The Close Nursery School Banbury

A typical day in the middle room

Normally children begin to arrive at around 08.30, and by 09.15 we have usually had a sit down time where we have completed registration, chatted about the day’s activities on offer, and recognised our names with the help of some simple symbols that are repeated on their coat pegs.

From 09.15 to 10.10 is free play and the adult led activities. Children are invited to choose items or toys to play with as well as being able to play in the home corner that is already set out

At 10.10 we tidy up, no exceptions here, everyone has to help, and then we wash hands ready for snack time. We provide a midsession snack which can be fruit, cereals, toast, biscuits, or something we have made etc. All snacks are advertised on the board and are frequently linked to the themes we are covering. For example pumpkin soup at Halloween, or vegetable samosas at Diwali. We aim to provide a wide variety of snacks so that the children have a chance to try different things that may not always be offered at home. This is also a great time for socialising around a table, something which all of the staff are very keen to promote. We do not allow children to walk around with food or drink; they are required to sit down when it is eating time. We always adhere to parental wishes when it comes to dietary requirements.

After snack we put on our coats and wellies (or sun cream and sunhats) and go outside to play. The main door leads directly onto the playground where the children can run around on the safety surface safe in the knowledge they won’t get hurt if they fall over or fall off the climbing frame. The garden has many areas to explore including a covered sand pit with a vast array of digging and building equipment, and woodland walk area which also has a space they can dig in to look for worms and beetles. There is a large grassed area which can be used for football or pic nics etc. The playground is also a great space in which to ride bikes or balance on stilts or take a ride on our roller coaster.

After playtime we come inside and have story and singing time which is a great time to relax and wind down prior to lunch time.

At 11.45 it is time for lunch and those children who are not staying will be collected and go home. All the others will join together in the big room and eat their packed lunch together. We provide lunch time supervision at this time but all food is provided by the parents.

Lunch time ends at 12.30 and for those who wish to have a nap they can rest on beds in the middle room.  After nap time the morning routine is repeated in the afternoon. For many children 15.30hrs is home time, but for full time children this is any time up to 17.30hrs. These two hours are spent relaxing and playing with the toys that they choose, with a further snack time at around 16.00hrs.

When the children from the big room join with the middle room at 15.30hrs the staff play a game of “Magic Finger Time” which is a circle time activity and involves a magic finger being pointed at a child who then tells everyone what they have been doing in the big room that day. The middle room children benefit from this as they can anticipate what will be on offer once they move through to the big room at three years old and often helps them to settle more easily.