Carers and Creators

(3 - 5 years)

Our over 3s provision at Tarnerland, known as Carers and Creators, marks the final stage of the children's journey before starting school. Our team of six nursery assistants and five additional support workers, supported by our lead teacher, Jan, focuses on learning, independence and increased responsibility. This stage is designed to help children feel confident, capable and ready for what comes next.

The preschool is made up of two thoughtfully designed main rooms. Blue Room offers a focused environment for table-top play and learning, where children can practise early writing, play maths games, build with construction resources or play with our wealth of small-world and role-play sets. Orange Room is dedicated to more messy and creative activities, providing opportunities for open-ended exploration and self-expression with sand, water, paint, playdough, reclaimed materials, and more. In addition, there are two separate smaller spaces used for teaching sessions and a Regulation Station for those children who need moments of calm and quiet.

The daily routine in Carers and Creators has increased structure as the children take part in more adult-led activities. Each day includes a welcoming hello time, dedicated key person group sessions in both the morning and the afternoon and an extended story-time before tea. Key person times are planned by our lead teacher, Jan, and the children are exposed to stories, rhymes, songs, games, discussions and other focused learning tailored to their stage of development.

Outdoor learning plays a central role in our approach. Children spend time in the meadow every morning and afternoon and we run weekly Forest School sessions for all over 3s. Further details can be found on our Meadow and Forest School page for more information.

We maintain strong, long-standing links with local schools and support each child’s transition with care. From learning to manage routines to building social skills and independence, we aim to give every child the best possible start as they prepare to move on from nursery.