The Nursery Family

iStep into School | A Love of Stories 🌟

One of the greatest gifts we can give children before they start school is a love of books and stories.

Why not try:
📖 Finding a cosy spot to read together.
👋 Letting your child turn the pages.
🎭 Using different voices for characters.
💬 Talking about the pictures and asking questions.
🌙 Making story time part of your daily routine.

The stories they hear today help shape the confident learners they'll become tomorrow. ✨

Yesterday was a truly special day at Southwater, as we celebrated our wonderful Preschool Leavers!💫

The children came together to mark the end of their journey with us, going out in style with a fun party led by Musical Friends (a huge thank you to Debbie and Monkey!). Afterwards, the children enjoyed a picnic before being joined by their families for a lovely afternoon of singing and our certificate presentation.

We are so proud of every single one of our graduates, and we are all going to miss them dearly as they take their next steps to ‘Big School’. Thank you to all our families for sharing such a memorable day with us!

🌿🧁 Mud Kitchen Magic at Shoreham Day Nursery & Pre-School! 🧁🌿

Our children had a wonderful time getting creative in the mud kitchen!

Working together, they used the water dispenser to bring their creations to life, with some of our older children confidently supporting and showing our younger children how to use it.

There was lots of lovely communication as the children shared their ideas, decided what to add and worked together to create their recipes. They even used scissors to carefully snip fresh herbs, exploring the different smells, textures and flavours as they decided how to use them in their imaginative play.

Then came the finishing touch… flour for their very own leaf cupcakes!

With plenty of mixing, pouring, scooping and experimenting, the children used their imaginations to turn natural resources into delicious-looking creations!

We love how simple experiences like mud kitchen play provide so many opportunities for teamwork, communication, turn-taking, problem-solving, fine motor development and sensory exploration — all while having lots of fun! 💚🌱

✨ Sensory Adventures at Shoreham Day Nursery & Pre-School! ✨

Our babies have been busy exploring a wonderful range of sensory toys and colourful lights!

They were fascinated watching the lights change colours and patterns, reaching out to touch, grasp and explore the different resources around them.

Sensory play offers so many valuable learning opportunities for our little ones. These experiences help support visual development, concentration and curiosity, while reaching, grasping and handling the sensory toys encourages hand-eye coordination and fine motor development.

Our babies were also discovering the magic of cause and effect — learning that their own actions can make things happen!

We love providing calm, engaging experiences where our youngest children can explore at their own pace, build confidence and develop through play.

Shoreham Day Nursery and Pre-School🐾

Story time was extra special this week as our friendly dachshund, Rocky, came to join the babies!

The children loved sitting together to share a story with Rocky by their side. There were lots of smiles, pointing little fingers and curious faces as they watched him listen in too.

Rocky's visit created a lovely, calm atmosphere and gave the children the opportunity to enjoy stories in a slightly different way. As they turned the pages, listened to familiar words and gently interacted with Rocky, they were building confidence and creating positive early experiences with both books and animals.

Sometimes it's the unexpected visitors who make story time even more memorable. Thank you for joining us, Rocky – we can't wait to see you again soon! 🐾

A few helpful things to know...

You don't need to:
✨ Know whether you're eligible for funding.
✨ Have decided on your childcare requirements.
✨ Be ready to secure a place.

You simply need to know that you'd like to explore your options.

Our team is always happy to answer questions, talk through funding and help you plan what childcare could look like for your family.

Thinking about nursery? We'd love to hear from you.
💻 [email protected]

iStep into School 🌟

Did you know that some of the best preparation for school looks just like play?

Many of the skills that help children feel confident when they start school develop naturally through everyday play and experiences at home.

Try simple activities such as:
✏️ Recognising and spotting their name.
🔢 Counting toys, stairs or pieces of fruit.
🎨 Colouring, drawing and making marks.
🧩 Playing with playdough or threading activities.
✂️ Building hand strength through cutting, sticking and creative play.

At nursery, these experiences are woven into each day through purposeful play, helping children build confidence, curiosity and a love of learning.

Sometimes the little things really do make the biggest difference.

Have you booked your personal tour? 🌟

Our Open Evening is just around the corner, and we'd love to welcome you.

If you're considering nursery for your little one, now is the perfect time to come along, explore our learning environments, meet our friendly team and ask any questions about funding, availability or settling-in.

Whether you're planning ahead or looking for childcare in the coming months, we're here to help you find the right fit for your family.

📅 Date: Thursday 13th August
🕒 Time: 6pm until 8pm

Places are limited and booking is essential.
To reserve your place:
📧 [email protected]