TFTF Tots | Think For The Future

Day Nursery

TFTF Tots is a workplace nursery providing high-quality, inclusive childcare for children aged 9 months to 5 years. With a 1:3 staff-to-child ratio, daily outings, and a play-based curriculum, we create a nurturing space where curiosity, creativity, and strong relationships shape early learning. Rooted in individuality and exploration, we inspire every child to thrive through joy, discovery, and a love for learning.

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Our Curriculum

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About Us

Think for the Future Tots is a not-for-profit workplace nursery offering outstanding childcare to Think for the Future staff, with spaces also available for the local community.

Designed for a small group of up to 9 children daily, with a 1:3 staff-to-child ratio, we provide high-quality care in a calm, ‘home-from-home’ environment. Our highly qualified practitioners bring a wealth of experience, ensuring your child’s development progresses through individualized opportunities tailored to their interests and developmental stage.

At TFTF Tots, we focus on your child’s enjoyment and learning, using their interests to carefully plan engaging and educational activities they’ll be excited to explore.

We believe in working closely with parents and carers to create strong partnerships that support your child’s growth and happiness throughout their time with us. Together, we ensure that your child’s journey with us is one of joy, discovery, and learning.

About us

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Rhythm of the Day

The teachings of Rudolf Steiner talk about rhythm, in the day and in our bodies. In the early years, this rhythm translates to having a set and predictable structure for the day, providing children with a sense of security, and enabling them to develop self-confidence. Rudolf Steiner suggested that the rhythm of the day should mimic the natural bodily rhythms i.e., contraction, expansion, breathe in and breathe out. Therefore, a nursery should alternate the day in the early years between adult-led activities/structured times of day (breathing in) and child-led/free-play activities (breathing out).

The start of the day is stressful, children are going through a huge transition of leaving their care givers and require to breathe out, which is why the day will begin with a breathing out activity.

Below is an example of a day at TFTF Tots, this may change slightly depending on things like child attendance, or weather.

8:00 Children arrive, breakfast is offered whilst free-play is also happening
8:45 Breakfast is finished and nappies changed
9:00 Daily outing/Free play
10:00 Snack time
10:00 Daily outing/Free play
11:15 Lunch time
12:00 Nap times and free-play (for those awake)
1:30 Daily outing/Free play
2:30 Nappy changes (done as children wake)
3:45 Snack time
4:00 Parent pick up begins
5:00 End of Day

During free-play staff also provide adult-let activities linked to their key-child’s interests and developmental next steps.

Food

We believe that mealtimes should be nurturing, sociable, and enjoyable experiences for all children. To support this, we provide a balance of nutritious options and encourage healthy eating habits in line with NHS guidelines and our Food Policy.

Breakfast:
Served from 8:00 – 8:45 AM
We offer:

A choice of healthy cereals (e.g., Shreddies) – no sugary or chocolate-based cereals.
Porridge (primarily for young children who are weaning).

Lunch:
Served from 11:15 – 12:00 PM
Parents provide a packed lunch for their child, ensuring it:

Meets the allergy and health guidelines (see below).
Is cut into bite-sized pieces before arriving at nursery to prevent delays.
Is appropriate for their child’s age and stage of development.

We provide plates, bowls, and cutlery for all meals.

For full details on mealtime expectations, please refer to our Food Policy.

Snacks:
We provide a variety of:

Fresh fruits & vegetables
Crackers and breadsticks

Drinks:

Water (freely accessible)
Milk (for children over 12 months, as per NHS guidelines)

Other:
At TFTF Tots, we encourage children to explore food through cooking and baking activities linked to their interests. We also celebrate festivals and cultural events by offering opportunities to taste foods from different traditions, ensuring all dietary needs are considered. We will always ensure that the food/recipes used are suitable for each child’s dietary requirements.

Nappies

We do provide nappies and wipes here at TFTF Tots, the brand of nappies and wipes we use can vary due to availability. We do provide sudocrem, if you give permission for us to use this on your child please sign the permission form in your registration pack.

If you would like your child to use a certain brand of nappies, wipes or cream, please supply us with them.

You are welcome to provide nappy cream, however we do not allow the use of Bepanthen due to nut oil being an ingredient. Please ensure it is labelled with your child’s name.

Safety and Security of our Nursery

At TFTF Tots, your child’s safety and well-being are at the heart of everything we do. We have strict security measures in place, including controlled access to the nursery, secure collection procedures, and constant supervision both indoors and during daily outings. Our 1:3 staff-to-child ratio ensures every child receives the attention and care they need to explore safely.

Safeguarding is a top priority. All staff undergo enhanced DBS checks, comprehensive safeguarding training, and regular refreshers to stay up to date on best practices. We follow clear reporting procedures to protect children from harm and work closely with parents and external agencies when needed.

Our team is trained in paediatric first aid, food safety, and risk management, ensuring a secure and healthy environment at all times. Whether inside the nursery, on outings, or during meal and sleep times, we take every precaution to keep children safe, supported, and thriving.

At TFTF Tots, we create a trusting and nurturing space, where children feel secure, parents have peace of mind, and safety is embedded into every part of our day.

Bottle Feeding

We do not supply milk formula, because we are a small setting it would be wasteful, therefore we politely ask parents to supply any formula they would like us to use.

This can be bought into nursery in the original tub or premeasured out in a formula storage box/dispenser daily.
If you are premeasuring out the formula powder, then we must have the original instructions from the box, the date of expiry, and what amount you have premeasured out.
It is the parent’s responsibility to provide us with fresh in-date formula.

We do have bottle warmers for those who breast feed and would like to bring in breast milk; we ask they bring this in daily.

We use Tommee Tippee Closer to Nature Bottles which we are happy to use for your child; we have a range of teats; each are cleaned and then sterilised after each use.

If you would like us to use a different style or brand of bottle, we ask for you to provide us with one.

Please see our bottle-feeding policy for more information.

Policies

At TFTF Tots, our policies and procedures are designed to ensure a safe, nurturing, and high-quality environment for every child. From safeguarding and health & safety to inclusion, nutrition, and daily routines, our policies reflect our commitment to best practices and the well-being of all children in our care.

We encourage parents to explore our policies to understand how we create a secure, engaging, and supportive setting where children can thrive.

You can view our Nursery Handbook here

Key Information

Our Curriculum

Curriculum

Our curriculum begins with what we intend children to learn whilst attending TFTF Tots, this is aligned with the key areas of learning from the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) Framework. Each intention has 5, inclusive and adaptable, checkpoints to outline the stages children pass through to achieve our learning intentions, ensuring every child within our mixed-aged setting has a unique developmental journey that is supported, including those with SEND.
Click on each area of learning to view our checkpoints.

At TFTF Tots, we view parents as essential partners in their child's learning journey. Following the Reggio Emilia approach, we gather comprehensive information during induction about each child's interests and home environment for a tailored approach from day one, and we maintain constant communication through our digital platform to support their development collaboratively.

Our practitioners act as a child's second teachers, implementing the curriculum and embodying Albert Bandura’s social learning theory by role-modelling positive behaviours and encouraging creative self-expression. Guided by Steiner’s principles, they maintain a flexible daily rhythm that prioritises creativity and exploration of schemas to support children's play patterns.

Inspired by Reggio Emilia, our nursery environment serves as a child-centred "third teacher" that fosters exploration and curiosity. Following Rudolf Steiner's principles, it features a calm atmosphere with natural, open-ended resources that promote creativity. We integrate real-life learning experiences, allowing children to explore nature and community life, while promoting respect and tolerance through cultural resources that reflect our diverse community.

Daily Outings

At TFTF Tots, daily outings are a core part of our curriculum, enriching children’s learning through real-world experiences. We believe the best learning happens when children are active participants in their community, exploring their surroundings, making discoveries, and engaging with the world around them.

Every day, we venture beyond the nursery—whether it’s a trip to the local library, market, tram ride, park, museum, or nature walk. These outings spark curiosity, confidence, and independence, helping children develop key life skills while fostering a sense of belonging in their community.

Outings provide real-world learning opportunities that align with our curriculum, from exploring numbers in a shop, identifying shapes in buildings, or observing seasonal changes in nature. They also encourage physical activity, social interaction, and problem-solving, making learning meaningful, engaging, and memorable.

The Team

Ellie

Sarah

Hollie

Keri

Beth

Ellie

Hello! I'm Ellie Nursery Director for Think for the Future Tots.

I've always loved working with children, I began my childcare journey whilst volunteering in an orphanage in Peru, and once I returned I immediately enrolled at University to get my degree in Early Childhood Studies. Whilst at University I also did some teaching in Milan, which started my love of researching how childhood is different across the world. My international experiences enable me to use knowledge from across the globe to enhance my practice.

I have previously worked with a variety of ages, from babies to older children; before TFTF Tots I managed a busy preschool.

I have a love for the outdoors and think the outdoor play is vital for young children, I am a qualified Forest School Leader which shapes my practice with children.

My favourite part of my job, apart from seeing happy faces on the children, is connecting with the families, I love to put on events for the entire family to be involved in, as after all, we are guiding your child's development together.

Sarah

Job Title: Nursery Practitioner

Hi, I'm Sarah. I used to be a primary school teacher but now work as a nursery practitioner for TFTF Tots. I have always wanted to work with children, taking Early Childhood Education modules throughout my French degree, and taught English Language across several nurseries and primary schools for a year in the South of France.
After doing my PGCE and working as a KS2 teacher I wanted a more child-led role which brought me to TFTF Tots. My experience as a teacher, alongside my education, has given me the understanding of how to create the best start for a child's education.
In my spare time I enjoy gardening, I love that I can share my knowledge and passion for nurturing nature with all our children, both through nature-based activities and hands-on experience of observing, sowing and growing in our allotment planter.

Hollie

Job Title: Nursery Practitioner

Hi, I'm Hollie! I am a dedicated nursery practitioner and a qualified early years teacher with over 6 years of experience. I've had the joy of working in various settings, from baby rooms to preschool and have experience in a SEN School. My personal approached to childcare is all about letting the children lead the way in their learning, helping them explore and grow through play. I'm passionate about adapting to each child's unique needs to ensure they have everything they need to thrive.
At home, i love going on mini adventures with my son, exploring our local world. I'm also a scout leader, sharing my love for the outdoors and life skills with children aged 11-14. My travels, including living in Costa Rica's rainforest and exploring Thailand, have fuelled my love for exploring local cultures. During my travels i even had the opportunity to teach local children, which taught me how to adapt to different needs and languages. I love my job and sharing my passion about experience with our nursery community.

Keri

Job Title: Nursery Practitioner

Hi! I'm Keri, a level 3 qualified nursery practitioner. I have worked in nurseries since 2014 and my heart has always been in childcare - witnessing awe and wonder daily rewarding and definitely fun! I have experience working with all ages, having led both baby and preschool rooms meaning i have a lot to offer working within a mixed age nursery like TFTF Tots. In my spare time i enjoy spending time with my family and my own little boy!

Beth

Job Title: Nursery Practitioner

Hello, I'm Beth. I am level 3 qualified. I have been working with children for the past 9 years in both schools and nurseries. I have extensive experience in working with under 2s, however before joining the Tots team i worked as a nanny for 2 years, providing tailored childcare and educational experiences for several families.
In my spare time i enjoy sharing time with my family, travelling, walking and staying healthy at the gym. My favourite part of working with children is watching and helping them grow and learn, creating strong and supportive bonds with them and their families.