Pre-School At Jigsaw
Ready for Their Next Big Adventure
The pre-school years are an exciting time. Children are asking bigger questions, forming stronger friendships, becoming increasingly independent and discovering just how much they're capable of.
At Jigsaw, we build on that natural curiosity through play, conversation, exploration and meaningful experiences — helping children develop the confidence and skills they'll carry with them into school and beyond.
Growing In Confidence
More Independent Every Day
Pre-school children are beginning to see themselves very differently. They want to make decisions, solve problems, take responsibility and discover what they can accomplish without an adult doing everything for them.
We give children opportunities to make choices, follow their interests, tackle challenges and increasingly manage everyday tasks for themselves.
Sometimes they'll succeed immediately. Sometimes they'll need help. And sometimes things won't work at all.
All three are valuable parts of learning.
“I can have a go” can be far more powerful than “I can already do it.”
Ready For What Comes Next
School Readiness is About More Than ABCs
Knowing letters and numbers matters, but being ready for school involves much more. We want children to approach their next chapter with confidence, curiosity and a growing ability to navigate the world around them.
🌱Confidence
“I Can Try”
Having the confidence to attempt something unfamiliar and knowing it's okay not to get everything right first time.
💬Communication
“I Can Tell You”
Developing the language and confidence to share ideas, ask questions, express needs and take part in conversations.
🤝Relationships
“I Can Be Part of a Group”
Building friendships, listening to others, taking turns and beginning to understand different perspectives.
⭐Independance
“I Can Do Things for Myself”
Developing everyday skills and taking increasing responsibility for belongings, choices and personal routines.
🔎Curiosity
“I Want to Find Out”
Asking questions, investigating ideas, solving problems and developing a genuine enthusiasm for discovering something new.
❤️Emotional Readiness
“I Can Understand How I Feel”
Beginning to recognise emotions, manage frustrations and seek support when things feel difficult.
Their Individual Journey
Someone Who Really Knows Them
Even as children become more independent, having familiar adults around them remains important.
Through the key-person approach, practitioners develop an understanding of each child's interests, relationships, communication and development.
That helps us recognise where confidence is growing, where a child might benefit from a new challenge and where they may need additional time or support.
Because preparing for what's next shouldn't mean comparing one child with another.
The question isn't “Are they the same as everybody else?” It's “What does this child need next?”
"I Can Do It"
Little Responsibilities Build Big Confidence
Independence develops through hundreds of ordinary moments. Giving children opportunities to do more for themselves helps build confidence in their own abilities.
Children have opportunities to choose activities, follow interests and make decisions about their play.
Everyday routines can help children develop responsibility for their belongings and the environment around them.
We encourage children to develop age-appropriate independence with everyday routines while providing help whenever it's needed.
Rather than immediately solving every difficulty for children, practitioners can give them time to think, experiment and discover possible solutions.
Independence doesn't mean doing everything alone. Knowing when and how to ask for help is an important skill too.
Learning With Purpose
Play With a Purpose
Pre-school learning doesn't need to look like school to be preparing children for it.
When children build something together, they're communicating, negotiating and solving problems.
When they create a shop, they're exploring numbers, language and imagination. When they investigate something they've discovered outside, they're developing curiosity and understanding of the world.
Our practitioners use these everyday opportunities to introduce ideas, extend conversations and challenge children's thinking.
Our approach is guided by the Early Years Foundation Stage while keeping play, exploration and children's interests at the heart of their experience.
Building The Foundations
Learning is Hidden Everywhere
📚Communicate
A Love of Language
Stories, conversations, songs and imaginative play help develop vocabulary, listening and confidence expressing ideas.
🔢Discover
Early Mathematical Thinking
Counting, comparing, measuring, patterns, shapes and problem-solving naturally appear throughout children's play and everyday experiences.
🎨Create
Ideas Made Visible
Drawing, painting, construction, music and imaginative experiences give children different ways to communicate their thinking.
🌍Investigate
Understanding Their World
Questions, experiments, nature and everyday discoveries encourage children to investigate why things happen and how the world works.
Words, Numbers & Ideas
Building Foundations Without Rushing Childhood
Early literacy and mathematics are woven naturally throughout nursery life.
Stories help children discover new language and develop a love of books.
Drawing and mark-making begin giving meaning to the marks children create. Songs, games and conversations introduce sounds, rhythm and patterns.
Mathematical thinking appears just as naturally — counting objects, comparing sizes, spotting patterns, measuring ingredients, building structures and solving everyday problems.
We want children to become interested in what words and numbers can do, rather than feeling pressured to achieve formal academic milestones before they're ready.
Growing Together
Learning How to Be Part of a Community
Pre-school brings increasingly complex friendships, conversations and social experiences.
Children are learning to cooperate, listen to other ideas, negotiate, take turns and understand that somebody else may see things differently.
There will inevitably be disagreements too — and these moments can become valuable opportunities for learning.
With support from familiar adults, children can begin developing the emotional awareness, communication and relationship skills they'll need as their world becomes bigger.
A Day With Us
Every Day Brings Something Different
There's no single recipe for a Jigsaw day. Children's interests, ideas and discoveries help shape the experiences happening around them.
Arrive
A familiar welcome and time to settle into the day.
Refuel
Enjoying food, conversation and growing independence together.
Create & Move
Art, imagination, construction, outdoor experiences and physical play.
Choose & Explore
Following interests, making choices and becoming involved in play.
Investigate
Activities, conversations and experiences that introduce new ideas and challenges.
Reflect & Home
Sharing experiences and getting ready for another adventure tomorrow.
The Next Chapter
From Jigsaw to Reception
Starting school is another enormous milestone, and our approach to school readiness begins long before a child's final few weeks at nursery.
We focus on developing the foundations that help children cope confidently with a new environment — communication, relationships, independence, curiosity and the ability to approach unfamiliar experiences.
As the transition gets closer, we help children understand that change is coming and support families through this next step.
Where appropriate, information can also be shared to help provide continuity as children move from nursery into their new school.
Our aim isn't to turn nursery into school. It's to help children feel ready when school begins.
Parents As Partners
Growing Together, Right Until Their Next Step
Parents remain an important part of children's learning throughout their pre-school journey.
Sharing information between home and nursery helps us understand children's interests, recognise new developments and work together when they need encouragement or additional support.
📱 Nursery Life
Keeping families informed about their child's nursery experience.
📸 Experiences & Achievements
Sharing some of the discoveries and moments that make up their journey.
🌱 Development
Keeping communication open as children's confidence, interests and skills grow.
Jigsaw uses Famly to help keep communication, updates and important nursery information together in one convenient place.
Life In Pre-School
Big Ideas in Action
Good To Know
Questions Parents Often Ask
School readiness is woven throughout children's pre-school experience. We focus on confidence, communication, independence, relationships, curiosity and the foundations for future learning rather than simply trying to recreate a classroom.
We support the foundations of literacy through stories, language, listening, mark-making and meaningful experiences with words and sounds. Children develop at different rates, so our approach responds to their individual stage rather than expecting everyone to reach the same point at the same time.
Mathematical ideas naturally appear throughout play — counting, comparing, patterns, shapes, measuring, construction and problem-solving all provide opportunities for early mathematical thinking.
We recognise that children develop differently and work with families when additional support may be helpful. Jigsaw's will cater for specific SEND/SENCO requerments.
Communication between practitioners and families helps us share information about children's interests, experiences and development. We'll add Jigsaw's exact approach later.
Come And Discover Jigsaw
See Where Their Next Chapter Could Begin
Come and experience Jigsaw for yourself, explore our Pre-School environment and meet some of the people who could be supporting your child as they prepare for their next big adventure.