The early years of life are decisive: this is when a child creates their relationship with the world, works out their first mental images, develops trust, explores their senses and builds the basics of language and thought. At Rootes Nursery we take care of this special period with an education approach which isn’t limited to looking after the children, but is based on deliberate didactic planning, in-depth listening and competent observation.
Learning takes place through direct experience, active discovery and meaningful relationships; every activity we do is designed to stimulate the senses, the physique, language ability, cognitive skills and emotional maturity; encourage independent exploration and respect for the environment; and support cognitive and emotional abilities, intentionally and gradually.
At Rootes Nursery, educational experience is founded on deliberate planning, articulated in phases of development from 7 months to 3 years of age, and inspired by the National Indications for educational services in childhood and the British EYFS (Early Years Foundation Stage) reference framework, in a continuous dialogue between two cultures. Every initiative is the fruit of a shared didactic philosophy and turned into consistent, repeatable and measurable activities which are then tailored to each child.
The two languages live together naturally, owing to the presence of mother-tongue English educators, with careful attention paid to cognitive mediation. From the start, the child gets used to thinking and communicating in two different codes. Bilingualism isn’t a goal to attain, but rather a regular occurrence, experienced without pressure and as an integral part of the day. Language is a bridge which amplifies thought and multiplies the ways to express yourself.
Nature is a powerful ally in education. The children spend some time outdoors each day, collecting,
observing, moving and touching. Discovering the world starts with direct access to what surrounds you, not with abstract representations. Our garden is an open-air workshop, living and changeable, which follows the rhythms of the seasons and growth.
The Nursery welcomes children from 7 months to 3 years old, sub-divided into small age-based groups:
At Rootes Nursery, every initiative arises from careful observation of the child’s development needs in very early childhood. Activities are never improvised or isolated, but part of an intentional journey which supports the child’s entire development, day by day.
In the first three years of their lives, following children involves first and foremost helping them discover themselves: learning to eat without help, get dressed, choose what they want, recognise themselves as distinct individuals in relation with others. The earliest forms of autonomy emerge at this stage, and with them the need for emotive certainty, trust and continuity in their bearings.
A fundamental aim is that of developing communication, both verbal and non-verbal, through looks, gestures, sounds and words. Bilingualism is present from the beginning and is introduced naturally and on a daily basis. It gives children constant opportunities to construct their first linguistic skills in Italian and English.
Free playing, spontaneous exploration and handling of objects and materials are all fertile ground on which to develop the first active cognitive processes: intuitive problem-solving, diverging thought and an ability to find personal solutions to small daily problems. In this way, children begin to explore, formulate hypotheses, train themselves to concentrate, develop their curiosity and memory through imitation.
We also pay particular attention to relationships and emotions: each day offers a chance to wait, ask for help, respect the other children and initiate the earliest control over the emotions. Our educators are present, attentive and reassuring in these peer exchanges, which amount to the basis of future social skills.
The activities we adopt assist sensory and physical development but also stimulate hearing and introduce children to their first symbols, by means of art, colour and graphic and pictorial experimentation.
Finally, the educational path undertaken supports, gradually and with awareness, the transition to the 3-6 year-old age band, thereby guaranteeing continuity in development and preparing all the children to face the next stage of their development with confidence.
The interior and exterior of our school have been designed to be safe and harmonious, and in dimensions suitable for children. Natural materials, soft corners, sensory, narrative and symbolic areas and a flexible organisation all help the freedom of movement, autonomy and well-being.
The educational garden is an integral part of the didactic project. It’s not an accessory, but rather a living, changeable setting which follows the rhythms of the seasons and stimulates discovery through different senses. The children touch, collect, observe and move: it’s in a direct relationship with what is around them that they create authentic knowledge.
Here, the body is free, the mind curious and relationships possible.
Each group has a team of Italian educators and an English mother-tongue teacher, supported by specialists in psycho-motor disciplines and a didactic coordination which ensures that the educational project has consistency, attention and quality. Continuous staff training is part of the structure of our approach.
A visible trace of what you become. Each child creates their own portfolio of skills, a collection of traces, images and narrative observations which return the experiences. It’s a tool for dialogue between school and family which recounts rather than measures, and it’s designed to throw the development of thought, relationships and daily achievements into relief.