Little Dragons Nursery Curriculum and Adventures

At St George's Little Dragons Nursery, we believe that young dragons learn best through magical play and discovery. Our curriculum is a treasure map of experiences — shaped around each child’s unique spark and packed with opportunities for imaginative play, problem-solving quests, and creative expression.

Every day, our little dragons help guide their own learning journey. Working closely with families, we shape their adventures in line with national guidance from 'Curriculum for Excellence 3–18' and 'Realising the Ambition'.

We tune into their passions, whether it’s building castles from blocks, creating potions in the mud kitchen, or wondering how robots work. By listening closely to what excites them, we shape magical learning moments around their interests. The result? Deep, meaningful learning with room for every dragon to stretch their wings.

Emotional well-being is the heartbeat of our den. Mindfulness activities, dragon yoga, The Colour Monster story, and calming “dandelion breaths” help our young dragons build emotional intelligence and resilience from the start.

All of this is delivered by our wonderful team of specialist teachers — a unique benefit of being part of St George’s. From music and PE to art and storytelling, our dragons enjoy expert-led sessions that bring learning to life. It also means they already know some friendly faces when it’s time to fly up to Primary 1.

What specialist sessions are included for nursery children?

• Physical Education (PE): Weekly visits from PE staff focus on basic movement, object-control, and balancing. Children practise running, jumping, skipping, climbing, balancing, throwing, and catching in varied contexts.

• Rugbytots: Weekly play-based sports sessions improve agility, ball skills, and coordination, led by a specialist coach. This encourages teamwork and a love of being active.
• Ballet Lessons: In partnership with the Manor School of Ballet, children enjoy weekly ballet lessons that nurture movement and dance through engaging early years themes.
• Music and Dance: Sessions in the Junior School Hall are led by specialist teachers, allowing children to express musical ideas and feelings.
• Junior School Music Teacher: Weekly music lessons develop children’s confidence and musical abilities under the guidance of our dedicated Junior School music teacher.

• Library Visits: Weekly visits to the Junior School library, led by our school librarians, promote group storytelling and songs, enhancing language development and a love for libraries.

What afternoon activities do we run for nursery children?

Early Years Practitioners and teachers develop activities based on the shared interests of the children and staff. Current offerings include:

• Art
• Cookery
• Gardening
• Science
• Drama

Are there opportunities for community engagement?

• We have a treasured link with Murrayfield House Care Home where children visit elderly residents throughout the nursery year, fostering intergenerational connections.