Activities

Meadowcroft Munchkins has been involved in various Buckinghamshire County Council early learning initiatives, including the Early Language Development Programme which supports the early language development of our youngest children and those with special educational needs, the Home Learning Matters Programme which promotes extending children’s learning at home, and the Smile Award Programme which supports healthy eating and oral hygiene. We have developed 2 leaflets that may be of interest to parents.
preschool wirlwind
At Meadowcroft Munchkins we have a play area for our 2-3-year-old Whirlwinds which incorporates an area for our under 2 year old Tumbleweeds,  and a play area for our 3-5 year old Tornados. 

Our Tumbleweeds group is available for children aged from 9 months to 2 years. We have a well equipped area for these little children where they can engage in learning through play alongside their peers whilst receiving excellent care from our qualified and experienced staff who will guide their early development in the 3 prime areas of the National Curriculum.

Our Whirlwinds group focuses on the Prime areas of learning which are Personal, Social and Emotional Development to aid them with separation, sharing and turn-taking, Communication and Language Development to aid them with early language skills, and Physical Development to aid them with fine and gross motor skills. They follow a simpler version of the National Curriculum with some emphasis on the specific areas of learning; Literacy, Mathematics, The World and Expressive Art and Design.  

Our Tornados cover the same Prime areas of learning as the Whirlwinds. In addition to this, they fully cover the specific areas of Literacy, Mathematics, The World and Expressive Arts and Design to extend their learning. We offer them more structured activities in order to prepare them for when they go to school.

All of our children engage in our Finger Gym activities which help them to develop strong, flexible fingers, hands and arms to promote better hand-eye co-ordination, differentiated movement and manual dexterity.

All of our children take part in our Phonics Phase 1 programme which recognises the central importance of developing speaking and listening skills, paving the way to making a good start on reading and writing by the end of the foundation stage.  
outside playground
All groups of children get to interact during free flow play outside in our garden area. Throughout free flow play time, we offer a variety of activities for the children to enjoy which give them opportunities to experiment and explore. All activities continue to be based on all 7 areas of learning encompassed within the National Curriculum.

  

Our morning session daily time table is as follows:

Children's Daily Timetable                                                            


9.15-9.45- Morning children/ children staying all day arrive/ settling in time.                                                             


09:45-10:30- Whirlwinds and Tumbleweeds- inside play and activities/ Tornados- outside play and activities.                                                                       

10:30-11:00- Snack time.                                                                         


11:00-11:45- Whirlwinds and Tumbleweeds- outside play and activities/ Tornados- inside play and activities.                                                                   

11:45-11:55- Tidy up time.                                                                     

       

11:55-12:10- Carpet time.                                                                     


12:10-12:15- Morning children get ready for home time.  Children staying all day have lunch. 


12:15- Home time for children attending morning sessions only.    


12:15-12:45- Afternoon children arrive/ settling in time.


12:45- 13:45- outside play and activities.


13:45-14:00- Snack time.


14:00-14:45- Inside play and activities.


14:45-14:55- Tidy up time.


14:55-15:10- Carpet time.


15:10- 15:15- Children get ready to go home.


15:15- Home time.

                                                           

Throughout free play time, we offer a rich variety of activities for our Whirlwinds and Tornados to enjoy which give them the opportunity to experiment and explore. All activities are based on the 7 Areas of Learning encompassed within the National Curriculum. Our Tumbleweeds  can also explore these activities based on their personal levels of development alongside the activities offered that specifically identify to their needs. 

Prime Areas: Personal, Social and Emotional Development
Communication and Language Development
Physical Development
Specific Areas: Mathematics
Literacy
Understanding the World
Expressive Arts and Design

At snack time, we offer the children a variety of carbohydrates i.e. wholemeal bread, cream crackers, bagels etc. and a choice of fresh fruits and vegetables. We provide semi-skimmed milk or water to drink.


At Meadowcroft Munchkins, we have been awarded “Highly Commended” for the Smile Award Plus Programme which is an initiative compiled by the NHS Oral Health Team.