Discovery Den

Up to 12 children in this space / staff to children ratio is 1:8

The Discovery Den is a space for children in their last year before school. It serves a similar purpose to the studio space previously used for the ‘rising fives.’ We recognise that some children spend a long time in the Preschool room, so we provide them with a fourth space to visit during their journey through Moon River.

The focus is on art, music, movement, wellbeing, and self-regulation. We use engaging activities like woodwork, forest school, local trips (including to our allotment), and other outings to support this learning.

Independence is promoted throughout the Discovery Den by teaching children how to risk assess different resources. Children learn about portion sizing for their meals and are encouraged to self-serve their snacks (eventually extending to all meals). They also practice pouring water and milk, and disposing of food waste, recycling, and general waste properly. Self-regulation activities help children identify their emotions and discover strategies to manage them and seek support when needed. Focused on projects, children explore ‘outcomes’ through stages of productivity. They spend weeks concentrating on a specific project and then have the opportunity to showcase their final result. This is just a glimpse of what we hope to achieve!