Whether it?s a timetabled activity or free play, striking a balance between structure and spontaneity is at the heart of Nursery life at Beaudesert Park in the Cotswolds, says Head of Pre-Prep Kirsty Henderson
Many new parents aren?t sure what to expect from nursery. Will their child be happy" Overstimulated" Understimulated" While nobody wants their son or daughter to be faced with a timetable of wall-to-wall activities at such a young age, the prospect of a totally unstructured day doesn?t appeal much either. At Beaudesert, we cater for children aged three to school age in our Nursery, and for them our focus is on achieving a happy medium between the two in an essentially child-led setting.
It’s all about variety On the more structured side of things, there is a different timetabled activity on offer every day of the week. On Monday, it?s swimming in the heated or the outdoor pool; Tuesday is forest school morning in the woods here in the school grounds; on Wednesday, it?s yoga; then ballet takes place in the performing arts centre on Thursday; and on Friday it?s mini judo either in our hall or outside on the top lawn. Being in the country and part of a Prep School means we have plenty of space and access to facilities right here on site, so the children get to do exciting things in different settings, all only a couple of minutes? stroll away from the Nursery department. 
To balance out these set activities and give children some free play time, we ...