The Villages

Each area in our preschool has been carefully designed to support your child’s unique journey. We focus on helping them feel safe and secure, develop their curiosity and love of learning so they are ready to thrive in the world around them.

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We’re proud to be a part of their first steps into learning and life, along with families. We understand the importance of you feeling confident that our setting is the right one for you and your child. It’s important that we work together, communicate well, share any concerns and celebrate your child’s progress. 

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There are key skills that underpin our approach to learning:

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• Being independent. Children feel good about themselves when they can do things for themselves. W encourage children to make choices, giving them decision-making opportunities. 

• Self-help skills support children’s overall development and se the foundation for lifelong learning and well-being.

• Effective Communication skills. Communication skills help children connect with their peers and adults, forming friendships and secure attachments. When children can name and talk about feelings, they can better manage their emotions. We are proud to have achieved ‘Communication Friendly Setting’ status from Elklan. 

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Of course, learning doesn’t just happen indoors — our outdoor areas are a vital part of each child’s experience here.

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Our younger outdoor area is carefully designed to support the developmental needs of our toddlers and younger preschoolers. There’s plenty of space to explore, with sand and water play, a climbing wall, stepping stones, and a mud kitchen to spark sensory exploration and imaginative play.

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Our older outdoor area takes that learning even further. Here, children engage in more complex, open-ended play that develops both their thinking and teamwork skills. 

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Our outdoor kitchen is always busy with budding chefs making volcanoes, birthday cakes, and stews, using real pots, pans, and utensils. It’s a creative, collaborative space where language and imagination thrive.

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We also have a dedicated construction area, where children use large materials — like cardboard, crates, tubes, and boxes — to design, build, and experiment. Whether it’s a rocket ship, a fort, or a race track, this kind of play supports problem-solving, creativity, and teamwork.

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Physical development is a key focus too. Across the outdoor space, we provide opportunities for active movement with a range of equipment — including bats and balls, obstacle courses, walkers, stepping stones, a balance beam, and even a trampoline. These activities help children build gross motor skills, coordination, and body confidence in a fun, supportive way.

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And one of our most exciting areas is our critical thinking station. Here, children use metal stands, gutters, and loose parts to engineer ball runs, solve problems, and test their ideas. It’s hands-on learning at its best — building resilience, curiosity, and a love of investigation. From our youngest explorers to our school-ready learners, every space — indoors and out — is designed to inspire, support, and nurture. Through imaginative play, critical thinking, movement, and creativity, we give children the tools to thrive — today and in the years to come. 

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Exploring nature is also key to children’s learning and development. We are lucky to visit the local park just behind our nursery and also the Community Garden, where we see changes over time first hand, and life-cycles of frogs. We also enjoy visiting the local stream, to see small twigs float under the bridge and the post office to send postcards and letters home.