Why We Choose a Topic of the Month
If you’ve been with us a while, you’ll know we always have a Topic of the Month. It might be minibeasts, harvest, farm animals or something as big as waste & environment. But why do we do it, and why do we change it?
Creating a rhythm children enjoy
Children often feel happiest when there’s a little structure in their days. Having one theme for a whole month gives them that sense of security. They start to recognise the stories we tell, the songs we sing, and the games we repeat in different ways. At the same time, every week brings something new, so there’s always a little surprise woven in. You can see their confidence build as they grow more familiar with the theme.
Real life, right in front of us
The topics we choose aren’t random, they’re inspired by the real world the children are surrounded by.
If the tractors are busy in the fields, it makes sense to talk about harvest. When hedgehogs are finding places to hibernate, we’ll share hedgehog tales and look for signs outside. If it rains for days on end, then puddles become the perfect theme, splashing in them, floating leaves or sticks, and even measuring how deep they are turns into real science in action.
By choosing what’s happening around us, the children see how learning links with their everyday lives.
We also like to introduce themes that some children may never come across at home. For example, little ones who don’t live on or near a farm might never experience harvest first-hand, it may simply never come up in conversation outside of nursery. Our themes open doors to new experiences and give children the chance to explore things that might otherwise pass them by.
Looking at things from every angle
Spending a whole month on one idea means we can explore it from lots of different directions. Take minibeasts as an example. One week we might be bug hunting, another week we’re making caterpillar crafts, and another we’re learning about bees and why they matter so much. Bit by bit, the children build a bigger picture, and soon they’re spotting minibeasts in their gardens, on walks, or even on their shoes!
Following the seasons (and the world)
Nature has a way of setting the pace for us. In spring we might plant seeds, in autumn we talk about harvest, in winter we notice stars and night-time as the days get shorter. Sometimes we tie in with national or global events too, so children feel connected to the wider world. It all keeps our learning rooted in what’s really happening around us.
So many adventures from one theme
A single theme can lead to a whole variety of activities. A focus on apples might mean tasting different kinds, baking crumble, using apples for painting, singing apple songs, or heading out on a walk to find them. One simple idea becomes the spark for endless play, stories, crafts, outdoor exploring and even food.
And of course, whilst we always start with a clear topic, we are also extremely invested in “in the moment planning.” That means following the children’s interests as they arise. The topic gives us a great foundation for adult-led activities and learning, but if a completely different idea sparks from a conversation at arrival or during play, our experienced practitioners will follow it. We might begin with our topic book and end up learning about something completely different! This balance keeps learning exciting, meaningful, and child-led.
Families come along too
One of our favourite things is when families tell us how the theme has carried on at home. A bedtime story about hedgehogs, planting bulbs together, or noticing tractors while out driving, it all connects back. Having a theme gives us all a shared thread to follow, so the learning doesn’t stop when the session ends.
We change themes because life changes
Just as the children are really starting to get confident with one theme, it’s time to move to the next. That change brings fresh excitement, new questions and different adventures. It mirrors the way life works, nothing stands still, and children are growing and changing all the time.
For us, a Topic of the Month is about more than just activities. It’s a way of pausing to notice what’s happening in the world around us, exploring it together, and then moving on to something new when the time feels right. It’s everyday life, woven into play and learning.
