Early Years Education: Learning through play, growing our independence
 
At Green Lane Nursery, we believe the earliest years of life lay the foundation for every child’s future. From birth to four, children learn best when they feel safe, valued, and free to explore the world in their own unique way. That’s why our approach is centred around learning through play—a natural, joyful, and deeply effective way for young children to discover who they are and what they can do.
 
Play is a child’s first language: a powerful tool that nurtures curiosity, builds confidence, and sparks a lifelong love of learning. Through open-ended materials, sensory experiences, outdoor exploration, music, stories, and imaginative play, children develop essential early skills in communication, problem-solving, early literacy, and numeracy—without ever losing the excitement that comes from discovery.
 
Our nurturing educators build warm, responsive relationships with every child, ensuring they feel secure as they explore and flourish. Together with families, we create an environment where each child’s individuality is respected, their milestones are celebrated, and their natural abilities are allowed to shine.
 
Daily routines at Green Lane Nursery are designed to help children become independent. From the earliest months, we gently encourage children to make choices, try new things, and take age-appropriate responsibility. Whether it’s feeding themselves, choosing an activity, helping tidy a space, or expressing their needs, we support children in developing a strong sense of self, resilience, and the confidence to navigate their growing world.
 
As an early years provider, we follow the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS), ensuring that every aspect of our practice meets the highest standards of learning, development, and care. The EYFS underpins our curriculum, helping us create rich, meaningful experiences that support the seven key areas of learning while recognising each child’s unique journey.
We observe, reflect, and plan thoughtfully to ensure children make progress at their own pace, and we work closely with families to share milestones and celebrate achievements.
 
From birth to four, we give children the time, space, and encouragement to play, learn, and grow—independently, joyfully, and at their own pace.