Rainbow Nursery is a long established (1993), home-based playgroup for children 2 and a half, to 4 in the last quarter of the year. It is run by a qualified pre-primary school teacher with an assistant. The school is open during term time and closely follows the Waldorf school’s calendar. Children can attend three, four or five days a week. As a teacher I work out of the Waldorf impulse and the indications of Rudolf Steiner for early childhood education. I endeavor to provide a secure, nurturing and homely environment for the young child so that they can feel safe, relaxed and happy to be away from home for a while each day. I endeavor to meet the needs of the whole child at their particular developmental stage and in their unique family context. The curriculum I work with is appropriate for the needs of the 3 to 4 year old child whose creative imagination and fantasy play is beginning to awaken. The child’s creative play is fostered each day with storytelling, puppetry, and singing and games at ring time. Children learn through imitation and doing and so the days of the week are structured around creative activities, simple handwork projects, cooking, baking and gardening. Of course there is plenty of time for free play, and a healthy sensory motor environment is provided in the form of sand and water play, swings and a jungle gym. Each term ends with a seasonal festival for the children and this fosters a sense of wonderment at the natural world around them. Children’s birthdays are also special celebration when the normal activities are set aside for a special birthday ring and story. I have a few requests of parents:
For snack time your child will need to bring along a healthy snack such as whole wheat bread or crackers, a piece of fruit to share and a bottle of water. Children always need a change of clothes in case of accidents. The clothes and particularly the shoes that children wear to school should be easy for them to take off and put on themselves in order to foster independence. Clothing should be easy for children to move about in and not be a hindrance to going to the toilet on their own, and such that is does not matter if they get a little dirty during work and play time. After all, dirty clothes are a sure sign that your child has had a busy, industrious and fun filled morning at school!