Curriculum
Nursery
We aim to provide a broad and balanced curriculum with lots of opportunities for first-hand experience through practical activities. All children are helped to feel included, secure and valued. Boys and girls participate in a wide range of activities that take account of their developing physical, intellectual and social abilities and their individual differences.
Activities are planned that develop the children's skills, knowledge and attitudes in the following areas:
These categories support the nine areas of the National Curriculum and are explained in detail below. The curriculum is carefully planned in conjunction with our Reception teachers in the Pre-Prep.
Some of the Nursery activities are adult-directed and some are free choice. This balance is important both in developing children's independence and ability to make choices and in their ability to work towards a given task when asked to do so. This structure also helps children experience a full range of activities.
A topic approach is adopted in our planning. This means that many of the children's activities will be linked to a theme. A topic approach connects activities and experiences and makes learning more meaningful and fun for children.
Progress is continually monitored through observation and assessment. Parents are always welcome to discuss their child's progress with Nursery staff. A transition record is produced at the end of the year and passed on to your child's new teacher to aid a smooth and happy move into their new class.
Personal, social and emotional development
Successful personal, social and emotional development is critical for very young children in all aspects of their lives and gives them the best opportunity for success in all other areas of learning. We aim to provide an environment in which children feel safe and secure and in which they learn to respect themselves and others. We aim to provide the opportunities to:
- Help your child develop good relationships with other children and adults
- Receive positive encouragement
- Ensure that your child has the time and space to focus on activities and experiences and develop their own interests
- Promote emotional, spiritual and social development alongside intellectual development
- Develop autonomy and the disposition to learn
- Promote play and learning that acknowledge differences in gender, ethnicity, culture and ability
- Work alone, in small and larger groups.
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Communication, language and literacy
The development and use of communication and language is at the heart of young children's learning, and this area of development encompasses a wide range of Nursery activities. Opportunities are provided for children to:
- Communicate throughts, ideas and feelings, and build up relationships with adults and each other
- Share and enjoy a wide range of rhymes, music, songs, poetry, stories and non-fiction books
- Link language with physical movement in action songs and rhymes, in role-play and practical experiences such as cookery and gardening
- Learn letter sounds and develop early reading skills using the Jolly Phonics system
- Experiment with writing for themselves through mark making, emergent writing and conventional script. Correct letter formation is taught following the Pre-Prep scheme to ensure a smooth transition into the main School
- Develop spoken language through conversation between adults and children, both one-to-one and in small groups
- Develop listening skills and build concentration skills.
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Mathematical development
Mathematical development depends on the children becoming confident and competent in learning and using key skills. Mathematics permeates all areas of the Nursery curriculum and therefore practical experience and the continuous development of mathematical concepts in vital.
Through planned activities and through the child's own particular interests, a growing number of mathematical concepts are explored.
Children gain experience in matching, sorting, ordering, sequencing, counting, seeking patterns, making connections, recognising relationships, and working with numbers, shapes, space and measure.
Children are encouraged to try to solve problems for themselves and to extend their use of mathematic language.
Mathematical understanding is developed through stories, songs, games and imaginative play so that the children enjoy using and experimenting with numbers.
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Knowledge and understanding of the world
In this area of learning, children are developing the crucial knowledge, skills and understanding that help them to make sense of the world. This forms the foundation for later work in Science, Design Technology, History, Geography and Information and Communication Technology.
Children enjoy exploration and questions. Think how many times in a day your child asks you a question! This is their way of trying to make sense of the world.
In the Nursery we provide opportunities for children to observe, explore and ask questions, and to predict and discuss outcomes. We provide an environment with a wide range of activities indoors and outdoors that stimulate children's interest and curiosity.
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Physical development
Young children's physical development is concerned with improving skills of coordination, control, manipulation and movement. It also helps them gain confidence and independence in what they can do and enables them to feel the positive benefits of being fit and healthy.
The Nursery aims to provide safe, well-planned and resourced environments - both indoors and outside - to allow children time to develop physical skills by exploration, experimentation and refinement of their movements. Activities are planned to offer appropriate physical challenges to the children and to support other areas of learning through physical play.
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Creative development
This area of the curriculum includes art, music, dance, role-play and imaginative play. The Nursery aims to provide a stimulating environment in which creativity, originality and expression are valued. Opportunities are provided for the children to explore colour, shape, texture, form and space in a wide range of activities.
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