Planning & Assessment

We strive to fully support your child’s learning and development whilst they are in our care. Each child is different and so we plan activities that are in line with their needs and level of development and we assess them with this in mind too.

Observation and Planning

Our planning cycle starts with you. We ask you where your child’s learning is up to and what kinds of things they enjoy playing with and exploring. We then begin observing your child whilst they are playing to understand their current interests, their development and how they learn. We make thorough notes on our observations. We also talk to you to find out more about your child’s capabilities, including what they can do and what they already know, as well as the activities they like to do when at home.

Once we have gathered this information, we can then plan appropriate activities which will form the next steps in your child’s learning and development.

Online Learning Journey

We use an Online Learning Journey system at the nursery. This allows you access to observations and to see what children have been learning during their week with us. When you first join the nursery your child’s Key Person will ask you for “starting points” in your child’s learning. This is in order for us to understand what your child already knows and what they already enjoy doing and playing with. We use this information to start their learning journey at our nursery based on what they’ve achieved already.

At the end of your child’s time at nursery, we download their whole Online Learning Journey for you to take away to share and remember their time with us.

Assessment and the Early Years Foundation Stage

The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) is a play-based curriculum. It is mandatory for all schools and early years providers in Ofsted-registered settings attended by young children from birth to the end of the academic year in which the child has their fifth birthday.

We use the EYFS as a framework when caring for your child and supporting their learning and development. We provide activities and assess your child based on seven areas of learning (three prime areas and four specific areas).

The prime areas are fundamental in a child’s life and they must be achieved in order to efficiently develop the four specific areas. The three prime areas are:

  • Personal, social and emotional development
  • Physical development
  • Communication and language

The four specific areas are:

  • Literacy
  • Mathematics
  • Understanding the world
  • Expressive arts and design

Our nursery teams work hard to focus on these prime areas for younger children and as they develop, this support also incorporates the specific areas. The support provided is appropriate to each individual’s level of development and the progress shown.

The aim of the EYFS is to help children achieve the following outcomes:

  • Staying safe
  • Being healthy
  • Enjoying and achieving
  • Making a positive contribution
  • Sustaining a positive wellbeing

This also provides assurance that our nursery will keep your child safe and help them to thrive, form strong relationships and show an enthusiasm for learning.

Get in touch

For more information, about our planning and assessment procedures here at Lavender Hill Day Nursery, please get in touch .

What Our Parents Say

Very talented and caring staff. My son really loved this nursery. He learnt a lot in all aspects from communication, relationship building, being independent, to learning maths, shapes, letters, word, sentences etc. Really pleased with the development. Thanks to all the lovely staff, you are all the best.

Vaibhav H (Father of Child)

My daughter has been in the nursery since the Baby Room. It has been an incredible journey. Now she is in the pre-school and every day she is excited to go to the nursery. She loves the staff, her key worker, the other kids, the setting (especially the garden). She really enjoys all the activities organised through the week/day. She enjoys and has fun while learning. The staff encourage and support multilingual families making the kids feel proud they can speak more than one language. Now the staff are also getting her ready to go to school this September. The staff have always been amazing, very approachable, flexible and caring.

B C (Father of Child)

The staff are so kind and caring, they all know my daughter even those in different rooms. She skips in to see them every day and they are as excited as me when she does new things. It's a home away from home.

H G (Mother of Child)

I can't thank the staff enough for giving me peace of mind when my child is with them. The number and variety of activities each day is amazing and the fact they manage to get in the garden or go on trips - even in winter is fantastic. My child's development is streets ahead of his peers who don't attend nursery.

S H (Mother of Child)

The nursery has a lovely nurturing and vibrant atmosphere which my son loves. There is plenty of space for him to explore and learn via the vast range of toys and equipment they have. I know he is well cared for. I am always well informed and I work together with the nursery staff to give my son the best possible experience.

Claire F (Mother of Child) 

The care, consideration and attention my son receives is exemplary. Staff pay attention to his strengths and weaknesses and verbalise them to us and ideas for developing them are implemented. All staff demonstrate an excellent attitude and have excellent relationships with their designated children.

A D (Father of Child)

The staff were warm, caring and professional and the facilities are great. We felt like our daughter was part of a big family. We would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to all working there.

E S (Mother of Child)

I have been impressed by the level of care given to my son since he started. The daily warm welcome of the staff makes both children and parents alike feel at ease. Seeing the smile on my boy's face as we drive into the car park is proof enough for me that the team are doing something right.

Alexander M (Father of Child)

My little girl has recently started and is absolutely loving her time at nursery. The settling in sessions were brilliant and really helped put my mind at ease, especially with me starting back at work. The ladies in the Baby Room are super friendly and enthusiastic and I can't thank them enough for their support in what could have been quite an emotional rollercoaster.

G W (Mother of Child)

Once I drop my son off into the Baby Room, I feel he's as safe and as well looked after as I do at home.

Laura R (Mother of Child)