Learning & Development 

Our Educational Philosophy

At all Muddy Nursery schools, we believe that children have a natural tendency to learn. Our approach uniquely combines the time-tested Montessori Method with the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) framework, creating a comprehensive educational experience that honors both individual learning styles and developmental milestones.

The Montessori Method, developed by Dr. Maria Montessori, Italy's first female Doctor of Medicine, emphasises child-led learning within a carefully prepared environment. Meanwhile, the EYFS provides the essential framework that ensures all children develop the fundamental skills needed for school readiness across seven key areas of learning. By weaving these approaches together, we create an environment where children have the freedom to explore and choose their learning path while ensuring they develop the communication, physical, personal, social, and academic skills that will serve them throughout their educational journey.

The Montessori Difference

Young children possess what Dr. Montessori called the "Absorbent Mind" – a remarkable ability to effortlessly absorb information from their environment, just as a two-year-old naturally learns their native language without formal instruction. In our carefully prepared learning environment, children use all their senses to investigate and understand their world in this natural, delightful way. You'll discover independent children who not only do things for themselves but also think for themselves – helping each other, solving problems independently, and tidying up without being asked. As they learn to read, write, and count, they simultaneously develop perseverance, learn to accept guidance, and make thoughtful choices, creating a foundation for lifelong learning and personal growth.

What Your Child Will Experience

Our curriculum seamlessly blends the Montessori Method with the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) framework, ensuring your child receives both the freedom to explore and the structured support they need to thrive.

Four Montessori Learning Areas

Practical Life Your child will develop confidence and independence through real-world activities like buttoning, polishing, washing up, and sweeping. These activities help children feel secure while developing the fine motor skills essential for later academic learning, including the correct pencil grip needed for writing.

Sensorial Development Through specially designed Montessori materials, children explore concepts like length, width, texture, and colour. Each piece of equipment isolates a single concept allowing children to learn without fear of failure while developing spatial awareness and mathematical understanding.

Language Development We support every child's communication journey, from early listening skills to reading and writing. Using sandpaper letters and phonetic activities, children learn speech sounds before building words. We particularly support children with English as an additional language and those with special needs through PECS and Makaton sign language.

Mathematics Children progress from recognising numbers and counting objects to understanding the four mathematical processes. Through hands-on materials and practical activities, they develop confidence in problem-solving and learn mathematical language like "more than," "less than," and comparative concepts.

EYFS Learning Areas

Personal, Social and Emotional Development Every child is encouraged to take pride in themselves and their abilities. Through praise and encouragement, children develop independence, self-esteem, and confidence while learning to express their views and feelings both individually and in group settings.

Physical Development Our spacious, well-equipped garden provides endless opportunities for gross motor development through cycling, climbing, building, and swinging. Meanwhile, our Practical Life activities strengthen fine motor skills through spooning, pouring, and scissor work – all essential preparation for writing.

Understanding the World Children explore the natural world through our garden, Forest School experiences, and allotment visits. We welcome diverse visitors to share their cultures, faiths, and beliefs, helping children make sense of the world around them through real-life experiences.

Expressive Arts and Design Creative expression flourishes as children use various materials and tools to create, explore, and communicate their ideas and feelings.

Our Teaching Approach

We maintain a 1:1 teacher-to-child ratio for Montessori activities, ensuring each child receives individual attention as they progress through language, sensorial, and mathematical concepts. Our qualified staff are constantly alert to each child's learning level, actively supporting them to achieve their personal goals and reach their full potential. Meet our team here! 

Enriching Experiences

Beyond our core curriculum, we offer exciting extracurricular activities that complement and enhance your child's learning journey. Our Forest School sessions allow children to explore, create, and take age-appropriate risks in the natural environment, developing confidence, resilience, and a deep connection with nature. Through yoga, children learn mindfulness, body awareness, and relaxation techniques that support their emotional wellbeing and physical development. Our dance sessions encourage creative expression, rhythm, and coordination while building confidence and joy in movement. These enriching experiences work alongside our Montessori and EYFS approach to nurture the whole child – mind, body, and spirit.

Your Child’s Journey 

Every child is unique, and our individualised approach ensures that whether your child is naturally curious about numbers, drawn to creative expression, or fascinated by the natural world, they'll find the support and encouragement they need to flourish.

Babies (6months -2 years) 

Our Explorers 

Our Explorers are the youngest members of the Little Tots family, joining us from just three months old and staying with us until they turn two. These are such precious years, and we’re here to help children take their very first steps on the journey from baby to confident toddler, all while making sure parents feel supported and reassured along the way.

The newly built Babies Room has been designed to give little ones the space and freedom they need to grow. There is a bright, open playroom where children can enjoy everything from an indoor sandpit and a sensory corner to cosy story time and plenty of messy play. Mealtimes take place in their very own dining space, helping babies feel secure and settled. And when it’s time to explore outdoors, the babies have their own garden—a safe and nurturing space where they can enjoy the fresh air, discover nature, and grow in confidence every day.

Testimonial block:

“It's quite an emotional moment for a parent to leave your child. But little tots has amazing staff and management. They make you feel very comfortable and reassured.” RG, Mother of a child

Our Approach

We know that leaving your baby in someone else’s care is one of the biggest steps a parent can take. That’s why our first priority is creating a strong, secure bond between each baby and their key person. From day one, we focus on making sure your child feels safe, nurtured, and truly understood. We start by getting to know you as parents by listening carefully to the little details that matter, like how your baby is comforted, their favourite routines, and the foods they enjoy. This ongoing dialogue ensures that your child continues to follow the rhythms and routines that feel most familiar to them.

Learning and development unfold naturally in this caring environment. Our staff balance gentle, adult-led guidance with opportunities for children to explore at their own pace. Through sensory play, heuristic sessions and child-led discovery, babies are encouraged to develop curiosity, confidence and early skills in a way that feels joyful and natural. We take care to observe how each baby plays, recognising the patterns that shape their development, and use this knowledge to guide future activities.

Along the way, we celebrate every milestone—capturing special moments and sharing them with you through the EYLog app. This way, you remain closely connected to your child’s journey, even when you’re not by their side.

Main Nursery (2 - 5 years old)

Our Discovers and Investigators (2 years old - preschool)

From the age of two until they are ready to begin school, children continue their Little Tots journey in our main nursery area. These years are filled with incredible growth—children gain independence, master new skills, and develop a love of learning that will stay with them long after they leave us.

Our rooms have been thoughtfully designed to support this stage of exploration. Children enjoy a large, open space where they can free flow between activities and follow their curiosity, whether that’s building, role play, messy art, or imaginative small-world play. A separate nap area provides peace and quiet for those who need rest, while others continue learning and playing at their own pace.

Outdoors, children have access to their very own garden with play equipment, natural learning zones, and plenty of space to run, climb, and explore. These outdoor areas become extensions of the classroom—places where children build confidence, develop social skills, and discover the world around them.

Whether they are Discoverers at two or Investigators preparing for school, children in this stage thrive in an environment that balances freedom with gentle guidance. Every day brings new opportunities to grow, learn, and imagine that lays the foundation for confident, curious learners ready for their next adventure.

Forest School

Forest School at Little Tots

At Little Tots, we are proud to be pioneers of Forest School in our local community. In fact, we were the very first nursery in the area to introduce this inspirational approach to learning back in 2009. After travelling to Norway to experience Forest School first-hand and completing extensive training, our founders brought this unique opportunity to our children—and it has been a much-loved part of our nursery ever since.

Forest School gives children the chance to achieve and grow in confidence through hands-on experiences in a woodland setting. Rooted in the Scandinavian tradition, it nurtures a lifelong love of nature, encouraging children to explore, create, and take risks in a safe and supportive environment.

Our Forest School is more than just outdoor play—it’s a way of learning that builds independence, resilience, and self-esteem. Children develop motivation, concentration, and problem-solving skills as they work together and follow their own curiosity. Regular visits to the woodland with trusted adults create a rhythm of discovery that feels both exciting and secure.

What Forest School Looks Like

In the warmer months, our children often spend whole mornings at the site, enjoying a mid-morning snack and a picnic lunch outdoors. In the colder seasons, we visit for shorter periods, so children can experience the changing weather, whether it’s crisp winter air, light rain, or even snow. We only avoid visits in extreme weather such as heavy rain, fog, or very low temperatures.

At Forest School, children are encouraged to get muddy, climb, explore, and discover. They learn to respect the environment, from protecting insects and animals to thinking carefully before removing anything from the woods. Every activity is carefully supported by our highly trained staff, with a high adult-to-child ratio ensuring children can take on challenges with confidence and minimal risk.

Above all, Forest School is about joy. It’s about the wonder of discovering a hidden path, the pride in building something with your own hands, and the calm of sitting quietly in nature. It’s an experience that stays with children for life.

If you’d like to read more about Forest School from a parent’s perspective, we recommend this lovely article by a journalist who visited with her daughter.