6 to 18 monthsWrens
- Ratio
- 1:3
Babies explore through their senses and develop their movement, supported by close relationships with familiar adults who help them feel safe.
← All rooms
Ages 3 to 5 years
Woodpeckers, Our Pre-School Room
Woodpeckers is for children from 3 years until they start Reception, downstairs in Woodlands with access to the garden. Children build friendships, grow in independence and explore what they can do.
- Ages3 to 5 years
- Ratio1:8
Overview
Woodpeckers is for children from 3 years until they start Reception, downstairs in Woodlands. Here, children can follow their interests, build friendships, and do more for themselves. Our approach brings together play, real-life experiences, and close relationships, supporting them as they explore their ideas and become more independent.
A Typical Day
Children choose what to play with and where they want to be. Our team sets out resources that invite them to think, create and try things out in their own way. Staff build on what children already know, joining their play to help develop knowledge and skills, then stepping back to let them take the lead. Learning at this age includes understanding emotions, managing disagreements and developing speech and language, alongside opportunities for physical and creative play.
Care & Development
The garden is as important to us as the indoor space, and children can move between the two with staff support. They spend most of their time outside. The mud kitchen, climbing frame and slide offer different ways to explore, while woodworking gives children experience of using tools and learning about risks and boundaries. We also take trips to the local park and woods, where they can discover more of the world around them.
Come and see it for yourself
Book a tourWhy Families Choose Us
Children also take part in everyday jobs, helping prepare snacks, cutting up fruit, and serving themselves at mealtimes. These experiences give them opportunities to use their hands and practise doing things independently. Mealtimes pause play, but otherwise the day follows what interests the group. Throughout their time in Woodpeckers, we support children to make choices, understand themselves and grow in confidence.
Book a tour of The Manor House
Come and see the rooms and the garden for yourself, meet the team, and get a feel for how your child would spend their day with us.
Come and visit usThings parents ask us
Common questions
Children choose from activities set out indoors and in the garden, and time outside is part of every day. Snack is a shared job, with children helping to cut the fruit and serving themselves. Beyond mealtimes, the day follows the children’s own interests, with staff joining in to extend an idea, help with a disagreement or support a new skill.
At Woodpeckers, we support children to develop their speech, language, and communication skills during play, meals, and time outside. We use WellComm, a speech and language toolkit. For children who need additional support, we have a qualified SENDCo on site, use individual support plans and work with external agencies.
We help children understand their emotions and learn to manage disagreements, with support from people they know. If your child feels overwhelmed or there’s too much going on around them, our Wellbeing Cabin offers a place to retreat. We also use Thrive to support wellbeing and social and emotional development.
Children have opportunities to do things for themselves throughout the day, including helping prepare snacks, cutting up fruit and serving themselves at mealtimes. They also choose their activities and where they want to play. Our team guides and supports them, then steps back to encourage independence.
We share daily feedback at drop-off and collection, with regular updates and photos via our App. We'll also share progress reviews every six months to discuss your child's development. Our news feed keeps families up to date with what the children have been doing. Each child also has a primary and secondary key person who build a close relationship with them and with you.
Woodpeckers is the last room before Reception, so getting ready for school is woven into the everyday rhythm of the room all year. Independence with eating, dressing and toileting, managing friendships and joining short group activities are all well practised before the final term. Staff talk things through with you as the move approaches, and there is a leavers' party before children go.
Ofsted registered, inspected, and rated Good
The Manor House Nursery is rated Good by Ofsted.
"Children thrive in the nursery environment, which is tailored to their interests and developmental needs."