A typical day at Seymour House

What to expect in a typical day at nursery

Every day at nursery is filled with exciting new discoveries and a whole lot of fun. However, it is important to establish daily routines so the children, and their parents, feel comfortable and safe knowing what to expect.

No two days are ever quite the same at our nurseries. The wide range of activities means there is always something different going on and we structure the day around each age group and individual needs and interests. Children at our nurseries participate in all kinds of exciting and engaging activities, both indoors and outdoors, throughout the year. Nevertheless, consistency helps the day run smoothly and a daily routine gives children a sense of security, safe in the knowledge of what will happen next.  

Arriving at nursery

The day begins early with us welcoming children as early as 7am. Every Seymour House nursery has on-site parking solely for the use of nursery parents, making drop off and pick up easy and safe. Safeguarding is extremely important, so when they arrive every family must ring the doorbell and wait be let in by a member of the nursery team.

Once inside, children are signed in on the register in the lobby and then their parents take them to their homebase room where they hang their coat and bag on their peg ready to start their day at nursery.

For those children who arrive early, they will have their breakfast with us and there are lots of activities on offer for them to join in with right from 7am.

A morning at nursery

Throughout their day at nursery the children take part in a variety of different indoor and outdoor activities. In their homerooms or the outdoor classroom morning activities are led by our Early Years Educators and are tailored to the age group and the specific needs and ability of each child.

Our inspirational education approach follows our 5Cs curriculum which uses communication, co-operation, curiosity, creativity and critical thinking as the foundation to provide the children with the skills needed to confidently progress to primary school after their time with us. This curriculum is driven by the Early Years Foundation stage and includes lots of opportunities for children to take part in a wide range of adult-led and child-led activities such as:

Lunchtime at nursery

All our children are provided with a healthy, nutritious lunch from our partners at Nursery Kitchen. The meals are prepared ready to serve by our Nursery Food Champions who bring lunch and snacks to the homebase room where the children enjoy a delicious meal in the company of their friends and key person.

Mealtimes are an important part of the day at nursery, and we use this opportunity not only to refuel but also to provide more learning opportunities. From our “snack and chat” communication tools to learning how to self-serve their own lunch, children continue to develop their skills and independence whilst learning the importance of healthy eating habits.

An afternoon at nursery

After a break for lunch the afternoon continues in the same way as the morning at nursery, filled with more fun activities, playtime and learning opportunities from our 5Cs curriculum.

For children who stay till the end of the day they will also enjoy teatime in their homeroom, with another tasty and nutritious meal from Nursery Kitchen. For everyone, there is also a mid-morning and mid-afternoon snack bar where children can choose a healthy bite as they play and learn.

Quiet time and naps

To support their healthy development, many young children need a bit of down time to relax and recuperate as part of their daily nursery routine. We encourage children to rest or sleep when they are tired, but individual sleep plans are discussed with parents at settling in visits. At nap time, the child’s key person takes them to a quiet place in their homebase room where they can still be monitored whilst they calmly rest or sleep.

Home time

When their day at nursery comes to an end, the children stay in their homebase room until their parent comes to collect them. As with arrival, parents must be authorised by a member of the nursery team to enter the building. They can then go to their child’s room to get them and must then sign them out at the main register in the lobby before they leave.

We use the time at both drop off and pick up to keep parents informed about their child’s day at nursery as well as telling them about their general progress. We encourage a two-way sharing of information where the child’s key person verbally updates parents with personal details of their child’s day and parents can ask questions and provide any input needed from them. When talking about their day, we focus on the wonderful educational activities and teaching each child has enjoyed and how these activities link to the Early Years Foundation Stage as well as supporting other aspects of their development.

Nursery is the beginning of every child’s educational journey. Learn more about the amazing experiences your child can have each day by finding your nearest Seymour House nursery.