I have always had a flexible routine, but the morning is an activity, outing, or group, lunch at 12- 12.30, nappy changes, and then around 1ish I put sleeping mats down with their choice of blanket, they are encouraged to lie down, 2 of them drop off to sleep straightaway. I read a story or sing quietly to the others. All the time, in a quiet tone, patting their back occasionally, and off they go!
One 2 year old doesn't always need a sleep, as she sleeps from 6.30pm - 7.00am at home, but she knows it is quiet time, she has a book on her mat, she will roll around and I will just say sshhh, sleepytime, she often drops off for 30 minutes or so.
As they get older, they understand it is quiet time and more importantly MY time. I get to sit and read the paper, have a cup of tea and go on mumsnet!
They wake up in varying degrees, we used to have to do a school run at 2.45 so had to wake them by 2.30, but now they can sleep until 3.00. We then have a drink and snack, nappy change etc.
I have a lovely photo of all of them asleep at the same time with a cat asleep in the middle!
It is important to have a sleep in the day, they need it or, as you find they are too overtired to sleep at the right time at home. All of my minded children sleep really well at home too, and have done since they started with me, parents always used to say, in the early days of starting with me, gosh they slept so well last night , what did you do?