About Us 

We provide ourselves on our play based approach to children learning, by supporting children to take part in play and by providing a well resourced play environment both inside and outside. Care and education is based around each individual, with each child’s development being documented along the way using an online programme that is constantly updated and accessible for parents and carers to view as well as add to themselves. The strong relationships that we build with parents, families and outside professionals ensure that we are all working together to support your child. As your child continues their journey throughout the nursery we gradually support them to become confident, independent learners, ready for the next stage of their education.

We are proud to say that Ofsted have graded us as a ‘OUTSTANDING’ setting.(April 2023) 

What Letterbox will offer

Each child at Letterbox will be individually planned for through a variety of interesting and exciting activities and these will carefully be created through your child’s interests.

We use an online system called 'FAMLY' which enables us to document all your child’s learning through written observations, photographs, Videos, Progress trackers and reports all is done so in line with the EYFS (Early Years Foundation Stage) and supported through COETL (Characteristics of Effective Teaching and Learning). We also ensure we carry out our statutory requirements for the Progress check at age 2 and for some of our older children the Early Years Foundation Stage Profile.

EYFS Areas

• Personal, Social and Emotional
• Communication and Language
• Physical
• Literacy
• Mathematics
• Understanding the World
• Expressive Arts and Design

COETL Areas

• Playing and Exploring (Engagement)
• Active Learning (Motivation)
• Creating and Thinking Critically (Thinking)

Key Person

A Key Person is a named practitioner who is responsible to ensure your child feels safe and secure. Their role involves responding sensitively to children’s feeling and behaviours and meeting their emotional needs by giving reassurance and support each child’s well being. They will also support your child’s physical needs including nappy changing, toileting and dressing. The Key Person is a familiar figure who is accessible and available as a point of contact for parents and main carers. Your child’s Key Person will  track your child's developmental progress and plan for their individual needs.

Induction and Settling Process

We have recently changed our induction and settling in process and our procedure for this is called ‘ Successful Induction in Five Steps’ 

A settling session is a time when your child’s key person gets to know your child, you and your family. The Key Person will ask you about your child’s routines at home and any interests, comforters etc all vital pieces of information to get to know your child as well as they can. We have an induction checklist that we work though with you. These induction sessions will be arranged by the Key Person. Theses sessions are very flexible and adaptable to ensure that a child feels secure before they officially start.

All inductions and settling sessions are free of charge.

Outside Play

We offer free flow access to the outdoor area for children aged 2+. Our garden is fully equipped with a variety of resources including Climbing frame, fireman’s pole, Slide, Chalk boards, Gardening patch, and cosy corner. We have recently purchased some new picnic benches which can be used for various activities. We have a mud patch / digging area which is something we are hoping to develop this coming term, so watch this space.

The main garden area is fully equipped with a large climbing frame which includes a tunnel, slide and fireman’s pole. We have some study balancing equipment suitable for all children as they can be adapted to suit ability.

Added to this we also provide a range of scooters, trikes and bikes, balls, guttering as well as numerous other physical equipment so all children of any ability would be able to develop their physical skills further.

We are proud of the mud kitchen we provide the children, this is very popular and therefore it means that your child’s clothing may occasionally become a little dirty when playing in this area. We do, however, always aim to protect children’s clothing with aprons but this does not cover all their clothing!! We also provide a range of water and sand activities to give the children a variation in their play.

Staff are always on hand to suggest new games or activities for children and normally end up in the middle of games that the children have decided to play!!

We also have a covered area in the garden for our under 2's this provides extra protection from the hot and wet weather as well as being a safe space for our littlest children and the babies who are not yet mobile. This is within the main nursery garden area so are still integrated with the older children.