Outside

Access to outside provision is something we emphasise in children's learning. We strive to continually improve our garden, providing a stimulating & immersive experience for our children. Our garden consists of sand & water play, a construction site, a mud kitchen & a woodland area. A variety of activities are set up each day to involve children in different experiences; these include parachute play, bikes, den building & mark making.

Children have free flow access to garden wherever possible which is very important to us.

Pre-School Pets

At the Pre-school we like to provide children the opportunity of small responsibilities which include looking after animals. The children assist on a daily and weekly basis to feed the animals and help clean them out. This fosters empathy for nature and ensures they learn how to care for living things.

We currently have our goldfish, an African snail & some stick insects!

Hatching Chicks 05/2026

The children are super excited to watch the journey of an egg to a chick.

We have been carefully watching any changes happen whilst the eggs are in the incubator. We are now super excited to hear some chirping from the eggs & the children are excited for the arrival of some fluffy friends! :-)

Our first chick hatched on 2nd June followed by 6 other’s.

The children have named them; Sandy, Popcorn, Nibbles, Fluffy, Vicky, Benjamin and Biscuit.

Extra-Curricular Activities

We are delighted to offer the following extra curricular activities:

  • PE lessons

  • Yoga

  • Dance

  • Music classes

We also are very proactive in inviting visitors to the setting which we feel is very important due to the children missing different experiences during the Pandemic. Visitors include Dentists, Music Teachers & people from our community.

Speech and Language Therapist

We have a qualified speech and Language therapist who visits the setting once a month. She is available to talk to parents/carers about any concerns you may have. Hayley will work with the pre-school and advise how we can support the children further.

Library bus.

Library Bus

We have a library bus which visits the setting once a month where the children return our borrowed books and choose new ones to share with each other.

Music Sessions

Once a month we have a brilliant Music Teacher come into Preschool who carries out an engaging musical session with all of the children, spending time with each room.

TRAINING THAT STAFF HAVE RECENTLY UNDERTAKEN

At Laxfield Preschool we are very proactive in seeking training that we feel the team & setting would hugely benefit from, & implement this into our practice. All staff hold food hygiene, safeguarding & Paediatric First Aid, however; other training which has been undertaken within the last academic year;

Make every moment count: in setting training, 20th Oct 2025

All staff attended an in setting training to focus on how to enhance our provision to ensure children’s potential is always at the forefront of our practice. We want to ensure all children have the very best start in their early years & this training gave us some great ideas to do this!

Transforming Behaviour: in setting training, 20th April 2026

All staff attended an in setting training to reflect, review & implement new strategies to support behaviour challenges. We were able to take away some new ideas to ensure all children are happy, safe & thriving in our care.

Musical Moments: 5th May 2026

Two Room Leaders attended a training course with Charly Jolly to implement a new approach to music, using real life materials! The children have absolutely loved participating in these sessions since this has been implemented.

Upcoming: Not too young to talk about race (all staff, in setting)

Babies & Baby rooms (Room leader to attend)

Makaton training (all staff, in setting)

Transition to school provision

We aim to ensure that children are as ready as they can be for the next big step in their lives; starting BIG school! To do this we have put in a variety of provision;

  • Organised transition visits to local schools

  • Transition packs created for schools confirmed attending

  • P.E lessons to encourage independence with dressing & undressing

  • Introducing simple phonic & number activities

  • Book bags

  • Parent consultations to support parents/carers with transitions

The children practise getting into their PE tops.