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

  • Leah

    Early Years Practitioner (Full time)

  • Olivia

    Early Years Practitioner (Full Time)

  • Rachel

    Pre School Room Leader (Full Time)

  • Tammy

    Early Years Practitioner (Full time)

Leah

Early Years Practitioner (Full time)

Leah has worked at the nursery for nearly three years, she completed her level 2 and level 3 qualifications whilst working at several nurseries and a primary school in the local area, these placements gave her lots of experience across a range of children’s ages.
Leah is a key worker to several preschool children, she plans effective activities to support their learning ensuring all make progression. She prides herself on being a positive role model to all, and providing lots of fun, whilst building relationships with parents and carers.
When not at work Leah enjoys everything sci-fi related, she often attends Comic Cons, dressing up as her favourite characters, this is usually Dr Who or Star Wars. She also enjoys listening to music, going to the theatre and visiting her family in Scarborough.

Skills

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

Olivia

Early Years Practitioner (Full Time)

Olivia completed her qualification in college, within the placements for this course she gained lots of experience in different settings with children in age groups up to 7 years. She has worked at The Close Day Nursery for over 2 years, she is a key worker in the Pre School Room but also cover staff annual leave in the Baby Room and Middle Room.
Olivia’s role within the setting is to encourage learning and development through play, building relationships with children and parents, supporting transitions and giving children the independence they need to grow and develop.
When not at work Olivia enjoys spending time with her family and friends, reading books for pleasure, theatre trips and going on holiday.

Skills

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

Rachel

Pre School Room Leader (Full Time)

Rachel has worked as the Big Room Leader at The Close since November 2016. She also has 20 years teaching experience, working in 2 Banbury Primary Schools.
As room leader Rachel oversees a team of three hard working ladies, 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.
When not at work Rachel enjoys spending time at the theatre, reading, cooking and travelling.

Skills

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

Tammy

Early Years Practitioner (Full time)

Tammy has worked at The Close Day Nursery for over 16 years, gaining her childcare qualifications whilst working. She is a key worker in the Pre School 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.
When not at work she enjoys spending time with her family, especially her adult daughter and son, she loves to keep active, especially running and swimming. A new found interest is reading books to relax.

Skills

Level 3 Childcare
Safeguarding
WRAP Prevent Duty Trained
First Aid Trained