The Sunny Days Commitment to Curiosity, Play and creating a Love of Learning
Is there anything more joyful than watching your little one play, lost in make-believe? Is there anything more smile-inducing than the infinite number of questions our children seem to ask?
Here at Sunny Days, we’re absolutely committed to fostering curiosity, wonder, and imagination. Our mission is to cultivate a natural love of learning in children, setting them in good stead for school and beyond.
Curiosity should always be encouraged, as it’s a vital tool children use to develop learning. You’ll probably be unsurprised to hear that children aged 14 months - 5 years were found by researchers to ask 107 questions an hour, on average! At Sunny Days, we’ll always welcome questions.
New research has further reinforced the key role curiosity plays in learning. The study suggests that curious children do better, testing as the best performers in maths, reading, and behaviour during the first year of school.
The study’s lead researcher, developmental and behavioural paediatrician Dr Prachi Shah, said: “Promoting curiosity is a foundation for early learning that we should be emphasising more when we look at academic achievement.”
At Sunny Days, we work within the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) framework, a system that recognises the holistic nature of learning and development, from birth to five years of age. EYFS places emphasis on each child’s individuality, their interactions with others, and their ability to explore the world around them, in safe, stimulating environments.
At our nurseries children can benefit from a rich variety of purposeful, thoughtfully planned activities, centred on multi-sensory play experiences that nurture a genuine love of learning. We work closely with parents, offering access to online learning journals and daily reports, so you’ll be part of your little one’s learning journey, every step of the way.
Babies can enjoy plenty of space, a ‘baby garden’, tactile resources, and activities designed to develop dexterity and motor skills, learning all the while.
Under close supervision, we encourage our toddlers and preschoolers to move freely around our spacious playrooms. Giving them the liberty to make their own choices promotes curiosity, learning and independence.
Play is closely linked to a love of learning. Sunny Days children can dress up in costumes, sing songs, and hear exciting stories. They can also express their creativity in our dedicated arts and crafts areas, getting stuck into imaginative junk modelling, painting, and more.
The great outdoors is a natural environment for play and learning fuelled by curiosity. Each Sunny Days nursery provides a safe outdoor space in which children can explore nature, go on treasure hunts, and let their imaginations run wild.
The team here at Sunny Days are also committed to learning: from parents, from our local community, and from our tiny adventurers. Our nurseries, school clubs, and holiday clubs are collaborative, friendly environments with a shared purpose: to give happy, healthy children the best possible start in life.
