Nursery Team

            

                       

Nursery Timetable

Morning session: 9 am to 12 am.

Afternoon session: 12.30 pm to 15.30 pm.

Full day session: 9 am to 3.30 pm.

 

Our Curriculum

Our bespoke, ambitious and inclusive curriculum is guided by the statutory Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) Framework and supported by Development Matters. Each half-term has an overarching topic, while children’s interests, questions and discoveries help shape the learning within it. We provide rich indoor and outdoor continuous provision, purposeful adult-guided teaching and varied opportunities for exploration, educational visits, visitors and experiences of the wider world.

We celebrate identity and diversity by weaving significant people, artists, musicians, authors and inspirational figures from different cultures and backgrounds into learning. We want children to understand themselves, appreciate others and develop a growing awareness of their community and the world.

Our Half-Termly Topics

Half-term	Topic
Autumn 1	My Identity
Autumn 2	Let’s Celebrate
Spring 1	Helping Our Community
Spring 2	Our Planet
Summer 1	How Does Your Garden Grow?
Summer 2	The Big Wide World

The Seven Areas of Learning

Prime areas: Communication and Language; Personal, Social and Emotional Development; Physical Development.

Specific areas: Literacy; Mathematics; Understanding the World; Expressive Arts and Design.

The Three Characteristics of Effective Teaching and Learning

Playing and Exploring – children investigate, experience new things and have a go. For example, a discovery of insects outdoors can inspire bug hunts, magnifier investigations and the creation of minibeast habitats.

Active Learning – children concentrate, keep trying and enjoy achieving. For example, children building a bridge test and improve it when it falls, developing resilience and problem-solving.

Creating and Thinking Critically – children develop ideas, make links and choose ways to solve problems. For example, at the water tray children predict which objects will float, test their ideas and explain what they notice.

These characteristics are not taught as separate lessons: they are embedded in child-led play, carefully planned enhancements and purposeful adult interactions throughout each day.

 

Teaching and Learning

Phonics and Early Reading – Read Write Inc.

We use Read Write Inc. Phonics to develop phonological awareness, letter-sound knowledge, oral blending, word reading and confidence. Learning is adapted to children’s developmental stages.

Mathematics – NCETM Mastering Number

Following advice from our Maths Hub team, NCETM Mastering Number is our mathematics programme. Carefully sequenced sessions and practical, play-based experiences develop number sense, counting, subitising, composition, numerical relationships and mathematical vocabulary. Mathematics is also explored across continuous provision.

Literacy and Writing – Literacy Counts

Literacy Counts supports our writing curriculum, alongside high-quality texts, storytelling, talk, mark-making and fine-motor development. Children progress from early marks and meaning-making towards writing letters, words, captions and sentences.

Music – Kapow Primary

Music is supported by Kapow Primary. Children sing, listen, move, explore rhythm and instruments, and encounter diverse musical traditions and influential musicians.

Dance and Creative Movement

Children have weekly dance sessions with our specialist teacher during Autumn 1, Spring 1 and Summer 1, developing coordination, rhythm, creativity and confidence.