Striving to be better
At The Little School, we are committed to continually enhancing our environment to create inspiring, engaging spaces where every child can learn, explore, and thrive. At the heart of our nursery is a passionate and dedicated team whose care, enthusiasm, and expertise make our setting truly special. Through a rich variety of hands-on experiences and meaningful interactions, we help children build confidence, develop independence, and foster a strong sense of self-worth.
We are always seeking new opportunities to enrich our provision through innovative programmes, partnerships, and accreditations that enhance children's learning and development. We also value the importance of community and family involvement, regularly hosting events such as our popular Stay and Play sessions and celebrating special occasions with performances from our talented preschool children.
Forest School is at the heart of our approach to learning. Through regular outdoor adventures, children are encouraged to explore, take safe risks, solve problems, and develop a deep connection with the natural world. Whether building dens, searching for minibeasts, planting seeds, or creating imaginative nature-inspired artwork, every experience helps to build confidence, resilience, independence, and curiosity. Time spent outdoors also supports physical health, emotional wellbeing, and communication skills. Forest School gives children the freedom to learn through discovery, creating memories and a lifelong love of nature and learning.
Music, Dance, and Drama
Both nurseries have full-time dedicated teachers for music, dance, and drama. Creative expression through these activities nurtures children's emotional well-being, reduces anxiety, and builds self-esteem. It also supports the development of social skills, communication, and teamwork while stimulating imagination.
Additionally, these activities enhance mathematical understanding by teaching patterns, rhythms, and sequences, which are fundamental concepts in maths. They foster spatial awareness and problem-solving skills, offering a fun and engaging way to build a strong foundation for future learning.
Toddler Talk
Young children are naturally curious and eager to explore language, and “Toddler Talk” is designed to support this exciting stage of development. Through fun, interactive activities like songs, stories, and play, we help toddlers build their vocabulary, develop listening skills, and start forming sentences.
By focusing on communication, we encourage confidence and foster connections, making language learning a joyful and meaningful part of their everyday experience. With caring guidance and a nurturing environment, we help lay the foundation for a lifetime of successful communication.
Letters and Sounds
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Phase 1: Developing listening skills and awareness of sounds in the environment.
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Phase 2: Introducing simple letter-sound correspondences and blending sounds to read words.
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Phase 3: Learning more complex letter combinations (digraphs and trigraphs).
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Phase 4: Consolidating knowledge and learning to read longer words.
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Phase 5: Expanding to include alternative spellings and pronunciations.
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Phase 6: Building fluency in reading and spelling for more complex words.
This structured approach ensures children gain confidence and competence in literacy, laying a strong foundation for future learning.
SEND
We employ a SEND Teacher in both nurseries who provides courses and support for staff and children in the field of Special Educational Needs and English as an Additional Language.
School Readiness
At The Little School at Pooh Corner, school readiness is about far more than preparing children academically—it is about developing confident, independent, and resilient learners. Through engaging, play-based experiences, children build essential skills in early mathematics, phonics, science, and technology, alongside communication, problem-solving, and creativity. We encourage children to follow routines, manage their emotions, work collaboratively, and develop positive relationships with others. By nurturing curiosity and a love of learning, we ensure every child leaves us feeling secure, capable, and excited about starting school, ready to embrace the opportunities and challenges ahead.