Planning For Learning

 

'Children make an excellent start to their education in the Nursery

and Reception classes.' (Ofsted 2010)

  

In the Nursery, our goal is to provide our children with a happy, safe and stimulating environment. We offer the children opportunities to explore, discover and have fun in a secure and positive setting. 'The classrooms are stimulating and resources are used exceptionally well.'

 

We plan our curriculum through termly topics, in accordance with the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) curriculum, which encompasses the Nursery year and the Reception year. Consequently we liaise closely with Reception staff in order to ensure continuity of learning for the children throughout their Foundation Stage experience. Each child is regularly assessed and a profile is developed of their progress. 'Adults have high expectations, provide very clear routines and enable children to build strong, positive relationships.'

 

The EYFS curriculum is divided into 6 areas of learning:

Personal, Social & Emotional Development

Communication, Language & Literacy

Problem Solving, Reasoning & Numeracy

Knowledge & Understanding of the World

Physical Development

Creative Development

 

Each curriculum area is delivered through carefully planned topic-based play and every day we carefully lay out activities and toys, which the children play with and learn through. We place great importance on the value of learning through both indoor and outdoor play and this is reflected by our ‘free-flow’ policy, enabling the children to move freely between inside and outdoor activities. Indeed, we consider our outdoor area to be an extension of the classroom. We play outside in all weathers and have the flexibility to use the main school's field and playground too. 'At all times the class teachers engage and stimulate the children's interests ...The outstanding outside areas provide the same exciting level of challenge and stimulation.' 

 

We emphasise appropriate behaviour and encourage good social skills. Together with extensive pre-reading, pre-writing and number experiences, the whole Nursery experience equips the children with a sound basis for their seamless transition into Reception. 'Children make rapid progress and achieve exceptionally well, especially in communication, language and literacy, and in their personal, social and emotional development.'