Our Philosophy, Ethos and Approach

Our Philosophy

NNN’s philosophy is informed by an overarching belief in the primacy of nature as the most consistent and reliable educator for preschool children.

The individual child determines what level of engagement feels manageable, and the teacher allows nature to be the curriculum.

The process of learning is based upon a heuristic style of engagement, whereby the child’s discovery of what interests them becomes the springboard/platform for other associated learning links of how the world works and their impact upon it.

The concept that each child-citizen can impact upon their world is a core belief that NNN holds. The development of a shared purpose and a sense of collaboration is an essential component of NNN’s philosophy.

NNN’s cultural capital is based upon its investment in each child’s unique exploration of the physical world. This makes demands upon the development of the child’s motor skills in conjunction with sensory and experiential feedback. Such discovery learning enhances the child’s sense of initiative and confidence in their own body’s strength.

Nature manifests the interlinkedness of all living matter (Lovelock/Gaia), and each day the child has an opportunity to witness that process in action. The changing seasons, fruits from the earth, the life cycle of animals and how food is grown are all part of the child’s learning log of experiences at NNN.

The child observes the cycle of the seasons as well as the life and death of animals and plants. The child is encouraged to work/play alongside the animals and reap the benefits of what nature offers in a respectful way.

These values are deemed essential in order to develop a sense of wisdom. The child learns to develop prosocial attitudes, behaviours that are based upon working for the common good and the capacities to both observe and reflect on what they observe.

NNN’s philosophy is founded upon the belief that each child can learn what they need if they are allowed to discover what nature knows.

Our Approach

At Natural Nurture Nursery we value childhood; every little experience, from puddles and mud to trees, animals and tractors. Our approach is reflected in children’s play and engagement with nature. This is the cornerstone of how we work with children. We are child-centred, where children are equal participants in their experiences, which then enhances their learning.

From your very first visit, we want to make parents and their children feel welcome. Once enrolled, we take time to chat, listen, and find out about your child. We have been trusted with the responsibility of nurturing children, so believe that time spent with parents is key to your child’s experiences and development. This partnership helps children to settle in, then feel welcomed, and to develop a sense of belonging.

Trust is a foundation of all individual and social relationships, therefore an essential element of personal growth and success. We understand the power of trust and nurture trust throughout children’s time at Natural Nurture Nursery. Our understanding of trust draws on the research of developmental psychologist and psychoanalyst Erik Erikson. He proposed trust is established from the time we are born to around 18 months of age. Therefore, we feel the experiences and support structures provided in our early childhood form the basis of our emotional and psychological intelligence and well-being. When trust is nurtured by others, it breeds more trust. For children, reinforcing trust helps them learn to cope and develop the life skills that can build confidence, character, integrity, honesty and humility. These are essential traits for survival, success, and leadership.

We understand that when children practise, it is to get better, no matter what their skill level. Instilling trust at Natural Nurture Nursery facilitates and encourages children to challenge themselves during play, and then staff will praise efforts. We trust children to take risks/challenge themselves under the watchful eye of our talented staff team that understands when and how to interact. We then become observers and commentators, allowing children to persevere through their challenges without interfering in that learning. Each child is an individual, with differing abilities, strengths and needs; our forms of communication and encouragement are differentiated to meet individ

Everything about Natural Nurture Nursery and the way we communicate is positive, caring and friendly. We do have boundaries; however, these are delivered to children as clear directions, and as much as possible, they are positive (for example, instead of "don’t open the gate", we say "when you get to a gate, please stop"). We feel that empowering children to make positive decisions contributes to their growing sense of self and helps them to develop the dispositions needed for both life and future learning opportunities.

Trust is a foundation of all individual and social relationships. Whether you ultimately trust yourself to be able to catch the ball or put trust into others to guide your ongoing development, trust is an essential element of personal growth and success.

Mark Coleman, Contributor, Advisor, Writer

Our Ethos

Quite simply to believe in childhood!

We have taken children’s experiences at Natural Nurture Nursery back to basics through an engagement with the natural world.

We understand the importance of play in children’s lives and that when playing, children learn about themselves, each other and how to become social beings. They are learning from the onset, learning to move, to think and to communicate.

Our natural environment offers real-life experiences; for example, puddles occur when it rains, and the more it rains, the deeper the puddle.

We understand how nature holds a different fascination for each child; the NNN team are able to nurture these fascinations. The natural cycles of the seasons, the life cycles of the animals and plants, and how food is grown all support the child’s understanding of being part of this natural cycle and can contribute to its maintenance.

Thoughts and additions…

Children at NNN are architects of their spaces

Creating and constructing with natural resources (creators of constructions)

Becoming natural problem solvers and masters of their craft (play)

Supported in managing risks and risky play

Freedom – time and space in which to explore nature, becoming educated by the seasons and naturally occurring changes and resources.

The staff team practises sensitive, mindful interactions, knowing when to interact and how to interact, as well as our positive language model.

Imaginative play

We play with what is around there, and there are no toys, so our imagination and resourcefulness are endless.

At NNN the environment is the teacher

Adults become commentators and observers

We are mindful of our interactions; timing is everything when a child is deep in thought and engrossed in play.

We are nurturing thinkers in the making

Boundaries Vs Directions

(Flourish, develop, justify, empower… awe, wonder, excited weather dressing )

Developing sustainable relationships with each other, our families, wider society, and the natural environment.