We know that our open-plan setting is not traditional! When most parents visit a nursery, they see multiple rooms for different age groups and lots of different faces. And we can't count the amount of times that parents ask us, "How does it work?".
Since we opened our flagship site in Wandsworth we have always maintained the importance of mixed-age groups in a nursery setting, so much so that even with our break-out spaces in ourWimbledon, our teams make the most of our large open-plan space for all of our children.
And here's why:
Enhanced Learning Opportunities:
Our older children often take on mentoring roles, which can help them reinforce their knowledge and skills while our younger caterpillars benefit from observing and imitating their older friends which helps to accelerate their learning and development.
Additionally, mixed-age settings provide varied social interactions, exposing children to a wider range of language, behaviours, and problem-solving strategies!
Empathy and Compassion
We have seen our older children learn to be more empathetic and nurturing when interacting with younger children, fostering a caring and supportive environment.
Confidence Building
At AHN all of our children benefit from developing their confidence by interacting with different age groups as they learn and watch the behaviours of others or through gaining self-esteem from their leadership and mentoring roles.
Customized Learning Pace
Mixed-age classrooms allow children to progress at their own pace, meaning they can explore activities suited to their developmental level without being confined to age-specific expectations.
Varied Skill Levels
As our teachers are confident with mixed-age groups they are able to adopt more flexible and creative teaching methods, catering to individual needs and interests.
Problem-Solving and Adaptability
Mixed-age interactions require children to adapt their communication and problem-solving strategies to work effectively with peers of different ages and abilities.
Community and Family Atmosphere
Our foundations are built on family and community and children in mixed-age groups often form close-knit relationships, similar to sibling dynamics, creating a sense of belonging.
Collaborative Play
Children of different ages bring diverse ideas and perspectives to playtime, fostering cooperative and imaginative play scenarios, which we absolutely love!
These benefits collectively contribute to a rich, nurturing, and dynamic learning environment that supports holistic development for all children at AHN!
We would love to tell you more, so join us for an open event or book a show around today.
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