When choosing a nursery Nottingham parents often look for a balance between a safe environment and a strong educational foundation. At Little Toes Day Nursery, we deliver this through a method called “In the Moment” Planning (ITMP).
While it sounds simple, this approach is backed by significant early years pedagogy. Here is how it works and why it is highly effective for your child’s development.
The Educational Logic: Why “In the Moment”?
Traditional nursery settings often use “pre-planned” activities (e.g., everyone paints a tree on Tuesday). However, research shows that children learn more effectively when they are genuinely interested in a task.
“In the Moment” learning involves three key steps:
- The Spark: A child shows natural curiosity (e.g., observing how water flows).
- The Teachable Moment: Our practitioners identify a learning opportunity in real-time.
- The Extension: We provide a resource or ask a question that introduces a new concept like volume, gravity, or new vocabulary while the child is fully engaged.
Brain Development and Cognitive Growth
Early childhood is a period of rapid brain “wiring.” By allowing children to lead their play, we encourage Executive Function, a set of mental skills that include working memory, flexible thinking, and self-control.
At Little Toes, our intentionally small setting ensures that these “lightbulb moments” aren’t missed. Our staff-to-child ratio allows for the high-quality interactions required to turn simple play into a cognitive milestone.
A Structured Path: Seedlings to Saplings
Though our daily activities are flexible, our goals are structured. We focus on the Characteristics of Effective Learning:
- Playing and Exploring: Investigating and experiencing things.
- Active Learning: Concentrating and “keeping on trying” when challenges arise.
- Creating and Thinking Critically: Developing their own ideas and strategies.
This ensures that by the time children move from our Seedlings (under 2s) to our Saplings (over 2s), they aren’t just “school-ready”, they are confident, independent learners.
Visit One Of Our Leading Nurseries in Nottingham
If you are looking for a nursery Nottingham family’s value for its professional, child-centred approach, we invite you to see our philosophy in action.
We have 4 different locations ready for you to explore:
All our Nottingham based nurseries offer a calm, purposeful environment where your child’s natural curiosity is treated as a priority, not a distraction.
Please don’t hesitate to contact us if you have any questions.💛