A Typical Day at Nursery

Starting in Nursery

Our aim is to make children feel secure and happy in nursery. Settling your child into a new setting can take time, especially if it is the first time your child has been left without a familiar adult.  Take the time you both need, the staff are here to support you.

When your child starts in nursery they will be allocated a Key Person.  They will visit you and your child at home prior to them starting with us.  This will enable your child to get to know the staff in a familiar setting.  We also advise you to make a couple of short visits to the nursery prior to your start date.

 

What Will Your Child Do in Nursery?

The curriculum is the sum of all the experiences provided for your child at nursery. It includes not only the formal programme, but also the informal programme of activities. At nursery, we are committed to a curriculum which is exciting and engages the enthusiasm and natural curiosity of every child.

We look to use a variety of experiences and approaches to meet the needs and preferences of different styles of learning and to provide opportunities for children to take increasing responsibility for their own learning as they move through the school.

Throughout nursery, children are taught using a variety of organisational strategies and teaching techniques, depending on the type and purpose of the activity. Sometimes the staff will draw the children together in a large group. Sometimes they use individual teaching, perhaps to support a child with a difficulty or to challenge their thinking further. For much of the day, children are following their own activities. Every child whatever his or her ability is given the same opportunities.

For the youngest children, much of their learning takes places through structured play activities enabling them to learn from first hand experiences which help them to make sense of the world around them. The children may take part in the Forest Schools Project which is based on a Scandinavian principle of learning in the outdoor environment

The curriculum for Nursery is divided into the prime areas and specific areas of learning, the prime areas are:

• Personal, Social and Emotional Development (PSED) – self-confidence and awareness; managing feelings and behaviour; making relationships.
• Communication, Language, and Language – focussing on listening and attention, understanding and speaking.
• Physical Development – moving and handling, health, and self-care.

The specific areas of learning are:

• Literacy – reading and writing
• Mathematical Development - learning about numbers and counting; shapes, space, and measures.
• Understanding of the World – people and communities, the world and technology.
• Expressive arts and design – exploring media and materials and being imaginative

Record Keeping and Assessment

Assessment is collecting information about individual experience and achievement which shows what a child knows, understands, and can do. Assessment may be by continuous assessment or through more formal tasks. 

The purpose is to help the child to learn, help the staff prepare appropriate work, and to give information to parents and other staff members. Throughout the year children are regularly set learning targets by their Key Worker. As these are achieved new targets are set. Parents are informed of children’s targets through our online learning journal.

We document learning journeys through an online program called Tapestry which parents can access to see how their child is developing.  These learning journeys follow the EYFS (Early Years Foundation Stage) curriculum and track the child’s progress.  We invite parents/carers to contribute to them and to share WOW! moments celebrating a child’s successes.  For further information on learning journeys please speak to a member of the staff team.

Any information regarding your child is kept/stored in a locked cabinet and are accessible by setting staff only.  If you wish to view records kept regarding your child, you may arrange to do so via your child’s key worker or the setting manager.  We will ask your permission to share details of your child’s progress with their next setting.  We are obliged to share information with partner agencies if there are safeguarding concerns. (See Safeguarding policies).

We adhere to our strict confidentiality policy always.  All information shared with us regarding your child and family will remain confidential, however, if at any time we are concerned about the well-being of anyone, particularly a child we are required to share these concerns with the relevant agencies.  Where appropriate, we will inform you of this decision.