LITTLE STEPS GIANT LEAPS
At our YMCA Nurseries across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, we nurture confident young learners and build firm foundations for school readiness – helping every child develop the skills, independence and curiosity they need to thrive in their next big step into education.
What is Little Steps, Giant Leaps?
At YMCA Nurseries, we know that small moments of learning lead to big achievements. Little Steps, Giant Leaps is our promise to nurture every child with care, curiosity, and confidence - supporting their growth today and setting them up for life.
But what is school readiness?
School readiness refers to a child’s readiness to begin school. It includes the development of emotional, social, physical, and cognitive skills. A child who is ready for school has the basic abilities needed to learn, communicate, and interact in a classroom, supporting a smooth and positive start to their education!
YMCA Nurseries are School Approved
"It is clear to see the strong foundations you have helped to build - the children have settled in so well and are already demonstrating the skills and confidence they need to begin their school journey. They have arrived ready and excited to learn, which is a real credit to the time, effort and nurture they have received during their time with you. We greatly value the important role you have played in preparing them for this next step and we wanted to acknowledge the commitment and energy that has gone into each child's development. Thank you for everything you have done to support their learning and wellbeing - it has made a real difference." - Hampshire Primary School
How YMCA Staff will help your child get ready to launch to big school!
At YMCA Nurseries, school readiness means more than early academic learning.
We spoke to Lois, our wonderful Pre-School room lead and asked her to explain how she supports children on their journey into school.
Click the video to discover what she thinks is the most important part of school readiness.
How YMCA Nurseries Prepare Children for School
Across our nurseries, our focus is on providing the perfect foundation to make children school ready. Our approach combines play, structured learning, and daily care to support every child’s development.
Independence and Confidence
These go hand in hand in easing children's school nerves.
In order for children to enter school with confidence, they need to feel like they can tackle tasks independently. We support children in learning the basics that will be expected of them in big school, so that they are prepared. Examples include, putting on their own coat, and applying their own sun cream.
Concentration
Knowing when to focus on a task is important for school readiness.
Through key group and welcome times in our preschool, we teach children the importance of sitting together in a circle and listening attentively. While play remains a fundamental part of school readiness, we blend it with activities that help children develop concentration and the ability to focus when needed.
Socialisation
Giving children the confidence to use their voice.
We support children in developing essential social skills by encouraging them to share and take turns with peers, cooperate in group activities, and express their needs and emotions appropriately. These skills help children navigate social situations confidently, form friendships, and approach new challenges with an “I’ve got this” attitude, boosting their overall school readiness.
Recognition
Giving them the basic academic skills to thrive.
At YMCA, we see academic skills as just one small part of school readiness. Nevertheless, we help children develop the ability to recognise letters, numbers, and shapes, so that when they enter reception, they feel confident and less overwhelmed by the learning tasks ahead.
Self Care
Guiding children to be self efficient with their personal hygiene.
Through repetition, we support children’s self-care and independence by guiding them to use the toilet independently, wash their hands, dress themselves, eat without assistance, and organise their personal belongings.
Physical Readiness
We teach children the fine motor skills they need.
We help children develop physical readiness for school by guiding them in fine motor skills like holding a pencil, cutting with scissors, and drawing simple shapes, as well as gross motor skills such as running, jumping, climbing, and balancing, building their coordination and confidence for everyday school activities.
The Importance of School Readiness
At YMCA Fairthorne Group Nurseries, school readiness is at the heart of everything we do. We believe school readiness goes far beyond early literacy and numeracy - it includes developing confidence, communication skills, emotional resilience, curiosity, and independence. Through play-based learning, nurturing relationships, and carefully designed early education programmes, our teams create environments where children feel safe to explore, grow, and thrive. This approach ensures every child leaves YMCA Nurseries ready not just for school, but for a lifetime of learning.
Interested? Fill out the form below and we’ll be in touch!*
*for forest school, please choose Fairthorne Manor from the drop down.