Little Doves Day Nursery

08/09/2026

We are excited to offer a Nursery Practitioner role. The job role is based in our Little Doves baby room with the wonderful duckling team on a Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

Calling all experienced and qualified Level 3 practioners to join our small team.

Pay based on experience and qualifications.

Contact- [email protected]

Laura and Team.

06/07/2026

Today children arrived beaming with their chatterboxes, these are used as part of our school transitions and unique to each child. Children share family photographs, collected natural items, badges, certificates, favourite stories. The activity is also part of speaking and listening skills. Great sharing! Keep them coming in butterflies.

20/05/2026

Today we followed our interests in stories. We made front covers, titles, signed our names as authors. The children bounced ideas of each other, asking the teachers to write what's happening on each page. Children used expressive language and joining words. Children used intonation excited to share their stories. Describing characters and settings.

The butterfly children are showing and developing their understanding of print and the idea of a story structure. How does your story start? What happens? How does it end?

We shared our own stories, we are keeping them in the book corner to share. Children are proud.

18/05/2026

Playing with marks and shape. Making discoveries.

19/11/2025

Extension of our indoor classroom. Children are eager, exploring materials and properties. Using nature to create. Singing and reading outside. Enjoying shared building and creating stations. Children are proud of their creations showing older children in mix playtime. We made our own paintbrushes out of leaves. Children took interest in the new experiences and sustained interest with adults exploring new ways of using tools and exploring vocabulary.

17/11/2025

At Little Doves we use songs as a huge foundation for extending learning, building vocabulary, recognising routines, associating actions and words. Learning about intonation is key for storytelling and communicating.
We continue to celebrate songs everyday!
Children at Little Doves sing spontaneously through play! And as part of routines such as lining up, tidying, in our circle, finding our clothes, washing our hands.
There is a link here for Talk, listen and cuddle website for song ideas.

This week is a celebration of all things Nursery Rhymes! This is a great way to develop your child's attention skills. Our facial and body language is the perfect way to gain attention - you can make these as big as you want and have fun with the rhymes. Some rhymes will also allow for movement such as "sleeping bunnies" - always a firm favourite!
For more ideas check out our FREE downloadable resources: https://www.tlc-essex.info/downloads/

17/11/2025

Today we enjoyed nature school in our gardens.
Investigating the loose part mud kitchen, painting on large bed sheets, printing with leaves, climbing and balancing, storytelling, clay station (fine motor skills), den building (Gross motor skills- moving, balancing and co-ordinating) and building bird nests.
Children and staff dressed for all weather's. What do we need to wear? Thinking about climate. We enjoyed snack and lunch outside and exploring the awe and wonder of our nature garden. We warmed up with out hot chocolate station for a mid morning break!

09/11/2025

Thank you for supporting our fundraising for the defibrilllator located at Little Doves Day Nursery.
Last week this was used in an emergency by a local resident. I have been informed that they are thankfully well, however we are pleased they had access to this equipment in such emergency.
Through feedback I'd like to let the community know to access this you firstly need a code from the ambulance service as it is in a locked box. There is a foot gate next to the main gate.I mention this as it was not clear when used last week. Our gates are open Monday to Friday 8- 6 pm. Outside these times the foot gate will need to be used.

Thanks again to parents, staff and community residents who contributed to the purchase of this lifesaving equipment.

We are currently ordering new pads, so the nearest one currently is at the village hall.

Laura and Little Doves Team.