Mini Explorers Nature Nursery

20/10/2026

What better way to spend a rainy day than painting “thunderclouds” while being completely immersed in the weather itself? At Mini Explorers we experience all weather, rather than just learning about it! 🌧️☁️

19/10/2026

🙌🏻

Yes -- This is so important! Time outside, time in nature, contact with nature... Let's make them a priority for our kids.

15/10/2026

At two years old, you’re mastering the art of using scissor pincers to pick up pinecones. You’re experimenting with how high the tube needs to be to make them roll, watching with delight as you hear them ping into the bowl below!

Preparing for school isn’t always about tracing your name or learning to write letters. It’s about developing the foundations that will help you get there. It’s strengthening little fingers, building hand to eye coordination, developing concentration, problem solving and learning through trial and error.

Every pinecone picked up, every movement carefully coordinated is helping to build the skills you’ll use when you eventually pick up a pencil!🌳

05/10/2026

Last week we were very excited to spot a Muntjac Deer in the woodland!🌳🦌

02/10/2026

This week we’ve been inspired by the story Leaf Man! 🍂🍃

We have been for a woodland walk using a compass 🧭, following directions and working together to find different types of leaves. “Spotty leaves” and “leaves with circles”. We have also identified “oak leaves” within our environment.

We made connections between our walk and the story, then used our collected leaves to create our very own Leaf People! 🍁

We have also practised our fine motor skills by whittling sticks and making leaf skewers. 🌿

25/09/2026

We’ve had some exciting things happening in the woodland this week… 🌳 👀 which we can’t quite share just yet! 🤫

But in the meantime, we’ve been enjoying our new story, The Gruffalo Granny! 🐾📖 We’ve been immersing ourselves in the story, making our own stew for Granny, acting out parts of the story and practising our listening and attention skills.

When asked if the children enjoyed the story they shared “I did love it”, “it was so good”!

17/09/2026

Since returning from the summer, we have been enjoying reading our new book, Everybody’s Welcome. 📚💚
It felt especially wonderful when one of our new families shared this lovely comment with us:
“Thank you for making him feel so welcome.”
It is so important to us that every child and family feels welcomed, valued and part of our community from the very beginning🌳

16/09/2026

A little conversation between two friends today 💚

“We are friends”

“Forever”

“So much forever”

“Are you coming tomorrow”

“Let’s do it again”

16/09/2026

Mindfulness in the woodland🌳 Conker drilling and weaving. 🪡

09/09/2026

It has been wonderful to be back in the woodland and spotting signs of Autumn together! We have had so much fun together spotting, collecting, tasting, smelling, feeling, mixing, painting, crushing, and experimenting with Autumn!

“It’s like a parachute” said about a big leaf!

“It smells delightful” said about a conker!