EYFS

At Summerfield House Day Nursery, our intent is to create a nurturing, inclusive, and engaging environment where children can thrive through powerful play. We believe that play is the most effective way for children to learn, explore, and develop, and it is central to everything we do. Our education programme is rooted in both the prime and specific areas of the EYFS framework, with a balanced mix of child-led and adult-led activities designed to support every child’s development and stimulate their active minds and bodies.

How we implement this is through carefully designed play experiences that foster creativity, problem-solving, social interaction, and physical development. For example, we ensure that children have access to a wide range of resources, both indoors and outdoors, that stimulate their curiosity and support independent exploration. Staff observe children closely to ensure that their interests and developmental needs are met, adjusting activities where necessary to challenge both less able and more able children appropriately.

Our intent is not only to provide children with a fun and exciting environment but to ensure that this environment is purposeful and focused on development. We aim to create experiences that are rich in opportunities for children to explore, question, and discover through their play. Powerful play enables children to engage with the world around them, developing cognitive, physical, emotional, and social skills in a natural, enjoyable way. Through this approach, we encourage children to think critically, solve problems, and engage with others, all while fostering independence and confidence.

To implement this, our staff create open-ended play opportunities that allow children to follow their interests and use their imagination. We introduce different materials and props regularly to provoke new ideas and extend their thinking. For instance, during role-play activities, we provide real-life props that encourage communication, creativity, and social skills. Our approach ensures that every child is supported in a way that meets their individual needs and learning styles, making learning accessible and enjoyable for all.

We practice this intent by adopting an inclusive approach, ensuring each child’s cultural, developmental, and linguistic needs are considered in the planning and delivery of learning activities. Our practice ensures every child can fully participate in the learning experiences provided. We actively engage with parents and carers to ensure a shared understanding of each child’s needs, which helps us implement a more tailored approach that supports children’s development both at nursery and at home.

Children at Summerfield House Day Nursery demonstrate positive attitudes, good manners, and an understanding of how to lead a healthy, balanced lifestyle. They are actively encouraged to form strong bonds with their peers and carers, developing social skills and emotional intelligence through their interactions and experiences. We implement this by embedding social and emotional learning into everyday activities, such as group games, collaborative projects, and routine tasks like tidying up together or sharing resources.

Our staff spend quality time with the children, listening to them, interacting with them, and responding to their individual needs. They carefully observe interactions and offer guidance when necessary, fostering problem-solving skills while giving children the opportunity to resolve conflicts independently. Through thoughtful planning, staff ensure that children’s play experiences are meaningful and designed to promote growth and development. We give children the space and time they need to engage in the learning environment at their own pace, supporting them in achieving their developmental milestones through play.

In practice, we implement this by providing regular opportunities for children to engage in independent play, while staff guide and challenge them through structured group activities and one-on-one interactions. We implement routines that help children feel secure and ready to engage with new experiences, while also encouraging them to express themselves and explore new ideas at their own pace.

Our overall approach is rooted in the belief that powerful play is the foundation of effective learning. Our intent is to provide a happy, positive, and safe environment where children can learn through play in an atmosphere that is both engaging and challenging. We aim to create an environment that is rich in opportunities for play, where children’s natural curiosity is nurtured, and their learning is supported through a strong, consistent routine and a dedicated team of staff.

We implement this through our open-door policy, which allows children to access outdoor play spaces for much of the day. Our outdoor environment includes a classroom, covered areas, and various play structures to facilitate both spontaneous and planned outdoor activities. These spaces are intentionally designed to encourage physical play, exploration, and connection with nature, ensuring children have regular opportunities to engage with their environment in a meaningful way.

We do not believe in overwhelming children or families with excessive paperwork or sending children home with large amounts of materials. Instead, we place value on the learning process that happens during each activity, where children are not just performing tasks, but deeply engaging in powerful play. Our intent is to focus on the quality of the play experience, as it fosters the development of essential skills that will benefit children throughout their lives. A healthy balance of practical and theoretical learning through play leads to positive and lasting outcomes.

To implement this, we carefully plan activities that balance both practical learning (such as arts and crafts, role play, and sports) and theoretical learning (like language development, early literacy, and numeracy). These are regularly assessed to ensure that children are engaging with tasks that are challenging yet achievable. For example, we provide early writing and reading activities that help children explore letters and numbers through games, songs, and physical movement, making the experience fun and engaging.

We offer a diverse range of activities—such as singing, storytelling, arts and crafts, language learning, sports, and outdoor exploration—that encourage children to engage in powerful play. These activities foster curiosity and responsibility, allowing children to learn new skills, explore new concepts, and develop a love of learning. The opportunity to care for animals in our small farm or explore nature in our allotments further enhances their understanding of the world, all through the lens of play. We implement this by planning a rich timetable of activities, designed to appeal to a wide range of interests, so that children can participate in a variety of ways.

Children are encouraged daily to explore and use our outdoor provision. We have an open-door policy that allows children to access the outdoors for the majority of the day, ensuring they have ample opportunities for outdoor play and exploration. Our intent is to provide children with a well-rounded learning experience that includes physical activity, exploration, and the opportunity to learn through natural environments. To support this, we ask parents and carers to dress their children appropriately for the weather, ensuring they are comfortable during outdoor play. Our outdoor environment includes an outdoor classroom and various covered and shaded areas, ensuring outdoor learning can continue regardless of the weather.

Our staff consistently go above and beyond to implement the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) framework. Staff morale is high, and team members are passionate about creating fun, engaging, and learning-rich experiences for children. We implement this by empowering our staff to bring their ideas into practice, providing them with opportunities for training and professional development, and ensuring they feel supported and valued in their roles.

Our wide range of high-quality resources enhances the learning opportunities available to the children. Educational toys, games, and programmable toys, along with practical learning aids, are used to support development across all areas of the EYFS. We are committed to helping children explore new ideas, develop skills, and build a strong foundation for future learning, all through the power of play. We implement this by ensuring our resources are accessible, well-maintained, and aligned with the developmental needs of the children.

We place great importance on linking home and nursery life to create a consistent approach to learning. For example, our “sound table” encourages children and their families to work together to find items at home beginning with the “sound of the week.” This helps reinforce phonetic awareness and strengthens the home-nursery connection. Circle time provides an opportunity for children to share news, ideas, and personal experiences, further enhancing their social skills and communication abilities.

Pictorial timetables and labels are used to help children understand the daily routine and transitions. These visual aids support children in following along with the day’s events and help them gain a sense of structure and security, further reinforcing the importance of learning through play.

Children’s personal care needs are always met by trained staff who ensure that hygiene routines are consistently maintained. From nappy changes to promoting good hygiene practices, staff support children in becoming independent and developing self-care skills. We implement this by ensuring staff are trained in personal care and that routines are implemented in a gentle, consistent manner to foster children’s self-esteem and independence.

The impact of our approach is clearly visible in the progress our children make. Indicators of success include achieving their next steps, visible signs of physical development (such as walking and talking), and smooth transitions between nursery units. Parents and carers consistently provide positive feedback, and reviewing children’s scrapbooks highlights the individual progress made and the successful integration of their learning journey.

Children develop essential skills that will serve them well beyond nursery life. Through powerful play, children gain the foundation they need to succeed in their future educational settings and later in life. Our practice ensures that children are not only prepared for school but also equipped with the emotional and social skills that make them happy, confident, and resilient individuals.

In summary, we implement this approach with a commitment to nurturing every child’s development in a supportive, inclusive, and engaging environment. The impact is seen in the confident, curious, and happy children who leave our nursery, ready to face the challenges of the future with a strong sense of self, a love for learning, and a foundation built on the power of play.