As children grow and become more confident in their independence, they move into our Toddler Room, designed for children ages 2-3.
At this stage, children are full of energy, curious about the world around them, and eager to explore through play.
At Tommies Childcare, we know that play is the heart of childhood. Play is how children express themselves freely, it sparks their imagination, and lets their creativity shine. It is one of the most pivotal parts of early childhood education.
Toddlers are developing quickly in all areas of learning. They begin forming substantial friendships, become more articulate in their communication, and learn new skills every day. Our Toddler Rooms provide a safe, stimulating, and nurturing environment where children can confidently explore, investigate, and develop at their own pace.
The Toddler Room Environment and How Children Learn
Our Toddler Rooms are carefully planned to support growing independence while still providing children with the comfort and security they need. The environment encourages active learning, creativity, and exploration through a variety of engaging resources, centred around individual children’s interests.
You will often see areas for imaginative play, construction, messy play, mark-making, small-world play, and sensory exploration. Children enjoy larger play areas, dressing-up areas, creative activities, water and sand play, and opportunities to build with larger construction resources.
As part of our Tommies Childcare guarantee, we commit to all children going outside in all weathers every day. At this young age, daily outdoor time is essential for toddlers, supporting their physical development and helping to build strong gross motor skills through active play.
Communication and language are also key focuses at this age. Children are beginning to use sentences, ask questions, and share their thoughts and ideas. Our practitioners support this development through stories, songs, conversations, rhymes, and group activities that encourage children to listen, respond, and build vocabulary.
Routines
Toddlers thrive on predictable routines that help them feel safe, secure, and confident throughout the nursery day. Consistent routines for mealtimes, sleep, toileting, and transitions support children in developing independence and understanding what comes next.
At this age, many children are also learning to manage bigger emotions. They may experience frustration, excitement, separation anxiety, or difficulty sharing and waiting their turn. Our experienced nursery practitioners provide calm reassurance, gentle guidance, and consistent boundaries to help children feel supported as they learn to regulate their emotions.
We understand that every child develops differently, and we work closely with parents to ensure routines used at home are supported as much as possible within the nursery environment.
Early Learning in the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS)
In the Toddler Room, children learn through play, exploration, and positive interactions. Our nursery practitioners carefully plan activities around children’s interests while supporting all areas of learning within the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS).
The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) framework is the national early years curriculum used by all Ofsted-registered nurseries and childcare providers in England. It supports children’s learning and development from birth to age five.
Toddlers are naturally curious and learn best through hands-on experiences. They begin developing problem-solving skills, imagination, confidence, and independence through everyday activities and play opportunities.
At nursery, toddlers engage in a wide variety of play-based activities that support their development. Some of their activities will likely include things like exploring the sandpit, listening to stories, painting and drawing, building with construction blocks, and crafting with play-dough.
At this stage, children are learning to:
Explore and investigate their environment
Build confidence in social situations
Develop language and communication skills
Express emotions and needs
Follow simple instructions and routines
Develop physical coordination and movement
Begin counting, sorting, and recognising patterns
Discover early literacy through stories, songs, and creative experiences
Our practitioners provide encouragement and support while allowing children the freedom to make choices, explore new experiences, and develop confidence in their abilities. Play encourages children to take risks and gives them a sense of control, allowing them to make their own choices and learn from the outcomes.
Personal, Social and Emotional Development
Personal, social and emotional development is one of the core areas of the EYFS. It remains a key focus within the Toddler Room. As children become more aware of others, they begin forming friendships, playing alongside their peers, and gradually learning how to play cooperatively.
Through group activities, role-play, and guided interactions, children begin to develop important social skills such as sharing, turn-taking, kindness, and empathy. Our nursery practitioners model positive behaviour and help children understand emotions in a safe and supportive way.
Toddlers are also learning about independence. Simple tasks such as washing their hands, feeding themselves, choosing activities, and helping to tidy away resources all help build confidence and self-esteem.
By supporting children emotionally and socially, we help them develop resilience, confidence, and a strong sense of belonging within the nursery environment.
Key Person
At Tommies Childcare, every child is supported by a dedicated Key Person who helps them feel secure, valued, and understood throughout their nursery journey.
The Key Person builds a strong relationship with both the child and their family, providing consistent care and support each day. They monitor children’s development, plan next steps in learning, and are always available to discuss progress, achievements, or any concerns parents may have.
The role of nursery staff includes encouraging a focused learning environment that supports children’s development and prepares them for future educational settings.
Having a trusted adult helps children feel confident enough to explore their environment, try new experiences, and build positive relationships with others.
Parent Partnerships
We believe that parents and our early years practitioners working together create the best possible outcomes for children. Parents are their child’s first and most important educators, and we value the knowledge and insight families share with us.
Before children start nursery, we ask parents to complete an ‘All About Me’ form to help us understand their child’s routines, interests, and individual needs.
Throughout the nursery day, families receive updates through our Famly App, including information about meals, sleep, toileting, activities, and special moments from their child’s day.
We also encourage ongoing communication through parent evenings, nursery events, and regular conversations with your child’s Key Person to ensure we continue working together to support every child’s development.
Supporting Your Child’s Early Years Journey at Tommies Childcare
Choosing the right nursery is an important step in your child’s early years journey. At Tommies Childcare, our Toddler Rooms provide a warm, stimulating, and nurturing environment where children can grow in confidence, independence, and curiosity every day.
Through caring relationships, engaging play experiences, and a strong partnership with families, we help children build the skills they need for the next stage of learning and development.
Find your nearest Tommies Childcare nursery and arrange a visit. We look forward to welcoming you and your child to the Tommies family.
