Woodland Sessions
At Little Apples, our Woodland Sessions provide children with enriching outdoor learning experiences inspired by Forest School principles. Through exploration, discovery, and hands-on experiences in nature, children are encouraged to develop confidence, independence, resilience, and a lifelong connection with the natural world.
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Delivered in six-week blocks on a rotational basis, Woodland Sessions ensure all children have the opportunity to benefit from outdoor learning throughout the year. From April to September, children aged two and over attend sessions at a local park, where they take part in activities that encourage problem-solving, teamwork, risk awareness, physical development, and curiosity about the world around them.
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During the autumn and winter months, woodland-inspired experiences continue within the nursery environment, ensuring outdoor learning remains an important part of our curriculum regardless of the season.
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For our younger children, Woodland Sessions are carefully adapted to suit their age and stage of development. Through sensory exploration, natural materials, outdoor play, and investigation, children are encouraged to develop communication skills, physical confidence, curiosity, and an early appreciation for nature.
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Woodland Sessions support many areas of the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS), including Communication and Language, Physical Development, Personal, Social and Emotional Development, and Understanding the World. Most importantly, they give children the freedom to explore, take managed risks, solve problems, and learn through meaningful first-hand experiences.
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By preserving children's natural curiosity and encouraging exploration, our Woodland Sessions help nurture confident, capable learners who develop a genuine respect for the environment and the world around them.
Spanish Lessons
At Little Apples, children enjoy weekly Spanish lessons delivered by a specialist language provider. These fun and interactive sessions introduce children to a new language through songs, stories, games, movement, and play-based activities that encourage participation and enjoyment.
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From babies through to preschool, lessons are carefully adapted to suit each age and stage of development, helping children build confidence while developing their communication and listening skills. Children are introduced to simple Spanish words and phrases in a natural and engaging way, encouraging curiosity and a positive attitude towards language learning from an early age.
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Learning a second language supports children's communication, memory, listening, and concentration skills while helping them develop an awareness of different cultures and communities. These experiences encourage children to explore the wider world, celebrate diversity, and develop confidence in expressing themselves.
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As part of our commitment to providing a broad and enriching curriculum, Spanish lessons offer children exciting opportunities to learn new skills, broaden their experiences, and develop a lifelong love of learning.
Sensory Sessions
At Little Apples, our dedicated sensory room provides a calm, engaging, and stimulating environment where children can explore, discover, and learn through their senses. Used daily as part of our curriculum, the room is equipped with a variety of age-appropriate resources including bubble light tubes, mirrors, sensory toys, soft lighting, interactive equipment, and a range of textures designed to encourage curiosity and exploration.
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Sensory experiences play an important role in early childhood development. Through sensory play, children are supported to develop communication skills, physical coordination, concentration, cognitive development, and an understanding of the world around them. These experiences also help children build confidence, develop early social skills, and learn to regulate their emotions within a safe and nurturing environment.
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While primarily designed for our babies, the sensory room is also enjoyed by older children throughout the nursery and provides valuable support provides valuable support for children who benefit from additional sensory experiences, including those with SEND and additional needs. The inclusive environment allows children to explore at their own pace, ensuring every child has access to meaningful experiences tailored to their individual interests, needs, and stage of development.
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By creating opportunities for children to engage their senses, investigate their environment, and follow their natural curiosity, our sensory sessions help lay strong foundations for future learning and development.
Bazumba
At Little Apples, Bazumba is one of our children's favourite weekly extracurricular activities. Inspired by Zumba and specially designed for young children, these energetic sessions combine music, movement, and dance to create a fun and engaging way for children to stay active while learning through play.
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Delivered to every age group across the nursery, sessions are carefully adapted to suit each stage of development. Through following simple routines, responding to rhythm, and expressing themselves through movement, children develop coordination, balance, body awareness, and physical confidence in an inclusive and supportive environment.
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Bazumba also supports children's communication and language, listening and attention, self-expression, and social development as they learn alongside their friends. Most importantly, it encourages children to develop a lifelong enjoyment of physical activity while building confidence, resilience, and positive wellbeing through fun, active experiences.
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As part of our enriching extracurricular programme, Bazumba gives every child the opportunity to move, explore, and express themselves in a way that is both enjoyable and developmentally meaningful.
Makaton
At Little Apples, Makaton is embedded throughout everyday nursery life as part of our commitment to creating an inclusive, communication-rich environment where every child can thrive. Our team regularly uses Makaton signs alongside spoken language during routines, songs, stories, group times, play, and everyday conversations, helping children understand, communicate, and express themselves with confidence.
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Makaton supports all children by strengthening communication and language skills, developing listening and understanding, and encouraging children to express their thoughts, feelings, and needs. By pairing signs with speech, children gain additional visual cues that help build confidence, vocabulary, and early communication skills.
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Our inclusive approach is particularly beneficial for children with SEND, speech and language delays, English as an Additional Language (EAL), or those who simply benefit from extra visual support. By embedding Makaton throughout the nursery, we create an environment where every child feels included, understood, and empowered to take an active part in learning and daily life.
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At Little Apples, we believe communication is the foundation of learning. By giving children multiple ways to understand and express themselves, we help build confidence, strengthen relationships, and lay the foundations for lifelong learning.
Dough Gym
At Little Apples, Dough Gym is a fun and engaging part of our enriching curriculum, designed to strengthen the muscles children need for everyday tasks and future writing. Through a combination of dough, movement, music, and rhyme, children develop the fine motor skills that support pencil control, independence, and self-care in an enjoyable and age-appropriate way.
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Sessions are carefully planned and adapted to each child's stage of development, encouraging children to squeeze, roll, pinch, stretch, and manipulate dough while following simple instructions and taking part in group activities. Alongside strengthening little hands and fingers, Dough Gym helps children develop concentration, coordination, confidence, resilience, and problem-solving skills.
By building strong fine motor foundations before children begin formal writing, Dough Gym plays an important role in supporting school readiness. It also encourages communication, listening, turn-taking, and active participation, helping children develop the confidence and skills they need to become capable, independent learners.
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At Little Apples, we believe learning should be active, purposeful, and enjoyable. Dough Gym provides children with the physical foundations they need to flourish, while making every session fun, engaging, and full of opportunities to succeed.