The Early Years Foundation Stage is distinct and important in its own right. It forms a secure basis upon which future learning can be built and offers children new experiences in order to extend their skills, develop their confidence and build on what they already know to take their learning forward.
The Nursery curriculum is predominantly delivered through play and exploration. There are short, whole class teaching sessions during which new concepts are introduced but all of the other work is undertaken on a one-to-one basis with the Teacher or the Teaching Assistant. This enables the children to progress at their own rate, and activities are planned for each child’s individual needs and stage of development.
The EYFS curriculum is based upon the Early Learning Goals, which establish expectations for most children to achieve by the end of the Reception year. These Goals form the basis for planning throughout the EYFS. The Early Years Foundation Stage curriculum is organised into three Prime Areas: Communication and Language; Physical Development; and Personal, Social and Emotional Development taught within four Specific Areas: Literacy; Mathematics; Understanding the World; and Expressive Arts and Design.Â
There are two aspects to the Prime Area of Communication and Language: Listening, Attention and Understanding; and Speaking.Â
The children have many opportunities throughout the day to develop their listening, attention, understanding and speaking skills.These include: role play, whole class sessions focusing on language work, one-to-one work with the Class Teacher or Teaching Assistant.
To develop their oral communication and language, children are encouraged to express themselves using the correct language for past, present and future events. The children will also be encouraged to hold conversations when engaged in back-and-forth exchanges with their teacher and peers, offering their own ideas, using recently introduced vocabulary.
The Nursery classrooms are secure environments for the children where they work and play within a small group with the Class Teacher and Teaching Assistant.Â
Building confidence, trying new activities and showing independence, resilience and perseverance in the face of challenge are important principles in the Nursery curriculum.Â
The children will be supported in being able to explain the reasons for rules, recognise right from wrong and to behave accordingly. This will be closely linked to the Blue Coat School Values. They will also be supported in being able to show an understanding of their own feelings and those of others.
Nursery children are taught to take care of the classroom environment and to take responsibility for tidying the toys away at the end of each session. They are also taught to take care of the wider environment when learning about animals and plants.Â
Throughout the Nursery curriculum, children will be taught the importance of exercise, healthy food and oral health.Â
The children will have a PE lesson each week. Lessons will focus on activities such as gymnastics, dance or games skills. During these lessons, children will develop their coordination skills.
They use the apparatus and small equipment to develop eye-hand coordination, fine and gross motor skills. And children learn to control their own movements and to follow instructions.
The children will have the opportunity to use a range of tools, construction toys and malleable materials such as play dough to enable them to develop their motor skills.
Nursery children will also have sessions of Forest School throughout the year. This tranquil forested area nestled in the corner of the School grounds is a highlight for Pre-Prep children.Â
