Spencers Wood Day Nursery, Reading

Children settle when the day feels predictable and someone is looking out for them. At Spencers Wood the key worker relationship gives every child that anchor, nutritious meals keep them going, and daily time in the garden gives them fresh air, movement and a chance to burn off energy in the open.

We build strong partnerships with families through open communication. The GrandirUK app keeps you updated on your child’s progress, daily activities and meals, our lending library offers books and resources to carry learning on at home, and we host regular events to celebrate milestones together.

Daily life at Spencers Wood includes our education programmes, from Move and Groove, with opportunities for movement and physical activity, to Make and Bake, where children can explore food and get involved in hands-on experiences. Alongside these programmes, learning through play gives children plenty of opportunities to follow their interests, explore and try things for themselves.

Children also regularly head out into the local community, with visits to the nearby park for nature and active play and trips to local shops. These outings give children opportunities to explore beyond the nursery, become familiar with everyday places and interact with different people in their community.

Spencers Wood has modern, age-specific playrooms, each thoughtfully designed around the needs of children at different stages of development. Resources and experiences change as children grow, giving them opportunities to explore, play and develop new skills at their own pace.

• Babies, 3 to 16 months: A warm, nurturing space with sensory experiences and care shaped around each baby’s individual routines and needs.
  
  
• Toddlers, 16 months to 2 years: Plenty of opportunities for movement, communication and social interaction through purposeful activities and child-led play.
  
  
• 2 to 3 years: Experiences that encourage growing independence, creativity and problem-solving through play, exploration and physical activity.
  
  
• Preschool, 3 to 5 years: Purposeful learning alongside child-led exploration, with opportunities to develop early literacy, numeracy, independence and social skills as children prepare for school.

Children move into their next playroom when they are developmentally and emotionally ready. Our team work with families to plan each transition around the individual child, helping to make the change feel familiar and gradual.

Outdoor space

Our garden extends learning and play into the outdoors, with experiences linked to the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS). Children have opportunities to follow their interests, investigate, create and be physically active through hands-on outdoor experiences.

Time outside is a regular part of nursery life throughout the year. Access to nature and real-life resources gives children different ways to explore, make discoveries and become more familiar with the natural world around them.

Care at Spencers Wood is shaped around each child as an individual. Our team take time to understand their interests, routines and stage of development, adapting activities and experiences around what they need as they grow.

We support children to progress at their own pace, giving them encouragement and new challenges when they are ready while allowing plenty of time to become comfortable and confident in what they are already exploring.

Our curriculum at Spencers Wood is brought to life through the GrandirUK education programmes, with practical, engaging experiences woven into the nursery day. Activities are adapted around each child’s age, stage and interests, giving them opportunities to explore ideas, follow their curiosity and express their creativity.

Our experienced team build on what interests each child, offering individual support and encouragement as they develop new skills, grow in independence and progress at their own pace.

We believe every child benefits from having someone who knows them well. At Spencers Wood, each child has a key person from their first day, helping to build a consistent relationship with someone who gets to know their routines, interests and individual needs.

Our age-specific playrooms are designed around the needs of children at different stages of development. Through play, exploration and individual support, children have opportunities to follow their interests, try new things and develop at their own pace.

The benefit of having siblings at Spencers Wood is that brothers and sisters keep each other close through the day. Our four age-specific rooms sit within one modern building and share a single garden, so a baby and a preschooler still see each other outdoors and are known by the same team. Where availability allows, we will always try to help.

The team at Spencers Wood Day Nursery are passionate about Early Years education and care, with Helen as Nursery Manager. All staff, Helen included, have first aid training and are committed to ongoing professional development, and each child is given a key worker who builds a secure relationship with them and follows their progress.