Routines

At Little Kinder we want our children to develop knowledge and respect for the world around them. Our long term visions revolve around nature, the seasons, and the celebration of festivals from different cultures and religions, as well as our own.

Morning Sessions

9am - 10:40am: Free flow play and activities

Children can choose to play indoors or outdoors all year round. We provide access to quiet spaces where children can play, share stories or rest, and large areas to explore, dig, run, climb and create. There are activities for children to take part in, such as baking and crafts, and adults are based in each area to support children in their play.

10:40 - 11am: Circle time 

Circle time involves singing, drama, dancing, finger games, numeracy and phonics. These activities develop essential pre-literacy and pre-numeracy skills. Children gain an understanding of rhythm, rhyme and alliteration, learn to anticipate key events and phrases and hear and say the initial sounds in words. They can recite number names in sequence, and say and use number names in context.

10:50 – 11am: Washing hands

11am – 11:20am: Snack time

Children help to prepare snacks, count how many chairs, cups and plates are needed, and lay the table. Snack time is an important time to sit down together and share a meal. The children help to give out the food, and pour their own drinks which develops their sense of independence.

11:20 – 11:40: Outdoor play

Everybody goes outside to play on one of the larger school playgrounds. This gives all the children a chance to burn off some energy, but it is also an important transition activity for those children going up to school. The playground becomes a familiar space, and not as intimidating at school break times.

11:40 – 12pm: Story time

The weekly story is often an oral story with props – the props, and usually a book of the story is left out the following week to enable children to re-tell the story themselves.

Afternoon Sessions

12pm – 12.30pm

Children who are going home after the morning session are brought down to the main school gate. Children staying for the afternoon session play in the Little Kinder outdoor area.

12.30 – 1.15pm: Lunchtime

Children bring a packed lunch from home (usually sandwiches, fruit, yogurt etc. We can also heat up soup, pasta etc.)

1.15 – 1.30pm: Rest

All children have their own sleeping bag which contains a pillow and a blanket. All areas become quiet and cosy, and children can choose where they would like to rest.  The children are read to by an adult and quite often children fall to sleep.

1.30 – 2.30: Afternoon activities

Afternoon activities include free play, crafts, taking care of our chickens, sorting recycling, local walks and village visits.

2.30 – 3pm: Outdoor play

3pm – 3.15: Home time

Children who are being collected at 3pm are brought down to the school gate. Parents can come to collect their child at 3.15 from the outdoor area.