Elan Preschool, Haywards Heath

Children’s wellbeing is considered throughout the preschool day at Elan. Nutritious, balanced meals form part of children’s daily routines, alongside opportunities for physical activity, outdoor play and exploration in our spacious garden.

Mealtimes provide opportunities for children to make choices, become involved in everyday routines and enjoy eating alongside others.

Working closely with families is an important part of our approach. Through the GrandirUK App, families receive updates about their child’s day, helping them stay connected with their activities, experiences and learning.

Regular communication between families and practitioners also provides opportunities to share information and work together throughout each child’s time at Elan Preschool.

Children at Elan Preschool enjoy a varied mix of activities and experiences, including creative play, music, physical activities and hands-on exploration throughout the preschool day.

Outdoor experiences also form an important part of preschool life, with daily opportunities to spend time in the garden, explore the natural environment and get involved with our growing area.

Forest School sessions provide further opportunities for children to investigate and discover the natural world, while regular community outings take learning beyond the preschool and into the local Haywards Heath area.

Our Elan Preschool on Sydney Road provides welcoming spaces designed around the needs of preschool-age children, with resources and experiences supporting different areas of Early Years learning and development.

Indoor environments provide opportunities for creativity, exploration, physical play and quieter experiences, while resources are arranged to encourage children to make choices and become actively involved in their play and learning.

Outdoor space

Our spacious garden is an important part of daily life at Élan Preschool, giving children opportunities to spend time outdoors every day and enjoy active, imaginative and exploratory play.

A dedicated growing area gives children hands-on opportunities to care for plants and discover more about the natural environment, while Forest School sessions extend outdoor learning through further exploration and nature-based experiences.

Quality of care at Elan Preschool starts with getting to know each child as an individual. Our team works closely with families to understand children’s interests, needs and stages of development, helping practitioners adapt experiences and support throughout their time at preschool.

Regular communication between families and practitioners provides opportunities to share information about children’s routines, experiences and development, supporting continuity between home and preschool.

Our inclusive approach also considers children who may need additional support, with practitioners working alongside families and our SENCo to understand individual needs and help ensure appropriate support is considered.

Our curriculum at Elan Preschool combines structured and play-based learning, with experiences carefully adapted around children’s individual interests, needs and stages of development.

Practitioners provide opportunities for children to explore, investigate, communicate and become increasingly independent through meaningful, hands-on experiences across the preschool day.

As children approach school age, experiences also provide opportunities to practise a range of skills and build on their existing knowledge as they prepare for their transition to school.

At Elan Preschool, children’s individual interests, needs and stages of development play an important part in shaping their preschool experience.

Our approach combines opportunities for purposeful play and exploration with carefully planned experiences, encouraging children to investigate their own ideas, become involved in their learning and experience new challenges at an appropriate pace.

The natural environment also plays an important part in preschool life. Daily outdoor experiences, our growing garden and Forest School sessions provide opportunities for children to explore nature and make discoveries through hands-on experiences.

For families with more than one child, Elan Preschool forms part of the wider Elan nursery community in Haywards Heath, with Elan Day Nursery located nearby.

The two settings provide childcare and Early Years education across different stages of children’s development, offering families an Elan setting from the earlier nursery years through to preschool.

Places are subject to availability at each setting, but families can speak to the team about the options available for brothers and sisters at Elan in Haywards Heath.

Led by Nursery Manager Hannah, our experienced Elan Preschool team works closely together to provide a consistent approach to children’s care, learning and development.

Practitioners take time to understand children’s individual interests, needs and stages of development, adapting experiences and support as they progress through preschool.

Our qualified SENCo works closely with families and practitioners to support children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND), helping to ensure individual needs are understood and appropriate support is considered.