Springers (24-36+months)

Welcome to Springers-the room for our active learners. Children attend this room from approximately 24 months to the term after their third birthday depending on their friendships, development and physical needs. Our Springers room is the room where children begin to learn boundaries and develop their independent skills. We actively encourage children to use tools and new materials to prepare their own snack, help and identify their own clothing and to show an awareness towards hygiene. This helps children learn about the world around them, what belongs to them, things that can be shared and increases their confidence and self-awareness which is essential for strong health and wellbeing. We begin to introduce new areas into our environment that are a progression from the Bouncers. Children here have lots of energy and staff use this to develop their physical skills to promote being healthy through extended outdoor play and making healthy choices at snack time. Through training and extending our knowledge we know that children’s physical development is key to supporting many areas of learning. In Springers we encourage children to be active explorers testing their ideas through using their whole bodies to develop muscle strength and coordination which is a stepping stone to developing writing skills for school. See our curriculum here.

Our children in Springers are beginning to play imaginatively using their ideas and experiences from home. A banana can be an excellent telephone! We often visit our local community based around our children’s imaginative interests such as going to ASDA to buy ingredients to experience real life cooking in our role play kitchen.

Just like in the Bouncer’s breakfast is ready for 8.00, lunch is 11.30 and tea is prepared for 3.30. In Springers we introduce intimate snack times at 9.30-10.00 and 1.30-2.00. During these times we focus on communication and language and self-help and independence. Children are encouraged to self-serve and select their own foods. They sit at a table and try using an open top cup pouring their own drinks. Children can decide if and when they would like a nap and are able to access comforters and dummies to rest and refuel. They have independent access to the bathroom for those children who are beginning to use a toilet. Children who wear nappies can bring these daily or they can be stored at nursery.

Children in Springers have free access to our shared outdoor area where there are lots of opportunities to run, jump, climb and follow their own agendas. We make full use of all weathers and provide wellingtons and waterproof clothing as jumping in muddy puddles is always a favourite.