Our Naíonra

Nóiníní Beaga is situated in a purpose built building in Birr, Co. Offaly. There are two classrooms (seomraí ranga), both of which have a Montessori section, a role play area, dress up corner (cúinne gléasta suas), construction corner (cúinne tógála), sensory, sand and water play (sugradh céadfach, gaineamh agus uisce), a quiet corner (cúinne ciúin) and leabharlann (library). Other areas include an art and craft area (cúinne ealaíne), circle time (am ciorcal) and our outdoor garden (gáirdín - due for upgrade Summer 2018)

Montessori

Montessori is a method of education that is based on self-directed activity, hands-on learning and collaborative play. In Montessori classrooms children make creative choices in their learning, while the classroom and the teacher offer age-appropriate activities to guide the process. Children work in groups and individually to discover and explore knowledge of the world and to develop their maximum potential. Specialised Montessori materials help the children to achieve independence and coordination.

Role Play

Role play is a very important part of a child’s education. The imagination is a powerful tool which as we know is innate in some children but needs encouraging in others. It is important that preschools provide children with the opportunity to develop their imagination. In order to accomplish this we have to equip the children with spaces, scenarios, props and the support they need to explore their real life or imaginary worlds. Imaginative play not only aids intellectual development but also improves children’s social skills and their creativity. In addition it gives children a chance to play out events that they have observed or experienced in real life.

Sand and Water - Gaineamh agus Uisce

Sensory play includes any activity that stimulates your young child's senses: touch, smell, taste, movement, balance, sight and hearing. 
 
Sensory activities (such as sand, water and messy play) facilitate exploration and naturally encourage children to use scientific processes while they play, create, investigate and explore. The sensory activities allow children to refine their thresholds for different sensory information helping their brain to create stronger connections to process and respond to sensory information.
For example, initially a child may find it difficult to play appropriately with a peer when there are other things going on in the environment with conflicting noise. However, through sensory play exploring sounds and tasks a child learns to adapt to being able to block out the noise which is not important and focus on the play which is occurring with their peer.
 

Construction Corner - Cúinne Tógála

Construction play involves manipulating elements of the play environment to construct something new. This may involve all sorts of different construction methods – stacking, assembling, disassembling, sorting or moulding, to name just a few.

Construction play develops a vast range of skills and behaviours, including;

• The physical skills (both fine and gross motor) necessary to manipulate and control the material,
• Problem solving skills,
• Flexible thinking skills,
• The ability to plan the use of materials to see a design idea become a reality,
• The ability to test ideas,
• Perseverance in the face of construction challenges, and
• Team work behaviours necessary to successfully and collaboratively complete a task together

Leabharlann - Library

Excellent reading habits begin in the early years. Introducing children to literature in preschool supports kindergarten readiness, promotes early literacy and supports a love of language and reading. A preschool library corner is a distinct area of the classroom with a variety of board books, picture books, early readers and comfortable seating. Create a preschool library corner in order to promote critical thinking skills and to enhance creative and social development.