About us

Our education programmes

PATHWAY to the Foundations

Designed to support our under 2’s curriculum, Pathway explains the theory and benefits of our early programmes and activities.

It also provides lots of ideas and activities linked to the prime areas and the EYFS principles.

Foundations for the future

The EYFS prepares our children for school and our own Foundations for the Future model prepares children for life! We recognise the important role our practitioners have in developing the next generation of Influencers, Motivators, Explorers and Communicators.

We are committed to empowering, encouraging, inspiring and nurturing all children. preparing them for the future and embedding positive life skills, behaviours and attitudes.

As part of Foundations for the Future, we have developed a range of bespoke educational programmes that fit within the EYFS framework and are designed to be accessible, flexible and fun!

Whilst all children’s learning is interlinked, each programme focusses on a pillar of learning as shown below, and forms part of the wider 2-5s curriculum.

Our ME Model

Our commitment to providing exceptional care and education for our children is embedded in our DNA through our ‘ME Model’. Our ME Model sets out the behaviours, attitudes and practices our staff model with the children. They should expect no less.

close

Demonstrate

Learn and play with me at my level

Engage and interact with me

Show joy in your work and have fun with me

Notice

Observe me to find out how I like to learn

Provide experiences that respond to my likes, fascinations and enquiries

Act

Show me that you take pride in my environment and resources

Share the joy of learning and discovery with me

close

Demonstrate

Be present and alert at all times

Supervise me, giving me time and space to discover

Notice

Adhere to the policies that keep me and you safe

Stay vigilant when I am eating, sleeping and playing

Act

Involve me when you risk assess my indoor and outdoor areas

Help me manage my own risk

close

Demonstrate

Smile and have a positive approach to my learning

Be patient with me as I experiment and explore

Notice

Build my resilience by celebrating my successes

Give me sensitive guidance that I can understand when I struggle

Act

Explore, problem solve and experiment alongside me

Provide materials that ignite my curiosity, imagination and creativity

close

Demonstrate

Give me your time and attention so that I can flourish in your care

Notice

Recognise when I need your comfort

Know my unique needs and the support I might need

Act

Know and involve my family – celebrate my heritage

Embed inclusivity, diversity and equality in all your plans

close

Demonstrate

Skilfully intervene to give me appropriate challenges and help me progress

Notice

Understand what I know and can do

Use teaching strategies that help build my skills and knowledge

Act

Create a flexible, inviting learning environment, indoors and outdoors

Provide areas for busy action and quiet reflection

close

Demonstrate

Support me as I try things for myself

Respect my choices and decisions

Hear my voice

Notice

Help me to start regulating my own behaviour

Give me consistent boundaries so I can become independent and confident

Act

Give me responsibility

Consult with me when planning my learning space and opportunities

close

Demonstrate

Learn and play with me at my level

Engage and interact with me

Show joy in your work and have fun with me

Notice

Observe me to find out how I like to learn

Provide experiences that respond to my likes, fascinations and enquiries

Act

Show me that you take pride in my environment and resources

Share the joy of learning and discovery with me

close

Demonstrate

Be present and alert at all times

Supervise me, giving me time and space to discover

Notice

Adhere to the policies that keep me and you safe

Stay vigilant when I am eating, sleeping and playing

Act

Involve me when you risk assess my indoor and outdoor areas

Help me manage my own risk

close

Demonstrate

Smile and have a positive approach to my learning

Be patient with me as I experiment and explore

Notice

Build my resilience by celebrating my successes

Give me sensitive guidance that I can understand when I struggle

Act

Explore, problem solve and experiment alongside me

Provide materials that ignite my curiosity, imagination and creativity

close

Demonstrate

Give me your time and attention so that I can flourish in your care

Notice

Recognise when I need your comfort

Know my unique needs and the support I might need

Act

Know and involve my family – celebrate my heritage

Embed inclusivity, diversity and equality in all your plans

close

Demonstrate

Skilfully intervene to give me appropriate challenges and help me progress

Notice

Understand what I know and can do

Use teaching strategies that help build my skills and knowledge

Act

Create a flexible, inviting learning environment, indoors and outdoors

Provide areas for busy action and quiet reflection

close

Demonstrate

Support me as I try things for myself

Respect my choices and decisions

Hear my voice

Notice

Help me to start regulating my own behaviour

Give me consistent boundaries so I can become independent and confident

Act

Give me responsibility

Consult with me when planning my learning space and opportunities

Select the tabs below to learn about our different programmes

Health & Self

Overview of content:

  • Mental health and wellbeing
  • Empathy and tolerance
  • Self-regulation and resilience

This programme is designed to support children and staff’s well-being and mental health. We have an important role in early years, we have the earliest opportunity to teach children the skills and abilities necessary to enable them to live happy and healthy lives. According to the Mental Health Foundation, good mental health starts at infancy. Strong bonds created in the first five years of a child’s life are crucial to their resilience and wellbeing is the key to their future mental health. It is paramount that we promote and support children’s personal, social and emotional development in the early years.

Benefits

  • Overall well-being. Teaching healthy habits at a young age can positively shape a child’s future, health and wellness.
  • Increased focus, attention, self-control and participation.
  • Improved academic performance, ability to resolve conflict and be compassionate
  • Decreased levels of stress, depression, anxiety and challenging behaviour
  • Through co-regulation children can become powerful learners and competent thinkers
  • Self-regulation is now recognised as crucially important in young children’s development, strongly predicting children’s later success in relating to others and in their learning, while supporting lifelong mental and physical health.
  • Research has shown mindfulness-based interventions significantly raised self-esteem due to the emphasis of self-acceptance and self-compassion.

Why Health & Self?

The purpose of this programme is to engage children aged 2 – 5 years old in a range of activities such as meditation, connecting with their body, mind and soul.

It encourages tuning into the senses to be present in the moment, learning the importance of teamwork and the benefits of sharing problems, celebrating individuality and much more.

Innovate & Investigate

Overview of content:

  • Science and Technology
  • Engineering and Maths (STEM activities)

Innovate & Investigate Programme focusses on STEM activities and experiences:

Science | Technology | Engineering | Mathematics

Children are born with an intrinsic motivation to explore, question, experiment and discover.

The early development of the scientific mind is demonstrated as we observe a child’s fascination in a disappearing puddle, as they measure a growing flower, or experiment with mixing paint.

STEM references are also frequently used in our everyday language, e.g. “I will reflect on that”, “That melted my heart”, “They dissolved Parliament”. Jan Dubiel writes that the Three Characteristics of Effective Learning are fundamentally a scientific process, and therefore children must have opportunity to think critically, test their theories and find out through trial and error to make those vital connections in the brain.

To find out more, click here.

Benefits

Many activities such as piecing together a jigsaw, baking biscuits, building a den or programming a robot are based in STEM theory.

Quality “hands on” STEM activities and experiences allow children to build on their natural desire to explore and discover, developing their analytical and problem solving skills and enabling them to start to understand the concepts such as cause and effect, reaction, patterns and sequencing.

It is therefore important that enquiry based learning is embedded in our nurseries. This empowers children to think for themselves; enabling then to become independent, resilient and curious for life.

Why Innovate & Investigate?

The purpose of this programme is to engage children aged 2 – 5 years old in a range of activities that provide STEM opportunities.

The programme does not sit in isolation. A specific “STEM” session using the Innovate and Investigate programme can be planned, but it should also enhance and expand every day critical thinking and language.

Make & Bake

Overview of content:

  • Healthy eating
  • Science & Technology
  • Independence

This programme has been created in partnership with “The Alternative Nutritionist”, our skilled and knowledgeable early years nutritionist, who enjoys making meals healthy, fun and exciting.

Make and Bake contains many vegan friendly, gluten free alternative dishes that can be enjoyed by all. It is designed to engage, inspire and give children lots of opportunities to do as much as possible for themselves with minimal adult intervention, but with lots of adult interaction and role modelling!

Benefits

  • Children eat healthier food if they help prepare it themselves. They are much more likely to try a new food or meal if they made it.
  • Kneading dough, making ball shaped dough and picking up small items to use will all support fine and gross motor skills.
  • Helps broaden children’s knowledge of different cultures and celebrations and the foods associated with them.
  • Encourages social skills and interactions through group participation, sharing and turn taking.
  • Introduces children to food and baking activities with no pressure to eat – taking away any anxieties about eating certain foods.
  • Engages all the senses! We use descriptive language (e.g. gooey, crunchy and tangy) and talk about what children can feel, smell, taste, hear and see.

Why Make & Bake?

The purpose of this programme is to engage children aged 2 – 5 years old in a range of activities such as cooking, making, baking, mixing, preparing and chopping.

The programme does not sit in isolation, it is linked to the Sow and Grow programme. The intention is that some Sow and Grow produce can be used in some Make and Bake activities. 

Move & Groove

Overview of content:

  • Physical activity and wellbeing
  • Agility and spatial awareness
  • Balance and coordination
  • Cardiovascular and core stability

The Government recommend 180 mins of movement a day for the under 5’s. This does not need to be 3 hours of “planned” physical activity as children should be naturally active throughout every day.

At our nurseries, many of the activities such as Boogie Mites, Mini Mites, song and music sessions, and daily access to the outdoors will all contribute to meeting the above recommendation.

Even taking chairs away, allowing children to stand and move freely around the indoor tables can make a big difference!

Our everyday learning experiences also support the development of the gross and fine motor skills.

For example, opportunities to manipulate malleable resources such as playdough and clay is the first vital stage in strengthening the hand muscles, so that children can then master grasping a pencil to make marks, as they progress their way to writing.

Benefits

In addition to good hydration and healthy eating, regular physical activity is vital for the whole body development.

From bones to brains and from muscles to mental health – “Moving and Grooving” will improve strength, stamina, self-esteem, social skills and support other areas of learning and educational development too.

The vestibular system is the sensory mechanism inside the inner ear that detects movement and enables us to control our balance, spatial awareness and hold posture.

Providing opportunities to spin, rock, twirl, bounce and roll will help to strengthen the vestibular system and can also have a positive, calming impact on some challenging behaviours.

Proprioception development (body awareness) is closely linked to the vestibular system. When proprioception is processed well, we can automatically adjust our bodies in everyday tasks such as negotiating our way around objects, sitting without falling, drinking without spilling and manipulating tools such as cutlery, pencils etc. It also helps us to modulate and be calm so that we can focus.

Our proprioceptive system has receptors located within our muscles and joints. These receptors are triggered when they are squashed or pulled apart during movement, so engaging in opportunities to push, pull, carry, knead, cycle and climb will stimulate this sensation and are very useful to the body and brain.

Why Move & Groove?

The purpose of the Move and Groove programme is to engage children aged 2 – 5 years old in a range of activities that develop the body and encourages healthy choices to support a lifetime of strong physical and mental well-being.

The programme does not sit in isolation. A specific Move and Groove session can be planned, but it should also enhance and expand every day physical play opportunities.

Sow & Grow

Overview of content:

  • Growing and planting
  • Environmental awareness and appreciation
  • Connection to the natural world

Our Sow & Grow programme intends to be as eco-friendly as possible.

Gardening with children is a fantastic learning experience and one which allows the development of a whole set of new skills. Gardening activities can provide hours of fun and introduce moments of awe and wonder for children.

Children can watch plants growing from seeds and notice how fruits and vegetables increase in size as they learn how to feed and nurture them.

They will begin to make the connection that the food we eat begins its life in the soil.

To fully experience the growing process, children need to spend time handling, tasting and exploring the plants and foods around them.

Benefits

Being outside in the fresh air improves overall health and well-being and provides the body with Vitamin D, which is essential for healthy bones.

Gardening engages all the senses and provides a calming atmosphere. Children can smell, touch and taste their produce, observe the colours and changing appearance of the flowers, fruit and vegetables they have grown, whilst absorbing the sounds of nature all around them.

They will learn they have a responsibility to care for what they have planted in order for it to grow and that it takes time and patience for it to ripen or bloom.

Children may also experience excitement and a sense of pride as they pick and eat the produce they have grown, building confidence and independence. It will also encourage healthy eating – “I grew it, so I want to eat it!”

Gardening activities support physical development as it engages gross and fine motor skills, when digging with tools, pouring from a watering can and sowing seeds. It also links with other areas of learning as many mathematical and scientific concepts can be discussed and explored. Children can mark make as they make labels and signs, and generally expand their awareness and understanding of the world.

Now more than ever, the world needs future influencers who love it, appreciate it and want to protect it. Our Sow and Grow programme aims to instil that desire from the youngest age.

Why Sow & Grow?

The purpose of this programme is to engage children aged 2 – 5 years old in a range of activities such as planting, growing, nurturing, monitoring and measuring plants, fruits and vegetables. It is also to teach them about the planet and how we can be environmentally aware. This is a great opportunity to introduce recycling!

The programme does not sit in isolation. A specific activity from the Sow & Grow pack can be planned, but it can also enhance and expand every day growing and gardening opportunities.

Health & Self

Health & Self

Overview of content:

  • Mental health and wellbeing
  • Empathy and tolerance
  • Self-regulation and resilience

This programme is designed to support children and staff’s well-being and mental health. We have an important role in early years, we have the earliest opportunity to teach children the skills and abilities necessary to enable them to live happy and healthy lives. According to the Mental Health Foundation, good mental health starts in infancy. Strong bonds created in the first five years of a child’s life are crucial to their resilience and well-being is the key to their future mental health. It is paramount that we promote and support children’s personal, social and emotional development in the early years.

Benefits

  • Overall well-being. Teaching healthy habits at a young age can positively shape a child’s future, health and wellness.
  • Increased focus, attention, self-control and participation.
  • Improved academic performance, ability to resolve conflict and be compassionate
  • Decreased levels of stress, depression, anxiety and challenging behaviour
  • Through co-regulation children can become powerful learners and competent thinkers
  • Self-regulation is now recognised as crucially important in young children’s development, strongly predicting children’s later success in relating to others and in their learning, while supporting lifelong mental and physical health.
  • Research has shown mindfulness-based interventions significantly raised self-esteem due to the emphasis of self-acceptance and self-compassion.

Why Health & Self?

The purpose of this programme is to engage children aged 2 – 5 years old in a range of activities such as meditation, connecting with their body, mind and soul.

It encourages tuning into the senses to be present in the moment, learning the importance of teamwork and the benefits of sharing problems, celebrating individuality and much more.

 

Innovate & Investigate

Innovate & Investigate

Overview of content:

  • Science and Technology
  • Engineering and Maths (STEM activities)

Innovate & Investigate Programme focusses on STEM activities and experiences:

Science | Technology | Engineering | Mathematics

Children are born with an intrinsic motivation to explore, question, experiment and discover.

The early development of the scientific mind is demonstrated as we observe a child’s fascination in a disappearing puddle, as they measure a growing flower, or experiment with mixing paint.

STEM references are also frequently used in our everyday language, e.g. “I will reflect on that”, “That melted my heart”, “They dissolved Parliament”. Jan Dubiel writes that the Three Characteristics of Effective Learning are fundamentally a scientific process, and therefore children must have opportunity to think critically, test their theories and find out through trial and error to make those vital connections in the brain.

To find out more, click here.

Benefits

Many activities such as piecing together a jigsaw, baking biscuits, building a den or programming a robot are based in STEM theory.

Quality “hands on” STEM activities and experiences allow children to build on their natural desire to explore and discover, developing their analytical and problem solving skills. Enabling them to start to understand the concepts such as cause and effect, reaction, patterns and sequencing.

It is therefore important that enquiry based learning is embedded in our nurseries. This empowers children to think for themselves; enabling then to become independent, resilient and curious for life.

Why Innovate and Investigate?

The purpose of this programme is to engage children aged 2 – 5 years old in a range of activities that provide STEM opportunities.

The programme does not sit in isolation. A specific “STEM” session using the Innovate and Investigate programme can be planned, but it should also enhance and expand every day critical thinking and language.

 

Make & Bake

Make & Bake

Overview of content:

  • Healthy eating
  • Science and Technology
  • Independence

This programme has been created in partnership with “The Alternative Nutritionist”, our skilled and knowledgeable early years nutritionist, who enjoys making meals healthy, fun and exciting.

Make and Bake contains many vegan friendly, gluten free alternative dishes that can be enjoyed by all. It is designed to engage, inspire and give children lots of opportunities to do as much as possible for themselves with minimal adult intervention, but lots of adult interaction and role modelling!

Benefits

  • Children eat healthier food if they help prepare it themselves. They are much more likely to try a new food or meal if they made it.
  • Kneading dough, making ball shaped dough and picking up small items to use will all support fine and gross motor skills.
  • Helps broaden children’s knowledge of different cultures and celebrations and the foods associated with them.
  • Encourages social skills and interactions through group participation, sharing and turn taking.
  • Introduces children to food and baking activities with no pressure to eat – taking away any anxieties about eating certain foods.
  • Engages all the senses! We use descriptive language (e.g. gooey, crunchy and tangy) and talk about what children can feel, smell, taste, hear and see.

Why Make & Bake?

The purpose of this programme is to engage children aged 2 – 5 years old in a range of activities such as cooking, making, baking, mixing, preparing and chopping.

The programme does not sit in isolation, it is linked to the Sow and Grow programme. The intention is that some Sow and Grow produce can be used in some Make and Bake activities. 

 

Move & Groove

Move & Groove

Overview of content:

  • Physical activity and wellbeing
  • Agility and spatial awareness
  • Balance and coordination
  • Cardiovascular and core stability

The Government recommend 180 mins of movement a day for the under 5’s. This does not need to be 3 hours of “planned” physical activity as children should be naturally active throughout every day.

At our nurseries, many of the activities such as Boogie Mites, Mini Mites, song & music sessions, and daily access to the outdoors will all contribute to meeting the above recommendation.

Even taking chairs away, allowing children to stand and move freely around the indoor tables can make a big difference!

Our everyday learning experiences also support the development of the gross and fine motor skills.

For example, opportunities to manipulate malleable resources such as playdough and clay is the first vital stage in strengthening the hand muscles, so that children can then master grasping a pencil to make marks, as they progress their way to writing.

Benefits

In addition to good hydration and healthy eating, regular physical activity is vital for the whole body development.

From bones to brains and from muscles to mental health – “Moving and Grooving” will improve strength, stamina, self-esteem, social skills and support other areas of learning and educational development too.

The vestibular system is the sensory mechanism inside the inner ear that detects movement and enables us to control our balance, spatial awareness and hold posture.

Providing opportunities to spin, rock, twirl, bounce and roll will help to strengthen the vestibular system and can also have a positive, calming impact on some challenging behaviours.

Proprioception development (body awareness) is closely linked to the vestibular system. When proprioception is processed well, we can automatically adjust our bodies in everyday tasks such as negotiating our way around objects, sitting without falling, drinking without spilling and manipulating tools such as cutlery, pencils etc. It also helps us to modulate and be calm so that we can focus.

Our proprioceptive system has receptors located within our muscles and joints. These receptors are triggered when they are squashed or pulled apart during movement, so engaging in opportunities to push, pull, carry, knead, cycle and climb will stimulate this sensation and are very useful to the body and brain.

Why Move & Groove?
The purpose of the Move and Groove programme is to engage children aged 2 – 5 years old in a range of activities that develop the body and encourages healthy choices to support a lifetime of strong physical and mental well-being.

The programme does not sit in isolation. A specific Move and Groove session can be planned, but it should also enhance and expand every day physical play opportunities.

 

Sow & Grow

Sow & Grow

Overview of content:

  • Growing and planting
  • Environmental awareness and appreciation
  • Connection to the natural world

Our Sow & Grow programme intends to be as eco-friendly as possible.

Gardening with children is a fantastic learning experience and one which allows the development of a whole set of new skills. Gardening activities can provide hours of fun and introduce moments of awe and wonder for children.

Children can watch plants growing from seeds and notice how fruits and vegetables increase in size as they learn how to feed and nurture them.

They will begin to make the connection that the food we eat begins its life in the soil.

To fully experience the growing process, children need to spend time handling, tasting and exploring the plants and foods around them.

Benefits

Being outside in the fresh air improves overall health and well-being and provides the body with Vitamin D, which is essential for healthy bones.

Gardening engages all the senses and provides a calming atmosphere. Children can smell, touch and taste their produce, observe the colours and changing appearance of the flowers, fruit and vegetables they have grown, whilst absorbing the sounds of nature all around them.

They will learn they have a responsibility to care for what they have planted in order for it to grow and that it takes time and patience for it to ripen or bloom.

Children may also experience excitement and a sense of pride as they pick and eat the produce they have grown, building confidence and independence. It will also encourage healthy eating – “I grew it, so I want to eat it!”

Gardening activities support physical development as it engages gross and fine motor skills, when digging with tools, pouring from a watering can and sowing seeds. It also links with other areas of learning as many mathematical and scientific concepts can be discussed and explored, children can mark make as they make labels and signs and generally expand their awareness and understanding of the world.

Now more than ever, the world needs future influencers who love it, appreciate it and want to protect it. Our Sow and Grow programme aims to instil that desire from the youngest age.

Why Sow & Grow?

The purpose of this programme is to engage children aged 2 – 5 years old in a range of activities such as planting, growing, nurturing, monitoring and measuring plants, fruits and vegetables. It is also to teach them about the planet and how we can be environmentally aware. This is a great opportunity to introduce recycling!

The programme does not sit in isolation. A specific activity from the Sow & Grow pack can be planned, but it can also enhance and expand every day growing and gardening opportunities.

 

Get in touch!

If you’d like to book a visit at your chosen nursery or have any questions about Grandir UK, please contact our friendly customer services team on 0800 028 4500 any time between 8.30 am – 6.30 pm.