Investigators

The Investigators Room cares for children aged 2+ years. Some children may join us at this stage whereas those who have been in our Explorers or Nest baby rooms will move up at around their second birthday, when they are ready for the next step at nursery. Transitions will be discussed and agreed with the parents prior to beginning any move. We continue to use EyLog to record children’s progress which parents may access via the parent app.

We offer a flexible routine which is reviewed on an ongoing basis so that it can be adapted to respond to the children’s changing needs or when they start to show interest in activities other beyond those currently available to them. The children choose what they would like to play with and select the toys and equipment themselves. There is free-flow access to the children’s outdoor play space and they spend plenty of time outdoors in our large, well-equipped nursery garden as well as occasionally going a little further afield on the Lancing College estate for woodland walks or in the local area.

We create planned activities based upon the children’s interests which support their areas of their development. During group times the children are encouraged to participate in a variety of activities to promote social and emotional aspects of learning. Quiet time with afternoon naps on comfortable sleep mats takes place after their lunchtime meal. Outdoor play or group activities enable children to develop skills of co-operation when working and playing with their peers. All learning activities are play-based but challenging and tailored to the individual needs of the children. They experience these in a safe and stimulating environment and our activities are designed to follow current Early Years Foundation Stage guidelines.

Some of the older Investigators children may move during the course of the year to our new Discoverers Room. This is dependent on space being available and so some of the younger children may potentially spend a whole year in Investigators and their programme of activities will be adjusted appropriately. Children will only be offered a transition to Discoverers when they are ready to move up and where there is availability in the Discoverers Room. Again, transitions will be discussed and agreed with the parents prior to beginning any move. At the end of each summer, the older children who will be starting their final year at nursery in the September of that year will move to one of our Rising Reception rooms where they will spend a year together before they leave for Reception in primary school education.