Little Herons – Two-Year-Old Provision
Please click this link for a copy of the Starting Little Herons Booklet A5 March 2026
Click here for information regarding the development of Communication and Language
Little Herons is Storth CE Primary School’s dedicated, nurturing and creative provision for children aged 2–3 years.
Little Herons offers a warm, caring and child-centred environment where our youngest children can explore, learn, and thrive. Situated in a separate, purpose-designed building within the Early Years playground, our setting provides a safe, calm and stimulating space tailored specifically to the needs of two-year-olds.
A Nurturing Start to Learning
At Little Herons, relationships sit at the heart of everything we do. Our experienced staff build strong, trusting connections with every child, ensuring they feel secure, valued, and confident to explore. We focus on:
· Positive, responsive interactions
· Emotional wellbeing
· A gentle, family-feel transition into early education
We work closely with Class 1 (Nursery and Reception), ensuring our two-year-olds benefit from consistency, strong relationships and a smooth progression and transition through the Early Years Foundation Stage.
A Language-Rich Environment
Early language development is a key priority at Little Herons. Staff provide a communication-rich environment by:
· High-quality conversations
· Storytelling, rhymes and singing
· Carefully chosen books and early mark-making opportunities
· Vocabulary modelling woven naturally into play
We nurture a love of reading from the very beginning, offering cosy story corners, daily read-aloud times and plenty of opportunities for children to enjoy books in their own way. Children take books home to share with their families.
Play, Creativity and Imagination
Our provision is designed to encourage curiosity, creativity and exploration. Children have access to:
· Open-ended play resources
· Creative arts and messy play
· Small world and role-play areas
· Sensory and investigative activities
Play is at the heart of learning here, supporting children’s early thinking, problem-solving and social development. Little Herons follow the same themes as Class 1, including the change in seasons, celebrations, traditional tales and space alongside many more.
Outdoor Adventures and Forest School
Children at Little Herons enjoy daily outdoor learning in our enclosed, age-appropriate playground, where they can explore safely, build physical confidence and follow their interests in the fresh air.
We also offer weekly Forest School sessions within our school grounds, allowing children to:
· Explore nature
· Develop independence and resilience
· Engage in hands-on, sensory-rich experiences
· Build confidence through supported risk-taking
These sessions are joyful, muddy and memorable—always a highlight of the week!
A Calm, Caring Space
Young children grow and learn best when they feel safe and well-rested. At Little Herons, we provide:
· Quiet spaces for rest
· Comfortable sleep and nap times as needed
· Flexible routines that follow the needs of each individual child
Our approach is gentle, responsive and rooted in care.
Join Our Little Herons Family
Little Herons is a welcoming, joyful and nurturing place where children are encouraged to grow, explore and develop a love of learning from their earliest years.
We would love to show you around our provision and answer any questions you may have. Please contact the school office for further information or to arrange a visit.
Any hours above government-funded/entitlement hours are charged as follows:
2 year olds £7 per hour
3 year olds £5 per hour
We have no chargeable extras.
