Who We Are

 

Happy beginnings. Curious minds. Confident children.

Our passion lies in children and the Early Years. We believe that a child’s earliest

experiences, and the people who share them, help shape their future. At Totterdown,

we want those first learning experiences to be happy, stimulating, exciting, and full of

discovery. Through purposeful play, high expectations and a nurturing environment, we

encourage every child to develop confidence, independence and a genuine curiosity

about the world around them.

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A nurturing start

We welcome children aged 2–5 years and understand just how much their needs change

 

during these important early years.

For our youngest children, Totterdown is a warm and welcoming home from home;

somewhere they can feel safe, secure and happy while exploring at their own pace.

As children grow, we introduce new experiences and challenges that encourage them

to think, question, investigate and become increasingly independent. We believe some

of the best learning starts with a question:

• How does that work?

• Why did that happen?

• What happens if I try this?

Children are encouraged to experiment, make connections and take appropriate risks in a safe and supportive environment where having a go matters more than getting everything right.

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Every day is an adventure

No two days at Totterdown are quite the same.

Our children might sing and dance, paint and create, count and listen, climb and run, build and investigate, explore outdoors, make friends, get muddy, ask questions and lose themselves in imaginative play, often all in the same day!

We provide rich and varied experiences across all areas of the Early Years curriculum, while allowing children's own interests and discoveries to help shape their learning. We want children to arrive excited to discover what the day will bring and leave smiling and bursting with stories about everything they have played, learnt, explored and achieved.

 

Our Values

Developing the whole child.

Our desire is for children to leave Totterdown with our core values, enabling them to be ready for school and the next stage of their learning journey.

• Independent - Encouraging children to make choices, develop practical skills and have the confidence to do things for themselves.

• Respectful - Learning to value themselves, other people and the world around them.

• Curious - Encouraging children to explore, question and investigate, developing a genuine love of learning.

• Sociable - Helping children build friendships, communicate with others and feel confident as part of a community.

• Open - Encouraging children to express themselves, embrace new experiences and listen to different ideas.

• Confident - Helping every child believe in themselves, feel proud of who they are and have the confidence to try new things.

• Content - Creating an environment where children feel happy, secure, valued and comfortable being themselves.

 

Emotional Regulation – at the heart of Totterdown.

At the centre of our values is emotional regulation. We believe that children who learn to recognise, communicate and manage their emotions are better equipped to cope with challenges, build positive relationships and navigate the ever-changing world around them.

We help children develop the language to express how they feel, understand their emotions and gradually learn strategies to manage them. We use the Think Equal programme to support this learning through stories, discussion and activities that help children explore emotions, empathy and positive relationships. These are skills for preschool, school and for life.

 

The foundations beneath everything we do.

• Communication — Helping every child feel heard, understood and valued.

• Conversation — Talking, listening and learning together with children and families.

• Inclusion — Giving every child the support and opportunities they need to belong, grow and thrive.

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Ready for the next adventure.

Being ready for school is about much more than academic skills.

We want children to leave Totterdown with confidence, independence, resilience, curiosity, friendships and a love of learning.

Above all, we want their time with us to provide a happy and positive beginning, giving them the foundations to thrive at school and beyond.

 

​​‘A child’s future depends on the support that they get in their early years’

(Dr Elizabeth Kilbey 2016) advocate of having a qualified teacher in every preschool by 2020.