Infant and Toddler Curriculum
What is the Nido Infant and Toddler Curriculum?
The first 1000 days of learning are one of the most important stages in a child’s development. During these early years, a child’s brain develops rapidly, building the foundations for how they grow, communicate, learn and connect with the world around them.
At Nido, we believe infants and toddlers deserve more than care alone. They deserve meaningful learning experiences, nurturing environments and strong relationships that help them feel safe, confident and supported every day.
That’s why we created the Nido Infant and Toddler Curriculum — a play based curriculum thoughtfully designed to support children from birth to three years through every stage of their early learning journey.
Inspired by the Reggio Emilia philosophy and aligned to the Early Years Learning Framework, the curriculum supports children to learn through play, exploration, communication, relationships and everyday experiences.
A connected pathway of learning from birth to school
The Nido Infant and Toddler Curriculum forms part of a connected learning pathway alongside the Nido Kindergarten Curriculum. Built around shared learning branches, our curricula support continuity in learning and development from birth through to school and the Australian Curriculum. As children grow through each stage of learning at Nido, they continue developing the foundational skills that support confidence, communication, creativity, wellbeing and lifelong learning.
What makes the Nido Infant and Toddler Curriculum important for your child?
The Nido Infant and Toddler Curriculum has been designed to support children during the important first 1000 days of learning through:
- Strong relationships with familiar educators and teachers
- Play based learning experiences tailored to each child’s stage of development
- Nurturing environments designed to encourage curiosity and discovery
- Meaningful learning through everyday routines, play and interactions
- Individualised learning that recognises every child’s strengths, interests and development
- A connected pathway of learning from birth through to kindergarten and school
What are the 7 Learning Branches?
1. Community – Experiencing respectful, nurturing relationships. Showing interest in the people and cultures around them. Learning to share spaces, materials and experiences with others. Being introduced to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture through story, song and environment. Expressing their ideas through gestures, vocalisations and emerging language
2. Confident Learners – Showing interest in new objects, people and experiences. Engaging in play with educators and peers. Exploring their environment using all their senses. Trying new ways to solve simple problems. Practicing skills repeatedly to build mastery. Transferring learning across familiar routines.
3. Literacy – Storytelling. Exploring books by touching, turning pages and pointing to pictures. Babbling, vocalising and using early words to communicate. Making marks with crayons, paint and other materials. Recognising familiar symbols, images and environmental print. Using gestures, facial expressions and tone to share a message.
4. Numeracy – Exploring shapes through touch, play and movement. Observing simple patterns in songs, routines and the environment. Sorting and comparing objects by size, colour or texture. Exploring early measurement concepts through filling, pouring and stacking.
5. Healthy Minds & Bodies – Beginning to understand and express their emotions. Exploring movement through crawling, climbing, running and dancing. Learning the beginnings of self-care skills. Strengthening fine motor and gross motor skills through play. Developing a positive sense of identity and belonging.
6. Creativity – Using hands and tools to explore paint, clay, sand and other materials. Responding to and creating sounds, rhythms and music. Engaging in pretend play. Expressing ideas through movement and dance. Exploring materials in open-ended, imaginative ways.
7. STEM – Investigating cause and affect. Exploring early technology, such as simple switches and buttons. Asking questions through gestures, pointing and wonder. Predicting what might happen next during play. Creating simple constructions with blocks and natural materials.
Benefits of the Nido Infant and Toddler Curriculum
Every day, infants and toddlers are welcomed into a gentle world of discovery where play sparks curiosity, new skills emerge and confidence grows at their own pace.
Familiar educators who know your child
Children build confidence when they feel safe, secure and supported by familiar educators every day. Our educators take the time to understand your child’s unique personality, routines, interests and developmental needs.
Learning through play and discovery
Play- based learning experiences encourage children to explore, investigate, problem solve and discover the world around them in meaningful and engaging ways.
Environments designed for learning
Our nurturing environments are thoughtfully designed to encourage curiosity, creativity, exploration and a strong sense of belonging.
Building confidence and independence
Children are supported to develop confidence, resilience and independence at their own pace through everyday experiences and interactions.
Supporting communication and connection
Language rich environments and responsive interactions support children’s communication, self-expression and early literacy development.
Healthy minds and bodies
Dietitian approved meals prepared fresh daily support children’s wellbeing, palate development and food discovery during these important early years.
Learning and Development Reports for your child
Every infant and toddler learns and develops in their own unique way.
Our educators and teachers work closely with families to understand each child’s strengths, interests and developmental stage, using these insights to guide personalised learning experiences and goals.
Throughout the year, families receive Learning Journeys and Summary of Learning and Development updates that provide insight into their child’s progress, milestones and learning experiences at Nido.
This report provides insight into your child’s progress, strengths, interests and development during the important first 1000 days of learning, while helping families and educators work together to support ongoing learning goals.
Aligned to the Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF) and the Nido Infant and Toddler Curriculum, the report reflects your child’s progress towards the five EYLF learning outcomes:
1. Children have a strong sense of identity
2. Children are connected with and contribute to their world
3. Children have a strong sense of wellbeing
4. Children are confident and involved learners
5. Children are effective communicators
Recognising families as a child’s first and most important teacher, we value working in partnership with families to support every child’s unique learning and development journey.
What are the next steps?
We’d love to share more about how the Nido Infant and Toddler Curriculum supports children during the first 1000 days of learning.
- Book a tour at your local Nido Early School
- Speak with your Early School’s Curriculum Leader or educators
- Visit our Infant and Toddler spaces to learn more about the curriculum in practice
