Here at Lyndhurst, we know how important it is to give children the very best opportunities there are, which is why we continually invest in.

These gardens are tailor-made to suit each individual nursery and utilise all kinds of natural materials, providing children with an excellent platform for early years education and discovery.

Whether it’s planting and harvesting in special digging and growing areas, reading stories in a cosy tipi, practising role-play and developing social skills on our fantastic stage areas, overlooking surroundings from a nature observatory, or enjoying the exciting road tracks and all-weather surfacing when running and playing, each garden has a variety of special features to support and inspire children.

Why not come and see our amazing facilities for yourself at your local Lyndhurst Day Nursery & Pre-School?

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Nursery toys and play equipment

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Our well designed children’s nursery environments and resources help our children to develop in all areas of learning.

The examples below are just some of our carefully chosen play equipment that has been found to stimulate a child’s natural curiosity, exploration, play and imagination.

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Treasure baskets: developing natural curiosity, awe and wonder

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Treasure basket play allows babies to investigate and explore a variety of everyday objects. These can include items such as wooden spoons, natural sponges, fabrics, stainless steel and scented items such as lavender bags. Treasure baskets are found in all of our baby and toddler units.

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Physical play: increasing mobility and confidence

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In many of our toddler and nursery rooms, children enjoy the experience of the nursery gym. This activity allows children, who are natural climbers, to challenge their increasing mobility and confidence.

This gym allows the children not only to develop their physical skills, but to discover what they can achieve by themselves, thus increasing their self awareness and self esteem. The Key Person often converts the gym into a den or a small play space to encourage a child’s creativity and imagination.

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Role play: understanding the world

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Role play areas provide children with activities and opportunities that reflect their personal experiences, both past and present. Examples might include a post office or hairdressers. They are developed and extended to reflect a child’s changing interests.

Through role play children explore their developing understanding of the world such as cooking at home or posting a letter. Children have the opportunity to engage with others, developing their knowledge through play and interaction with other children and adults. It also builds self-esteem, confidence, co-operation skills and gives them the opportunity to re-enact their past experiences.

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Mark-making: developing early writing skills and creativity

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Mark-making activities are available to babies and children, both indoors and outdoors and might include making pictures in sand, cornflour or playdough to experimenting with paper or card and with pencils, chalk or felt pens.

Mark-making is an excellent way to develop a child’s fine motor and early writing skills. Older children are able to play games that relate to the real world and this helps to encourage these skills. For instance, they will be encouraged to write restaurant menus and shopping lists in the role play area, take the register or simply to use notebooks.

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Blocks: developing imagination, creativity, mathematical and physical skills

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All babies and children have access to construction activities which include mini-blocks for tiny hands and larger blocks for our 2-5 year olds.

Block play helps your child to experiment with concepts such as design, balance and building. It can also be used to support story-telling and role play, develop mathematical skills and allow children to act out their ideas.

Our block areas also include farm and wild animals, people, vehicles etc. to help extend play experiences. Outdoors, block play may consist of crates, planks, tyres etc. that allow children to build and construct on a much larger scale.