Ninas Nursery High Lane

As we get ready to start another new week across both the High Lane settings we thought we would share a small insight from our under 3s provision from the last few weeks. Where awe and wonder is at the heart of every curious opportunity for discovery.

There is something truly magical about giving children the freedom to create without limits. Our donated bench became the canvas for a large-scale clay invitation, where children explored, sculpted, rolled, pressed and transformed the surface using their own ideas and imagination.
Inspired by Friedrich Froebel's belief that children learn through hands-on play and creativity, this open-ended experience encouraged curiosity, self-expression and problem-solving. As children manipulated the clay, they strengthened the small muscles in their hands, developed bilateral coordination and refined the fine motor skills needed for future writing, all while exploring texture, shape, pattern and three-dimensional design.
One of the most wonderful moments was watching our preschool children naturally support our Rising 3s. Through gentle guidance and encouragement, they demonstrated how to climb safely onto the bench and carefully add clay to every surface. These meaningful interactions beautifully reflected Lev Vygotsky's theory of learning through social interaction, with more experienced children scaffolding the learning of their younger peers. Confidence blossomed as friendships grew, communication flourished and children learned from one another in authentic, child-led ways.
At Nina's Nursery, we value large-scale, process-led experiences that celebrate creativity over outcomes. By trusting children with real resources and meaningful opportunities, we create environments filled with awe and wonder, where every child can explore, collaborate and discover at their own pace.

Yesterday celebrated our wonderful Preschool Graduation Class of 2026.

One last celebration of awe and wonder before our preschoolers begin their next adventure at school.

It has been a privilege to watch each child grow in confidence, curiosity and independence. We are so proud of everything they have achieved and know they will continue to shine wherever their journey takes them.

Congratulations, Class of 2026 – keep exploring, keep wondering, and enjoy your next adventure!

Today reminded us that children are natural problem-solvers when given the freedom to think, explore and lead their own learning.

One of our curious learners became fascinated by our nursery laundry drying rack. Armed with a handful of magnets, he carefully explored how high he could place them. When he realised he couldn't quite reach the top, he paused, thought about the problem, independently found a chair, climbed safely with practitioner support, and proudly achieved his goal.

There was no adult telling him what to do or how to do it—just time, space and trust. This moment was rich in critical thinking, perseverance, spatial awareness, risk assessment and problem-solving. He planned, adapted his approach and celebrated his own success.

At our Curiosity Approach nursery, we know that the most meaningful learning often comes from the simplest provocations. Everyday objects become invitations to investigate, explore and discover, empowering children to become capable, confident and independent thinkers.

Curiosity fuels learning. Independence builds confidence. Wonder inspires lifelong learners.

We've been a little quieter than usual on our social media recently, and we'd love to share why...

Behind the scenes, we have been busy planning, creating, building, and transforming a space filled with awe, wonder, and endless opportunities for learning through play.

We are delighted to have recently opened a dedicated over three’s provision, located just a short walk from our original Curiosity Approach setting. Since the move, our children and their play partners have been making magical memories together as they explore the inspiring environment, thoughtful invitations to play, and engaging provocations designed to spark curiosity and imagination. Below are some of the wonderful experiences that have been on offer across our new space.

We'll continue to share updates from both of our settings here, so keep an eye on our page for plenty more exciting moments, discoveries, and adventures still to come.

We are opening our curiosity approach nursery doors for our next open day on the 11th of July.
Please contact Amanda via email [email protected] to book your space for Autumn 2026, bookings already being taken for Summer 2027.

RSPB Bronze Wild Challenge

As part of our RSPB Bronze Wild Challenge, preschool children took part in an environmentally friendly invitation to play by creating compostable bird feeders for our outdoor area. The children used leftover orange peel halves as natural containers and filled them with a mixture of lard and bird seed to help support local birds and wildlife.

Throughout the experience, the children explored the textures and materials with curiosity and enthusiasm. They independently mixed, scooped, pressed, and filled the orange peels while engaging in conversations about the birds that may visit our garden. The children discussed how birds need food, water, shelter, and care and began to develop an understanding of how humans can help protect wildlife and the natural environment.

This invitation to play provided valuable opportunities for the children to learn about sustainability and caring for the world around them. By reusing leftover orange peel instead of throwing it away, the children were introduced to the concept of recycling and reducing waste in a meaningful and hands-on way. They showed excitement when learning that the feeders were fully compostable and safe for nature.

The children strengthened their fine motor skills through mixing and handling the ingredients while also developing communication and language through discussions about birds, habitats, and the environment. The invitation to play encouraged cooperation, turn-taking, and a shared sense of responsibility as the children worked together to create something that would benefit living creatures.

The completed bird feeders were placed within the preschool outdoor environment where the children will continue to observe visiting birds and engage in ongoing discussions about local wildlife and conservation. This experience reflects our commitment to promoting environmental awareness, sustainability, and positive relationships with the natural world through meaningful, child-led experiences.

Why does play-doh have to become play-doh straight away?
In our Curiosity Approach setting, we choose to slow the process down and really value what happens before the final product is reached. Our preschool children create their own play-doh each day, exploring it through every stage of its transformation. It begins as a liquid mixture, moves through sticky and unpredictable textures, and gradually becomes the familiar soft, malleable dough — with each stage offering something new to discover.
This experience goes far beyond simple sensory play. As children mix and observe changes, they are developing early scientific thinking, noticing how materials combine and transform, and beginning to understand cause and effect. They test ideas, make adjustments, and learn through real, hands-on experimentation that is meaningful to them.
There is also rich mathematical learning taking place as children measure, compare, and explore quantities and volume. The changing consistency invites them to think critically — is it too runny, too dry, what needs to change? Alongside this, their language flourishes as they describe textures and processes, using words like runny, sticky, lumpy, smooth, and stretchy, building confidence in expressing their ideas.
Physically, each stage supports development in different ways. Pouring and stirring strengthen coordination, while kneading and manipulating the dough builds the fine motor strength needed for later writing. Just as importantly, children are developing executive function skills — learning to problem-solve, persist when things don’t go to plan, and adapt their approach.
By making their own play-doh, children gain a real sense of ownership and pride in what they have created. The process encourages patience, focus, and resilience, helping them understand that outcomes don’t need to be instant to be rewarding.
In slowing things down, we are not just making play-doh — we are creating space for deeper thinking, curiosity, and meaningful learning to unfold.