Early Years Foundation Stage Curriculum

PERSONAL, SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT

The children in our care are encouraged to work as part of the group, to share, to take turns, to become independent and to take responsibility within the group. We encourage children to show sensitivity and a respect for others, regardless of culture and belief.

 

MATHEMATICS

A wide variety of practical activities help children to develop a mathematical understanding and solve practical problems. Mathematically-based computer software programs reinforce this teaching in a stimulating and enjoyable way.

 

PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT

We provide a wide range of both large and small equipment to develop co-ordination, confidence and control. Children are given the experience of handling a wide variety of tools and materials to gain increasing control. Weather permitting, outdoor play is encouraged on a daily basis.

 

EXPRESSIVE ARTS AND DESIGN

Our large Art Rooms have excellent resources designed to enable children to explore different senses, colour, texture, shape and form, and to develop their creativity. Children are encouraged to express their imagination through music, dance, drama and imaginative play, for which we keep a wide variety of musical instruments and role-play equipment.

 

LITERACY

Our nursery has an extensive collection of books and children can take home ‘library books’ to read with their parents and change them as often as they wish. We encourage children’s handwriting from mark making to forming the letters of their name. We have a quiet reading area in each room, and a vast range of books for use with various activities across the curriculum. We make story books together at group time to add to the nursery library.

 

COMMUNICATION AND LANGUAGE

We plan our activities carefully considering various speech sounds. We build children’s confidence with repetitive rhymes, songs and stories, and encourage lots of speaking and listening with the emphasis on the sound of words (phonics). Younger children are presented with more practical activities that encourage language development and are not pushed into ‘pen to paper’ activities before they are ready or motivated.

With the older age range of children we use a range of resources from a variety of different phonic schemes and aim to provide a firm foundation that introduces phonic sounds through all areas of the curriculum.

 

KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING OF THE WORLD

Throughout the curriculum the staff aim to encourage children to explore their environment, to care for animals and plants and have a respect for all living things. Our garden plots enable children to become involved in planting, tending and ‘harvesting’ different vegetables. The children are encouraged to consider wildlife: how and where it lives and subjects such as hibernation. We also encourage children to respect all living things in the environment in which they live.

 

PLANNING

At the beginning of each year, long term planning is put together to cover a broad range of goals and aims across the nursery. Medium term planning is then undertaken by each group every half term, taking into account such things as topical events, seasonal activities and religious festivals, but tailored specifically to the interests and needs of the children in that group.  Weekly planning is then structured for each room of the nursery, considering the ‘next steps’ for the children and how we can develop and expand their knowledge and learning journey. The curriculum is designed to help children along the different developmental stages within the Early Years Foundation Stage Framework towards the early learning goals that the children are expected to achieve by the end of their reception year in school.