The early years of a child's school life are a period of extraordinary growth, shaping the foundation for a lifetime of learning and wellbeing - a magical time of exploration, discovery and wonder.
Foundation Stage - Little Explorers
Little Explorers Foundation Stage at The New School Rome is for children aged 3 to 5 years. It is a nature-based learning centre which focuses on our human connection to the natural world.
Grounded in The New School's commitment to educating the whole person, we nurture curious thinkers, compassionate individuals, and courageous, creative spirits who engage deeply with the world. Our holistic approach ensures that every child gains not only knowledge but also a deeper understanding of themselves and their connection to the natural environment.
The journey for New School students is one of becoming - becoming a thinker, creator, nurturer and contributor. Building the foundations for this journey starts in Little Explorers. Every child is given the space to grow into the best version of themselves. A student of The New School radiates kindness, approaches challenges with confidence, seeks knowledge with curiosity, creates with purpose, and cultivates a deep sense of connection to people and our planet.
The best way to experience the magic of Little Explorers is to visit us. Our doors are always open - please get in touch to arrange a visit.
Information Pack
Find our comprehensive guide to Little Explorers Foundation Stage at The New School Rome below.
"Before we ever put a pencil in a child's hands, those hands should dig, climb, press, pull, squish, twist and pinch in a wide array of environments and with a variety of materials." - Amanda Morgan
Outdoor Environment
At The New School, we take full advantage of the healing power of play in nature and give children the freedom to make nature their classroom. This is why we spend most of our days outdoors, in our outdoor classroom, our dedicated forest fire circle or in the nature reserve park nearby.
Children move in a different way when there are no walls around them, which is why we provide immersive outdoor experiences which help kids to feel a deep connection to the natural world. We offer nature art, shelter building, bug hunting and plant exploration, campfires and outdoor cooking, sand pit, water tray & mud kitchen play, hiking, tool use and tree climbing.
“Children more than ever need opportunities to be in their bodies in the world – jumping rope, bicycling, stream hopping, and fort building. It’s this engagement between limbs of the body and bones of the earth where true balance and centeredness emerge.”
- David Sobel
Indoor Environment
Our 'Reggio-inspired' indoor environment has been carefully designed to foster curiosity and creativity, with natural materials, open spaces and interactive setups.
“ There are three teachers of children: adults, other children, and their physical environment.” - Loris Malaguzzi
A thoughtfully designed space encourages collaboration and shared discovery offers rich learning experiences. Through conversation and observation, we build on children’s natural interests by designing exploration areas that evolve in response to their play and learning.
Curriculum
We follow the Early Year Foundation Stage (EYFS) Statutory Framework. These are the standards that all English early years education providers must meet to ensure that children learn and develop well, and are kept healthy and safe. You can find out more about our curriculum in our Information Booklet or take a look at the EYFS Curriculum Goals.
We believe that children learn best when they are thoroughly engaged and interested in what they are doing. Therefore, we deliver the curriculum in a range of ways which include organising topics and projects based on the children’s interests, facilitating high quality play and investigation, as well as gathering in a circle to sing, show, share and enjoy stories together. We also dedicate time to small group and one to one sessions to enable a special focus on specific skills.
In order to foster a lifelong love of learning, we feel strongly that children should not be or feel pressured to perform academic tasks before they are ready.
Reviews
Here are what some of our parents have to say about Little Explorers...
"A Wonderful Start to School Life! We couldn’t be happier with our experience at the New School for our son, who is in Early Years. From the moment we walked through the doors, we felt welcomed and reassured by the lovely and professional teachers. They are truly dedicated to creating a warm and nurturing environment where every child can thrive." - FS Parent
"I am the father of a 4 and a half year old who goes to NSR. What makes me happy is seeing him run in to class in the morning when I drop him off. He can't wait to start his day there with teachers and friends!" - FS Parent
Follow us
To see more of what we are up to in Little Explorers during the day, you can follow us on Instagram and Facebook.
