Toad Hall Day Nursery, Rayleigh

Wellbeing is part of everyday life at Toad Hall. Our neutral, uncluttered rooms provide a welcoming environment, our chef prepares fresh meals on site each day, and children have regular opportunities for active play in the garden as well as quieter moments with a book.

We encourage open communication with families and use the GrandirUK App to share daily updates on activities, meals, milestones, photos and notes from the team, helping families stay connected with their child’s nursery experience.

Support extends beyond the nursery day too. We run online sessions for families on topics such as potty training and starting school, alongside Stay and Play sessions that invite families and grandparents to spend time with us and be part of nursery life.

Boogie Mites music and movement sessions are a lively part of the week at Toad Hall, giving children opportunities to enjoy music, dance and rhythm while exploring different ways to move and express themselves.

We also welcome regular visits from Harley the therapy dog, giving children a different kind of experience within the nursery. Beyond the setting, children head out into the local community too, with visits to places such as the local library. Families are welcome to join us as helpers on these outings, making them part of the experience too.

Toad Hall is a purpose-built nursery with four bright, spacious playrooms, each designed around a different stage of development.

• Otters: Our baby room, a nurturing space designed around the routines and needs of our youngest children.
  
  
• Toads: Our toddler room, with plenty of space to move, play and explore.
  
  
• Badgers: Our preschool room, with resources and experiences shaped around children’s interests and growing curiosity.
  
  

• Moles: Our room for older preschool children, with opportunities to develop independence and skills that help prepare them for school.

Children move into their next room when they are developmentally and emotionally ready, rather than simply because they have reached a particular age. Our team work with families to plan each transition around the individual child, helping to make the change feel familiar and gradual.

We also have a dedicated sensory room, providing a quieter environment for sensory experiences, focused activities and time away from the main playrooms when children need it.

Outdoor space

Our secluded garden sits within woodland-style grounds, giving children plenty of space for exploration and active play. Climbing equipment, a mud kitchen, sand pit and gardening area provide different opportunities to move, investigate, create and engage with the natural world.

Time outdoors is a regular part of nursery life throughout the year, giving children opportunities for physical play, exploration and new discoveries in a natural environment.

Every child at Toad Hall is supported by a team who take time to get to know them as an individual, from their routines and interests to the things they enjoy and the support they need.

Open communication with families is an important part of that care. By sharing meaningful updates and working together, our team can build consistent, trusting relationships between nursery and home, supporting each child as they settle in, explore and try new things at their own pace.

Our curriculum at Toad Hall makes the most of the nursery’s natural environment, following a Hygge approach with elements of the Curiosity Approach woven throughout. Together, these approaches create opportunities for children to explore, investigate and follow their interests in an environment designed with their wellbeing in mind.

Books are central to learning here too, giving children opportunities to discover new ideas, develop their imagination and enjoy stories as part of everyday nursery life. Across the curriculum, children are encouraged to be curious, make choices and develop growing confidence and independence.

We believe children learn well when they have time and space to explore at their own pace. Our neutral, uncluttered rooms follow a Hygge approach, with elements of the Curiosity Approach woven throughout, while our woodland-style grounds extend opportunities for exploration into the outdoors.

Books, quieter spaces and time outside are all part of everyday life at Toad Hall, giving children different ways to explore their interests, make discoveries and develop growing curiosity, confidence and independence.

For families with more than one child, having siblings at Toad Hall means one drop-off and pick-up and one familiar team getting to know the whole family. Brothers and sisters can each enjoy a playroom suited to their own age and stage, while still having opportunities to spend time together in the garden and see familiar faces around the nursery.

Sibling places are subject to availability, but where we have space in the appropriate room, we will always do what we can to find places for brothers and sisters together.

Led by Nursery Manager Julia, our experienced team are at the heart of Toad Hall. The team includes SENCo-qualified practitioners alongside Early Years practitioners with a broad range of knowledge and experience.

Many members of the team began their careers with us as apprentices and have progressed into senior roles. We continue to support and mentor apprentices as they develop their Early Years knowledge, build their experience and take the next steps in their careers.