Butterflies

Welcome to a Day in the Life of the Butterflies (3–4 Years)

As children enter the Butterflies room, we build on their growing knowledge and confidence to prepare them for their next adventure, starting school. Our environment is secure, stimulating, and designed to nurture natural curiosity through rich play and meaningful learning experiences.

Children enjoy a wide variety of activities that strengthen communication, language, and social skills across all areas of learning. We aim to inspire imaginations, promote independence, and support children to become capable, confident learners, without pressure or competition.

As children approach the next step in their educational journey, many are ready for a more focused approach to learning. Imaginative play continues to flourish, enabling children to express ideas, explore interests, and draw on real-life experiences. Alongside this, we offer activities that develop early literacy skills, such as sharing stories and poems, exploring sounds and letters, enjoying rhymes, and recognising names and familiar words. Opportunities for early mathematics are woven throughout the day, including counting, sorting, problem‑solving games, mark‑making, and using mathematical language.

Our Butterflies have access to an inspiring learning environment indoors and outdoors, including wider academy spaces. These rich environments help children develop the knowledge, skills, and confidence they need to thrive in the next stage of their learning.

Our Daily Routine

7:30am – Nursery opens and breakfast, A warm, calm start to the day with a rolling breakfast.

Morning – Play & Learning; Key Worker time, followed by free‑flow play indoors and outdoors. Children explore open‑ended activities supported by adults who scaffold learning and build independence. Snack café runs throughout the morning.

11:30am – Group Time; Stories, singing, movement, and shared activities before lunch.

12:00pm – Lunch
A relaxed meal in the school hall, encouraging independence and healthy habits.

12:45pm – Outdoor play

1:15pm – Relaxation & Quiet reflection

Afternoon – Play & Exploration; Free‑flow play continues indoors and outdoors, with activities that support children’s interests and develop early skills.

2:40pm – Tidy up & Story/Song Time

3:00pm onwards – Mixed Play; Self‑chosen and adult‑led activities across nursery and wider Academy spaces, such as the sensory room or forest school.

4:00pm – Teatime; A relaxed meal where children practise independence and good manners.

Late afternoon – Calm end‑of‑day play; Gentle activities and mixed‑age play across nursery areas until home time.

Progression Milestones

To support each child’s learning journey, we use our Progression Milestones alongside the EYFS curriculum. These milestones help us understand where your child is in their development, celebrate what they can already do, and plan meaningful next steps.

They give our team a clear picture of each child’s progress, ensuring learning is tailored, responsive, and developmentally appropriate. Parents can also view each room’s overview to see how learning develops across the ages.