The Rhythm of the Afternoon -After the structure and business of the morning, the afternoon in kindergarten takes a slower pace. Children bring a healthy packed lunch from home, and after we have said goodbye to those who go home at 1pm, we sit together around the table, light a candle and have our lunch.
After lunch we have a quiet rest period where the children have the opportunity to lie down on sheepskins for a nap, to look at colourful picture books, or to draw and colour with beeswax crayons. When the children are well rested we go back outside for more free play in the garden, or we may go for a nature walk to see the chickens and the cows, or to collect apples, conkers or acorns. The afternoon ends with some finger games in the willow hut before we sing our goodbyes and go home. 
Outside Play Time -Children play outside everyday, whatever the weather, clad in warm waterproof clothing, or sun hats and light long sleeves, depending on the time of year.
Outside playtime gives children the chance to use their 'outside legs', where there is space to run around and let off steam. They also have the opportunity to experiment with sand and water and to get creative in the mud kitchen. The daily fresh air and exercise that children experience during outside playtime is an important part of their healthy development. Through running, climbing, balancing, swinging, jumping, hopping and skipping, children develop spatial awareness and learn valuable gross motor skills, which in turn fosters healthy brain development. Through tending the garden and exploring the natural world first hand, a deep connection with nature develops, and a lifelong love and respect for the natural environment is engendered. 
Learning Through Play -The importance of child led, creative play in the early years, as a foundation for more formal learning later on, is central to the ethos of the Steiner Waldorf kindergarten.
Provided with a range of simple toys and equipment made from natural materials, children are given the opportunity to 'play out' their everyday experiences in an environment free from the pressures of formal teaching. Child initiated, creative, free play encourages the development of the child's imagination, which is an important pre-cursor to creative thinking later on. During the communal activity of play children gain valuable social and problem solving skills, which encourage cognitive, kinetic and linguistic development, while the natural materials of wood, cotton, wool and silk enhance the children's aesthetic sensitivity. Through communal child led play children develop a sense of purpose, and become determined, self-motivated learners, as well as developing a sense of empathy for others, and experiencing the joy of learning from each other. |
Times and Prices -
Morning Kindergarten Tuesday to Thursday - 9am till 1pm (earlier drop off available by pre-arrangement) £24.00 per morning for 3+ year olds £32.00 per morning for 2+ year olds (Government funded places available - please see below for details) Afternoon Kindergarten Children attending kindergarten in the morning may stay for the afternoon session. Tuesday to Thursday - 1pm till 3pm (later pick up available by pre-arrangement) £6.00 per hour for 3+ year olds £8.00 per hour for 2+ year olds (Government funded places available - please see below for details) Government Funding Government funded places are available for all 3 and 4 year old children, for up to 15 hours per week. Funding is also available for some 2 year olds, depending on eligibility. Please note - as the government funding is for childcare only, a voluntary contribution of £4.00 per day is requested for food and craft materials. 
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Outside play every day helps develop
love and respect for the environment
* Some of the Things We Do at Seedlings *
Art and Craft ActivitiesAt Seedlings children use high quality, natural craft materials for sewing, carding, felting, weaving, finger knitting, beeswax modelling, watercolour painting, egg decorating, candle dipping, leaf rubbing, lantern making, crayon drawing, woodwork, whittling and more... |
Seasonal Food Preperation
Everyone loves to join in with baking bread rolls for snack time, cutting up veg for soup, collecting and pressing apples for juice, collecting elderflowers for cordial, slicing apples and collecting plums to make crumble, or making special food for festivals such as pancakes or dragon bread... |
Creative Play, Inside and OutGuided by their imaginations children engage in creative free play, both inside and out, using toys and equipment made from natural materials, which nurture the senses. Outside the children have space to run around, to climb and balance, to dig in the sandpit, or hide in the willow hut... |
Songs, Rhymes
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