Caterpillar Room

It also supports children’s learning and development across all seven areas and, just as importantly, the characteristics of effective learning (how children learn). We aim to provide natural resources that are real to the children and are meaningful to them. For example, we often have real food in our home corner and open ended dressing up such as scarves, hats, bags and fabric.

Children in the Caterpillar Room have access to the outdoor area throughout their session and mix with children from the Butterfly Room which helps develop their social skills and play. They have access to resources such as water and sand play, large loose parts, a mud kitchen, growing area and physical challenges.

We believe the journey to school begins from birth and that each phase of their early years is critical in setting them up to become confident, independent learners. We therefore promote independence within our Caterpillar Room, where children are trusted to use real resources such as china cups and plates in the role play area and they also use real cutlery and china plates at meal times.

Many children show a readiness for toileting whilst in the Caterpillar Room and the staff are there to provide support and guidance, where necessary, and continue the routines families have established at home. We are fortunate to have purpose built toilets and sensor taps which are ideal for children beginning their toilet training journey and promote independence and confidence with our youngest children. Our carefully chosen changing unit also promotes independence as children climb the steps themselves to access it.

We use the Famly app to share information with parents throughout the day, including meals and snacks eaten, sleep times, nappy changes or toileting information.

The Caterpillar Room staff pride themselves on the excellent relationships they build with our families as well as our children. They offer regular discussions with parents to discuss children’s progress and development when they are a Focus Child and also a statutory 2 year check completed by the nursery.