Big Room
(3+ years)

Around their third birthday, the children progress into the Big Room. Here activities are further extended to prepare your child for school.

We take great pride in our friendly, nurturing and happy Big Room.

You child will need a rucksack with the following: Two sets of spare clothes / a hat, gloves and scarf in winter/ sunhat and sun cream in summer/ a rain coat for all weathers/ wellington boots -these can left at nursery. If your child is in nappies, we request that you pack a few in their bag each session.

We provide breakfast between 08:00 – 08:30 , mid-morning and mid-afternoon snacks and a light tea at 17:00pm. We offer a variety of breakfast cereals, toast or porridge. Snacks vary each day but may include; fresh fruit, cheese, cracker and fresh vegetables or warm tomato soup. An example of our light tea; a small portion of scrambled egg with toast, a yoghurt and fresh fruit. A visual snack list is available to view on the parents notice board in each room.
We will fulfil any dietary requirements, as per highlighted on registration form when your child starts. If there are any changes to your child’s dietary requirements during their time at nursery please notify us of these changes in writing.
We ask that each child brings their own water bottle, which can be left at nursery, this will be filled with water each day and put in an accessible place for children to freely access. We also provide milk at morning and afternoon snack times.
Children have many opportunities to go outside through-out the day, we offer free flow where children can choose to carry out activities either inside or outside and we also have a set outdoor play time after snack.
Officially we can have 32 children in Big Room, with a ratio of 1:8.
Every child has their own key person; however, we feel that it is important that children build relationships with all staff working in the room with them.

We follow the Early Years Foundation Stage Curriculum – Click Here to Read

During their time in this room the children will be observed, photographs taken and work kept for their profiles. We track children’s development 3 times a year, and from this form next steps to their learning – we also send home nursery targets so that you as parents can be involved in your child’s nursery development too. All of this evidence builds up during their time at nursery and forms a basis for their foundation stage profile which is ongoing though their child’s pre-school life. This file can be seen at any time and discussed with your child’s key worker at any time.
We are fortunate to have an excellent French Teacher attend 3 times a week to teach the children on a small group basis. We also take part in an inter-generational scheme, visiting The Julie Richardson Care Home for dementia residents, this takes place once every two weeks.

A Typical Day in our Big Room

 Children begin to arrive from 08:00 and sit together during breakfast. At 09:00am we start the session by sitting together, completing registration, talking about the day’s activities and learning the word or letter of the week.

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

At 10:30 we provide a mid-session snack which changes from day to day, this is a great time for socialising around a table, something with all of the staff are 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.

When snack time is over children sit as a group and listen to a story of their choice, this is a special time when wonderment and intrigue starts to creep in. There are many favourites, and the children get an enormous amount of pleasure when we ask them what comes next in a story and they can recite it back to you. “We are going on a bear hunt” is always great fun.

After story we put on our coats and wellies (or sun cream and sun hats) 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 large sand pit with a vast array of digging and building equipment, and mud kitchen and a covered outdoor classroom. There is also a large grassed area which can be used for football or picnics 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 outside play we come back into the classroom and sit together for “treasure time”. Each child is encouraged to bring in a treasure from home. The more unusual the better. They are asked to stand up and talk to their peers about their treasure, this helps to build confidence and we find that most children want to take part in this special time of day.

At midday it is time for lunch and those children who are not staying will be collected and go home. All the others will lunch together. We provide lunch time supervision at this time but all food is provided by the parents.

Lunch time ends at 13.00. The morning routine is then repeated in the afternoon. For many children 16.00 hrs is home time, but for full time children this is any time up to 18.00 hrs. For children staying after 17:00 we provide a light tea.

Meet the Big Room Team

  • Courtney

    Early Years Practitioner (Full Time)

  • Hayley – MATERNITY LEAVE

    Deputy Manager

  • Rachel

    Big Room Room Leader (Full Time)

  • Sharon

    Early Years Practitioner (Full Time)

  • Tammy

    Early Years Practitioner (Full time)

Courtney

Early Years Practitioner (Full Time)

Courtney has a Level 3 Qualification and has many years experience in childcare. She started at The Close Day Nursery in 2022 where her role is a Key Worker in Big Room. Courtney ensures the setting is a safe, fun and happy environment for all children to develop their confidence, friendships and learning within the Early Years Foundation Stage while building positive relationships with all children and parents.

Qualifications

Level 3 Childcare
Safeguarding
First Aid Trained
Prevent Duty

Hayley – MATERNITY LEAVE

Deputy Manager

Hayley has many years nursery experience, joining The Close Day Nursery in 2007, she began her time with us as a student, completed her level 3 qualification and progressed to Deputy Manager, supporting the management team in all aspects of nursery. Hayley is a Safeguarding Lead, as well as a key worker in the Big Room, she provides care and development for all children, ensuring children have an enjoyable and fulfilling nursery experience.

Rachel

Big Room Room Leader (Full Time)

Rachel has worked as the Big Room Leader at The Close Day Nursery since November 2016. She has a Batchelor of Education Degree and has over 20 years teaching experience, working in 2 Banbury Primary Schools before joining our team.
As room leader Rachel oversees Big Room team, she is responsible for planning and delivering a range of enjoyable and engaging activities, whilst ensuring that all children’s needs are met, they are having fun and making good progress. Her aim is to ensure that they make the transition to primary school as happy, healthy individuals with a love for learning.

Skills

B.Ed Primary School Teaching
Safeguarding & Prevent Duty Trained
First Aid Trained
FGM Trained

Sharon

Early Years Practitioner (Full Time)

Sharon has a Level 3 Qualification and many years experience in childcare, she started at The Close Day Nursery in 2022. Her role within the nursery is a Key Worker in the Big Room, ensuring the setting is a safe, fun and happy environment for all children to develop their confidence, friendships and learning within the Early Years Foundation Stage while building positive relationships with all children and parents.

Qualifications

Level 3 Childcare
Safeguarding
First Aid Trained
Prevent Duty Trained

Tammy

Early Years Practitioner (Full time)

Tammy has worked at The Close Day Nursery  since 2003, gaining her Level 3 Qualification while working. She is a key worker in Big Room and thrives on ensuring the setting is a safe, fun and happy environment for all children to develop their confidence, friendships and learning within the Early Years Foundation Stage while building positive relationships with all children and parents.

 

Skills

Level 3 Childcare
Safeguarding and Prevent Duty Trained
First Aid Trained
FGM Trained

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To enquire about a place or arrange a tour

Call 01295 263569

The Close Nursery Opco Ltd is a company registered in England and Wales.

Company No. 10987556

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