Being an integral part of our vibrant school is the ticket for inspiration. Our Nursery children benefit daily from specialist teaching and an exciting timetable of enriching activities.

Outdoor Learning & Forest School

Our Nursery children enjoy free-flow access to their own dedicated outdoor playground, complete with mud kitchens, water play, bikes and a range of exciting equipment. These daily outdoor experiences support physical development, imagination and joyful exploration.

Alongside this, children take part in weekly sessions in our enchanting Forest School – a hidden wooded haven led by our specialist teacher, Mrs Taperell. Here, children explore nature through hands-on discovery: balancing on logs, creating in the mud kitchen, searching for mini-beasts, mixing potions, making outdoor art and even toasting marshmallows. Guided risk-taking, imaginative play and space to follow their own curiosity help children grow in confidence, creativity and resilience.

Whether they are investigating the natural world, playing with friends or sharing stories and snacks in the outdoor circle, our Forest School is a place where learning feels magical and childhood comes alive.

Sport

Fun, engaging and full of energy, PE with Miss Greenwood gives our Nursery children the perfect opportunity to explore movement, build confidence and enjoy being active in our beautiful school grounds. Each weekly 20-minute session offers a blend of indoor and outdoor activities, thoughtfully designed to nurture early physical development in a supportive, encouraging environment.

Children are gently introduced to fundamental movement skills, simple gymnastics, balance and early teamwork. Lessons vary from movement games and obstacle courses to exploring different equipment, with every activity chosen to support key Development Matters focus areas and Early Learning Goals. As the year progresses, children build on their skills through more collaborative challenges, including team games and simple points-scoring activities.

Our Nursery children also enjoy joining the whole school for special sporting events throughout the year -taking part in the festive charity Elf Run, our traditional Pancake Race, and culminating in Sports Day, where our youngest learners proudly represent their Houses and are cheered on by parents and the wider school community.

Active, joyful and developmentally rich, Nursery PE lays the foundations for a lifelong love of movement.

Music

Our specialist music teacher, Mrs Colchester, leads two dedicated lessons each week, giving our nursery children a fun and engaging introduction to musical learning. Sessions build early skills such as note recognition, playing together as an ensemble, keeping time and moving expressively to music.

Alongside this, nursery also enjoys a weekly singing lesson, offering plenty of opportunities to grow in confidence and to sing both solo and as part of a group. Every child has the chance to shine as a performer during our annual nativity and summer show, as well as at special occasions throughout the year, including Mother’s Day and Harvest Festival.

Rich in creativity, joy and discovery, music in nursery lays a wonderful foundation for a lifelong love of singing and music-making.

Art

Inspired by the magic of celebrated artists, our children are gently guided into the world of sculpture, painting, textiles, printing, drawing and collage by our specialist teacher, Mrs Degg. Each term, she lovingly crafts themes based on the work of a famous artist, thoughtfully adapting her Early Years expertise to ensure every activity feels accessible, joyful and just right for our youngest learners.

With a focus on the creative journey rather than the end product, children are supported as they explore woodwork, metalwork and fabric-making, all alongside a rich palette of paints, pastels and mixed-media materials. This nurturing, process-driven approach allows every child to grow in confidence, imagination and skill.

We are incredibly proud of our children’s artistic achievements, with successes at both regional and national competitions.

French

In Nursery, children begin their language journey through joyful song, rhythm and play. Our specialist French teacher, Mrs Poole, introduces French in a way that feels natural, fun and accessible, helping little ones absorb new sounds and words with ease. With weekly sessions carefully pitched for young learners, Mrs Poole creates an engaging and nurturing environment where children grow curious about language and develop confidence from the very beginning.

Starting French at such a young age not only sparks a love of languages but also supports listening skills, memory, and cultural awareness – foundations that will stay with them throughout their time at St Christopher’s and beyond.

Drama

From the very start of their St Christopher’s journey, our youngest children are given wonderful opportunities to perform and share their voices with the school community. Whether taking part in the Nativity play, joining the Harvest Festival celebrations, or watching and contributing to our lively Class Assemblies, they quickly become part of the rich performing culture that runs through our school.

These early experiences – singing, speaking, dancing or simply standing proudly on stage – help build confidence, expressive skills and a sense of belonging. Being cheered on by the whole school and their families nurtures self-belief, encourages children to have a go and allows even the shyest personalities to shine from a young age.