The Nursery and Reception Classes follow the Statutory Framework for the Early Years Foundation Stage. The curriculum is organised into seven areas of learning:
Personal Social and Emotional Development
We help children to develop a positive sense of themselves and others. We enable them to develop relationships with other children and adults, and we teach them how to behave appropriately as part of a group.
Physical development
The children are given lots of opportunities to develop their large muscles, and to keep fit through exercise and healthy snacks. We also help children to develop their fine motor skills so they will be able to control things such as scissors and pens.
Communication and language
Being able to communicate effectively with other people is crucial to your child's development. We encourage children to talk to each other and we teach them to listen too! Lots of opportunities are given to extend your child's vocabulary and we teach them how to ask questions effectively.
Literacy
We want the children to leave the Foundation stage with a love of reading and books, and the ability to express themselves in writing. We will help them learn words and sounds, and will explore ways of writing and expressing their thoughts.
Mathematics
We provide opportunities for your child to develop their counting skills, and we encourage them to explore number problems. We also learn about shapes, pattern and measurement.
Understanding the World
This covers the early stages of history, geography, science and ICT. We explore the local environment, engage with different cultures and explore our own families. We use ICT in a range of ways to support other learning such as teaching the children to use an ipad to help with their maths, or using a camera to record some lovely work.
Expressive Arts and Design
Children need lots of opportunities to explore art, music, movement, dance, role play and design and technology. We provide a varied range of activities to fulfil these needs.
The Characteristics of Effective Learning and the Prime and Specific Areas of Learning and Development are all interconnected.
'The ways in which the child engages with other people and their environment – playing and exploring, active learning, and creating and thinking critically – underpin learning and development across all areas and support the child to remain an effective and motivated learner.'
Further information about the areas of learning can be found in our
The Characteristics of Effective learning support the development of the Unique Child in how children are learning.
3 Characteristics of Effective Learning
Playing and exploring – engagement
- Finding out and exploring
- Playing with what they know
- Being willing to 'have a go'
Active learning – motivation
- Being involved and concentrating
- Keeping trying
- Enjoying achieving what they set out to do
Creating and thinking critically – thinking
- Having their own ideas
- Making links
- Choosing ways to do things
The children will learn through practical hands-on experiences, which will ensure they are well prepared for future learning.
By the end of the Reception year children will have covered all areas of the Early Learning Goals and will be ready to work on the National Curriculum.
Continuous Provision
The Reception unit consists of two classrooms (Rosen and Donaldson), a wet room (attached to Rosen classroom), a quiet room, and a partially covered outdoor area.
The indoor provision is spread between the two classrooms.
Most of our activities are delivered through high quality, open ended continuous provision with weekly/ daily enhancements driven by the children’s interests and topic.
