired by children's interests, helping them to make connections and deepen their understanding of the world around them.
Indoor and Outdoor Learning
We offer a balance of indoor and outdoor experiences. Indoors, well-resourced areas support focused learning, creativity and collaboration. Whilst outdoors, children can enhance their physical skills, explore nature and engage in imaginative play.
Working in Partnership with Parents
We value strong relationships with parents and carers. Regular communication, updates and shared learning experiences, help us work together to support your child's development and school readiness.
Our goal is to provide a happy, engaging environment where children feel confident, capable and excited about learning, ensuring they are well prepared for the next stage of their educational journey.