Building Brighter Futures from the Start
At Tulip Day Nursery, we believe that a child’s mind is a garden waiting to bloom.
Nurturing cognitive development in early years is one of the most powerful ways we prepare children for a lifetime of curiosity, resilience, and success.
From their first steps to their first questions about the world, children are naturally driven to learn.
Through thoughtful activities, loving support, and an inspiring environment, we help unlock every child’s incredible potential.
What Is Cognitive Development?
Cognitive development refers to how young children acquire knowledge, understand their surroundings, and solve problems.
It involves skills such as:
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Memory and recall
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Focused attention
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Logical thinking
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Language and communication
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Imaginative thinking
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Problem-solving
At Tulip Day Nursery, we recognise that cognitive development is the foundation for future academic achievement, social relationships, and emotional wellbeing.
Why Early Cognitive Development Matters
Research shows that 90% of a child’s brain development happens by age five.
This means the experiences children have in their early years are crucial for shaping their thinking, learning, and emotional skills.
By providing rich opportunities for exploration and discovery, we lay strong cognitive foundations that will serve children throughout their lives.
How Tulip Day Nursery Supports Cognitive Development
At Tulip Day Nursery, cognitive development isn’t just a goal — it’s woven into everything we do.
Here’s how we nurture bright, inquisitive minds every day:
1. Play-Based Learning
Play is how young children make sense of the world.
Through purposeful play, we encourage:
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Problem-solving during building games
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Critical thinking during imaginative role-play
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Logical reasoning in puzzles and board games
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Social negotiation during group activities
Our carefully planned activities spark curiosity and challenge children to think deeply while having fun.
2. A Language-Rich Environment
Language and cognitive development go hand-in-hand.
At Tulip, we foster language growth through:
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Daily storytelling sessions
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Singing rhymes and songs
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Role-play and drama corners
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Encouraging conversations and open-ended questions
The more children are exposed to rich, expressive language, the stronger their thinking and reasoning abilities become.
3. Encouraging Curiosity and Exploration
We encourage children to be explorers and investigators!
Through hands-on experiences like:
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Nature walks and outdoor exploration
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Science experiments and sensory play
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Construction and creative design activities
Children learn to make observations, form hypotheses, and solve problems, building their cognitive flexibility and resilience.
4. Building Strong Memory Skills
Memory is an essential part of cognitive growth.
We strengthen memory by:
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Repeating songs, stories, and routines
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Playing matching and memory games
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Encouraging recall (“What happened in the story?”)
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Helping children connect past experiences to new learning
These activities make it easier for children to store, retrieve, and apply information over time.
5. Introducing Early Maths Concepts
Mathematical thinking develops naturally through play.
At Tulip, children learn early maths by:
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Counting steps, toys, or ingredients in cooking
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Recognising patterns, shapes, and sequences
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Estimating, measuring, and comparing
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Solving simple number problems
By embedding maths into everyday activities, we make learning logical and exciting.
6. Supporting Focus and Attention
The ability to focus and persevere is a critical life skill.
We help children develop attention spans by:
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Offering activities that require sustained concentration
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Breaking tasks into manageable steps
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Praising effort and perseverance
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Creating calm spaces for focused play
When children learn to concentrate, they also build self-regulation and problem-solving skills.
Our Learning Environment: Designed for Thinking
The right environment plays a key role in supporting cognitive development.
At Tulip Day Nursery, we offer:
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Inviting, accessible spaces for self-directed learning
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Quiet corners for reflection and reading
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Stimulating outdoor areas that promote investigation and discovery
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Open-ended materials that spark creativity and problem-solving
Everything about our setting is designed to stimulate thought, exploration, and joy.
Cognitive Development and the EYFS Framework
We follow the EYFS (Early Years Foundation Stage) curriculum, which places strong emphasis on developing children’s cognitive skills across several key areas, including:
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Communication and Language
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Literacy
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Mathematics
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Understanding the World
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Expressive Arts and Design
Our highly skilled practitioners observe, assess, and plan activities based on each child’s unique learning journey, ensuring every child receives the support they need to thrive cognitively.
Supporting Cognitive Growth for SEND Children
At Tulip Day Nursery, we are proud to be an inclusive setting.
For children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND), we adapt our approaches to meet individual learning styles.
This might involve:
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Using visual aids and prompts
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Providing sensory-based learning opportunities
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Offering alternative communication methods
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Creating small group or 1:1 support sessions
Every child, regardless of ability, deserves opportunities to develop their thinking skills and reach their full potential.
Working in Partnership with Families
Cognitive development is most powerful when nursery and home work together.
We support families by:
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Sharing weekly updates and observations
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Offering ideas for at-home activities
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Hosting workshops on cognitive development
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Providing regular feedback and developmental milestones
When parents and nursery practitioners collaborate, children’s learning and thinking abilities grow even stronger.
Signs of Cognitive Growth We Celebrate
At Tulip Day Nursery, we celebrate every cognitive achievement, big and small!
Some signs of cognitive development we love to see include:
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Asking “why” and “how” questions
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Recognising familiar objects and people
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Sorting, matching, and categorising items
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Solving simple problems independently
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Showing memory of past events
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Engaging in imaginative play and storytelling
Each milestone is a joyful reminder of how capable and creative young minds truly are.
Growing Strong Thinkers at Tulip Day Nursery
Cognitive development is the key to unlocking each child’s potential.
At Tulip Day Nursery, we create a rich, stimulating, and supportive environment where children aged 0–5 can explore, imagine, and discover the world around them.
By nurturing curiosity, encouraging questions, and celebrating thinking, we are proud to help lay the foundations for lifelong learning, confidence, and happiness.
At Tulip, every child’s mind matters — and every thought is a seed for the future.
Let’s connect with us at 7879971273 or contact us here