TOADHALL MONTESSORI NURSERIES, MEITHRIN AND OUT OF SCHOOL ACADEMY

Pre language and pre numeracy activities are weaved holistically, through all the activities we do with the babies and toddlers at creche

As well as all the above, the babies and toddlers enjoy a wide range of creative activities through Arts and Crafts, Role Play, Music and Movement, Drama, basic Welsh and Baby Yoga!

We have on our staff team, a ‘Musician and Drama Teacher in Residence’, who provides amazing interactive music and drama sessions for all the children in creche each week. They work with the children on a different day over 5 weeks, to ensure all the children can experience fun filled music and drama activities.

Individual planning is carried out and is centred on each child’s learning and development. All keyworkers undertake continuous observation and assessment to ensure activities are planned to meet the individual developmental needs of each child. Every child has their own e-format ‘learning journey’, which is a continual record of their achievements and developmental milestones. We use the Blossom App to give daily feedback in real time, to ensure parents are kept fully informed about their child’s amazing day at creche.

We have lots of opportunities during ‘Free Flow Creche’ for the children to come together, in mixed groupings both indoors and outdoors, for music time, story time and singing, puppet play, soft play, dark den play and sensorial play. This ‘coming together and being part of the Toadhall ‘family and community’, is very much part of the Montessori approach. All these activities, provide wonderful ‘creative and imaginative’ experiences for all the children, as well as enhancing their physical development, though music and movement.

All staff are trained in using ‘Makaton’ and /or ‘Baby Sign’, which enables babies and toddlers to communicate from a very early age, thus ensuring their wellbeing and development. Staff incorporate these approaches during all the above activities and throughout the daily routine of the day, thus ensuring it becomes firmly embedded in their practice.

The garden at creche provides the opportunity for plenty of outside play for both toddlers and babies – whatever the weather – as appropriate outerwear is provided.
The creche garden has several areas in which your child can explore and play. It provides lots of different textures and scents, thus enhancing stimulation all the five senses.

At Toadhall Montessori Creche we believe it is important to give every child the opportunity to explore and experience the wider community. Whenever possible, small groups of children are taken on outings to the park, library, shops, etc. We make use of Llandaff train station and local bus routes as well as using our own transport. Appropriate staff ratios are always maintained. Parents/guardians are asked to complete consent forms for such outings. If you do not wish your child to take part, then your wishes are fully respected.

At Toadhall Montessori Creche we place great value upon creating a close ‘Partnership and Participation with Parents’. Throughout the year we hold at least 2 parent meetings, to discuss how your little one is developing and several informal ‘open days/evenings’, including ‘Mother’s Day Tea’. ‘Father’s Day Breakfast’, ‘Christmas Crafts’, to name just a few.

When the children are ready to move onto the nursery setting, we work closely with you and your child to ensure the transition is seamless and every child’s individual needs are catered for. The keyworkers in the Moles group at nursery, will visit the creche on several occasions and get to know both you and your child, before the transition takes place. You will have the chance to go and view the nursery and meet the nursery staff and children. Each child will then have a series of settling in sessions until they are ready to transfer to nursery to continue their learning journey in a joyous, exciting and challenging way – building upon all the skills they have achieved during their time at creche.