Tiny Turtles
(0-2 years)
Tiny Turtles is the starting room for babies at The Wigwam Day Nursery Reading. We pride ourselves in being a home from home. The room is light and airy with plenty of natural light, cosy areas and is, of course well-resourced to allow for plenty of sensory and exploratory learning through play.
Your child’s home routines are adhered to so there is a smooth transition from home to nursery. We offer a bespoke settling in time for you and your child, including offering a home visit with your child’s key person. The home visit allows your child to meet the person who will be caring for them in their own environment and from our experience, we have found that the move to nursery is easier for those who receive a home visit.
Within our nursery building young children are able to take a nap in one of our coracles or our beautiful stacking cots, two of which are accessible to babies independently. The beauty of using the coracle is the children are able to self-regulate their sleep and take a rest when they need it.
While in Tiny Turtles, your baby is provided with open ended activities, enabling them to freely experiment and learn. We will encourage children to explore their environment, build on their interests and help them to discover new things. No two days are the same.
Children are able to access treasure baskets; developed by Elinor Goldschmied, the Treasure Basket is a collection of about 80-100 natural, household and recycled objects placed in a sturdy round wicker basket that is made available to a seated infant from about 5-10 months old. Babies can concentrate and take pleasure from this activity for up to an hour. Curiosity and concentration form the basis of all learning and creativity. The importance of the Treasure Basket cannot be underestimated.
Supported by our knowledgeable team, children can take part in worthwhile learning experiences across all seven areas of learning of the early years foundation stage (EYFS) in which ever area they decide to occupy.
If you’d like to find out more about a place at The Wigwam Day Nursery Reading, please do get in touch.
Personal, Social & Emotional Development
This is one of the most important areas in which to build a strong foundation for children’s learning. We want the children to enjoy and achieve in all areas. This area is a good foundation for that to begin. Our key persons ensure that the children have a secure base to which to return when they are settling in. We will facilitate children building positive relationships with their peers and teachers. The children will be given the opportunity to join in play with small and larger groups.
Our environment has been designed to encourage children to self-select their own activities and develop their self confidence. The planning is designed around children’s interests and children are encouraged to express their preferences.
Physical Development
Children have the opportunity to develop their physical skills in the nursery room and the outdoor learning environment. Low level baskets and easily accessible toys are available for the children. These ensure that the children consolidate any new learning experience. Motor skills are refined through block building, puzzles and artwork, which are available indoors for the children as well as a physical gym where they can learn to climb the stairs and go down the slide! The support provided ensures that a strong base is set for mark making and early writing experiences.
Our outdoor learning environment promote the development of the children’s large motor skills such as walking, running, balancing, and climbing. The outdoor learning environment is designed for the children to learn in the seven areas of the curriculum outside as well as inside. Our teachers ensure that there are challenging activities for the children outside that will stretch them and encourage them to challenge themselves.
Communication & Language
At The Wigwam Day Nursery Reading we take a holistic approach to learning, ensuring that every moment is a learning opportunity. Our staff teams take time to listen to the children and engage with to them throughout the day. Mealtimes are a chance to review the day so far. They are spent with their key person in small, relaxed group.
Children can access books independently.Teachers read books to the children spontaneously and will provide books that are of particular interests to the individual child.
Areas within the environment such as our role play area have been designed to encourage children to develop their communication and language skills. Familiar photos are displayed for the children and children are regularly taken on trips in the local area.
We look forward to welcoming you to The Wigwam Day Nursery Reading, and to meet the Tiny Turtles team soon.
Carla Costa – Level 6 (QTS) Degree in Teaching Primary and Secondary Education (Portugal)
Tiny Turtles Room Leader
Our Other Rooms
