The Orchard Room.
Ages 2–3.
The Orchard Room keeps familiar routines close at hand. Low shelves, a place for books, simple pretend play and space to move help children find their way around the day.
Adults help children choose materials, wash their hands, carry a cup and ask for help. We give them time to practise each new task.
In the room
- Books, songs and conversation woven through the day
- Materials for building, filling, sorting and making marks
- Pretend play connected to familiar everyday life
- A quiet corner and a nearby adult for reassurance
The Garden Room.
Ages 3–5.
Ideas can become more involved in the Garden Room. A building plan may continue across several days. Children make signs for their play, explain a rule to a friend or work out how a structure can stay standing.
Adults extend an interest with a question, a new material or a shared book. There is room for group projects and for the child who wants to work quietly on one thing.
In the room
- Construction, storytelling and pretend play
- Drawing, early writing and books with a purpose in play
- Counting, comparing and noticing patterns in real activity
- Small-group conversation and outdoor exploration
A move with
familiar people.
A transition between rooms is planned with families. Visits, shared routines and conversations between adults help the next space become familiar before it becomes the everyday room.
Age gives a broad shape to the rooms; the child’s experience and needs remain part of the discussion.
Working with families