Sylvan House Day Nursery

Stepping back in time to Ancient Egypt! 🏺✨

As part of their Ancient Egypt topic our preschool explorers discovered what their names look like in hieroglyphics before creating their very own papyrus-style paper.

Using teabags to stain the paper, the children watched in amazement as it transformed into an old, textured scroll just like those used thousands of years ago along the River Nile. 🤩

As they explored symbols, patterns and mark making, they were developing early writing skills, creativity and language while bringing history to life through hands-on discovery!

It may look like play, but powerful learning is happening. 🌟

Nothing matters more than knowing your child is in safe hands. 💛

When families choose a nursery, they are placing their trust in us every single day. We never take that responsibility lightly.

At Sylvan House, every member of our team is fully first aid trained and regularly updates their knowledge to ensure they are confident, prepared and able to respond quickly whenever needed.

But first aid is about more than certificates on the wall. It's about creating an environment where children are cared for by professionals who take their role seriously, remain vigilant, and put children's safety and wellbeing at the heart of everything they do.

Alongside supporting children's learning, confidence and development, our team is committed to maintaining the highest standards of care, ensuring every child feels safe, secure and supported throughout their day.

For parents, peace of mind matters. For us, it's part of our everyday practice.

Because when children feel safe, they are free to explore, learn, grow and thrive. 🌿

🐝 World Bee Day at Sylvan House 💛

The children in Bees have been busy learning all about these important little pollinators and the vital role they play in our environment. 🌼🍯

Through stories, sensory play and hands-on activities, the children explored new vocabulary including nectar, honeycomb and pollinator, helping to build language, curiosity and understanding of the natural world around them.

From counting with numbered bee stones to getting wonderfully messy in our honeycomb gloop tray, every activity encouraged exploration, problem-solving and conversation.

It may look like play, but these moments are helping children grow in confidence, communication and curiosity every day. 🐝✨

A big thank you to Bright Bites for visiting Sylvan House and sharing such an engaging oral health session with our children 🦷✨

The children were fully involved from start to finish, learning all about looking after their teeth and exploring which foods help keep our bodies healthy and strong, alongside treats we enjoy now and again 🍎😁

There were so many wonderful discussions, curious questions and proud smiles as the children joined in with the activities and practised their new skills in a fun, hands-on way.

They were especially excited to take home their own toothbrushes and toothpaste, helping to encourage healthy routines both at home and here at nursery 💛

Thank you again for creating such a positive and memorable learning experience for our children 🌿

✨ Supporting Big Feelings
🌿 Little Minds Matter
💛 Calm Safe Connected

This week at Sylvan House, the children across the nursery have been taking part in activities to support Mental Health Awareness Week 💛

In the baby room, the children explored mirrors as they looked closely at their reflections, copied facial expressions and began recognising emotions and connection through play. Alongside this, sensory scarves, calming lights and relaxing music created peaceful experiences that helped children feel calm, secure and emotionally supported. 🌿

These gentle experiences may look simple, but they play an important role in supporting children’s personal, social and emotional development. Through sensory exploration, connection and responsive interactions, children begin to build self-awareness, confidence and a sense of safety within their environment.

At Sylvan House, we know that supporting emotional wellbeing in the early years helps children feel settled, understood and ready to thrive. ✨

Happiness isn’t a “nice extra” here, it’s the foundation of everything we do 💛

At Sylvan House, one of our core aims is simple, but powerful:

Happy children, happy staff, happy families.

And in practice, that’s not a slogan, it’s something you can feel the moment you walk through our doors.

Because when children feel happy, they feel safe enough to explore.

✨When staff feel happy, they bring calm, consistency, and genuine connection to every interaction.

✨And when families feel happy, they feel confident that their child is truly known, cared for, and understood.

Here’s what that looks like day to day…

🌿For children

It looks like warm welcomes at the door, familiar faces, and key person relationships that help them feel secure enough to be themselves.

It’s laughter in messy play, quiet moments in story time, and the pride of “I did it!” when something new clicks.

This is where confidence grows, moment by moment.

👭🏻For staff

It’s a team that supports each other, shares the load, and takes time to really notice the small things that matter.

Because when practitioners feel valued and well-supported, they’re able to be fully present with the children, curious, responsive, and emotionally available.

That’s what high-quality early years care is built on.

💛 For families

It’s honest communication, open doors, and relationships built on trust.

It’s knowing your child runs in smiling… and is just as excited to see their key person as they are to see you at the end of the day.

You’re not just leaving your child, you’re partnering with a team who genuinely care.

Because we believe this deeply:

when children feel safe, seen, and supported, they don’t just settle… they thrive.

And that ripple effect reaches everyone around them.

✨ Happy children. Happy staff. Happy families.

That’s not just our aim, it’s our everyday practice.

If you’d like to see what this feels like in person, we’d love to welcome you in for a visit and show you around 🌿

☀️ Fresh flavours, colourful plates and happy little tummies 🌿

Our new summer menu has arrived at Sylvan House, thoughtfully planned to give children healthy, balanced meals they genuinely enjoy.

From fresh fruit and lighter seasonal dishes to nourishing snacks and plenty of opportunities to explore new tastes, mealtimes in nursery are about so much more than eating.

They’re moments of conversation, independence, confidence and connection.

As children pour drinks, try new foods and sit together at the table, they’re building important life skills alongside healthy habits that support their growing bodies and minds ✨

This season’s menu includes:

🍓 Fresh seasonal fruits

🥗 Balanced lunches and light summer teas

🥕 Child-friendly healthy snacks

💧 Plenty of hydration during warmer days

Because feeling well-fed, comfortable and cared for helps children feel calm, settled and ready to learn. 💛

Some of the most important learning… looks like play. 💧

Water play might seem simple, pouring, splashing, filling and emptying but underneath those moments, something powerful is happening.

Children are exploring cause and effect.

They’re developing coordination as they pour and scoop.

They’re building language as they describe what they see and feel.

They’re learning to share space, take turns, and connect with others.

And perhaps most importantly… they’re calm, focused and completely absorbed.

This is where curiosity grows.

This is where confidence quietly builds.

At Sylvan House we create space for these moments every day because it’s not just about the activity, it’s about how children feel while they’re learning.

Safe. Capable. Engaged. 🌿

🌳 At Sylvan House, we provide a warm, nuturing early years curriculum designed especially for children under five.

We create a safe, supportive, and caring environment where children feel secure to explore, play, and learn. Every day is filled with meaningful experiences that spark curiosity and encourage a love of learning.

Our goal is to help every child become:

✨ joyful and engaged in their learning

✨ confident in who they are and what they can do

✨ independent as they develop new skills and routines

Through hands-on play and purposeful activities, children steadily build their understanding of the world, strengthening their communication, creativity, and problem-solving skills day by day.

💚 At Sylvan House, we nurture every child’s journey from the very start.

Little steps. Big impact. 🌍

Recently, our children took their learning beyond the nursery walls and into the heart of their community.

After exploring how to care for the world around them, they proudly headed out to display their ECO handmade posters, sharing an important message about looking after our environment.

This wasn’t just a walk. It was a moment of connection.

As they placed their posters, talked about littering, and noticed the world around them, the children were building empathy, confidence and a real sense of responsibility. They’re beginning to understand that even small actions can make a meaningful difference.

From conversations indoors to action outdoors… this is how understanding grows, moment by moment 🌱