Ever wondered what your child really gets up to at nursery? Then come along and find out! As part of its drive to encourage a greater understanding of the work they do, Castle Lane is once gain inviting parents and carers to ‘Stay & Play’ with their child at Castle Lane nursery.
Recent Stay & Play sessions have proven very popular, with parents and carers invited to explore Forest School as well as the Pre-school Room and Tweenies Room. And as part of Castle Lane’s focus on building parental relationships, staff have been actively encouraging parents to view and engage with its curriculum.
Staff have also received training about holistic learning approaches which value the importance of parents and carers being engaged in their child’s learning, both at the nursery setting and within the home environment.
The real value of Stay & Play sessions
By inviting parents into the nursery on a more regular basis, they are able to gain a greater insight into daily life at the setting, receive guidance about the developmental stages of children’s learning, explore the value of a play based approach and see first hand the wonderful learning that happens in the nursery.
Staff are also encouraging parents to engage in the use of Blossom (the nursery app) themselves, to put on home observations which the staff can then link back with their own observations. For example, if a parent posts photos of a recent outing to the zoo, the nursery can then plan and deliver activities with a zoo theme. For example, zoo stores, zoo songs or a tuff tray with zoo animals. This really helps cement the learning and allow children to learn using their own real-world experiences.
Plans for Stay & Play sessions in 2025
There’s already an exciting schedule planned for 2025, with the nursery inviting parents and carers to join them for breakfast, lunch or tea on any day that their child is normally scheduled to attend the setting.
Sessions for 2025 planned by room include:
Baby Room
- Tuesday 4 March from 9.30-11.30 am
- Wednesday 25 June from 2.00-3.30pm
- Friday 26 September from 9.30-11.30am
Toddler Room
- Tuesday 4 March from 9.30-10.30 am
- Wednesday 25 June from 2.00-3.30pm
- Friday 26 September from 9.30-11.30am
Tweenies Room
- Thursday 6 March from 9.30-11.30 am
- Monday 23 June from 2.00-3.30pm
- Wednesday 24 September from 9.30-11.30am
Pre-School Room
- Thursday 6 March from 9.30-11.30 am
- Monday 23 June from 2.00-3.30pm
- Wednesday 24 September from 9.30-11.30am
Forest School (meet in the playground)
- Thursday 6 March from 9.45 -11.45am
- Monday 23 June from 9.45-11.45am
- Wednesday 24 September 9.45-11.45am
Special events Stay & Play sessions
Special events Stay & Play sessions for 2025 include:
Mother’s Day Breakfast
- Tuesday 1 April 2025 from 7.30-9.00am
Father’s Day Tea
- Monday 16 June from 3.30-4.30pm
Grandparent’s Day Lunch
- Wednesday 8October – 11.30-12.30pm
Who can attend the stay and play sessions?
The stay and play sessions are open to all parents and carers with a child already attending any of the rooms at Castle Lane. Sessions may only be taken on the days their child attends the nursery.
Co-owner Harriet Gray said “We’re inviting parents and carers to come and spend a couple of hours with their child here at Castle Lane, so that they can see more of what we do day to day.
“They might choose to sit and read with us to understand more about how we support literacy within the nursery and how that can cascade back at home. Or if their child is in pre-school, it can often help to learn more about our work on school readiness.”
“Whether their child is in the Baby, Toddler, Tweenie or Pre-school Room, there’s something for everyone to come and get involved in.”
Is it free to attend the stay and play sessions?
Yes, there is no charge to come along to the stay and play sessions. Just get in touch with the office to book yourself in.