In these early years, of course, children have very different experiences of life and learning. We will take the time and care to ensure that each child is helped and encouraged in a way that will enable him or her to develop in the appropriate way at the appropriate rate.
The core curriculum for all the children in our Nursery and Reception classes is identified as the Foundation Stage.
The curriculum aims to underpin future learning in the following six areas:
Taking each of these areas in turn, the following notes flesh out our approach in a little more detail. At the foot of this page you will find a summary of the topics covered at Foundation Stage.
This area of learning is all about emotional well being, feeling good about yourself, knowing who you are and how much you fit in to the world around you. Much of this learning will take place through a variety of play, including role-play in the home corner, play in the classroom and of course outdoor social play. Through such experiences, children will make and be helped to interpret discoveries about relationships, the importance of friendships and caring for others within a community. All of which, within a loving and secure environment, will help each child to develop as a secure, valued and confident individual.
The development and use of language and communication skills is at the heart of learning at this age. Games, activities and experiences will all contribute to each child’s development in this area. The environment will be one in which children will be encouraged to speak freely, to communicate thoughts and to listen and respect the thoughts and views of others. Together, they will share a wealth of rhymes, music, poetry, stories and factual information selected to delight, engage and encourage a love of language (in both its spoken and written forms) and learning. Their surroundings will be rich in print to stimulate and encourage and an extensive library will be freely available. Children will share texts with their teacher and others. Those who show readiness will be encouraged, but not pressured, to begin to read. Similarly, there will be many opportunities to experiment with mark making and writing and when individual children are ready, their skills will be developed.
Children’s mathematical development will arise out of daily experiences in an interesting environment. Oral counting, rhymes, songs, games and practical work will all combine to allow children to develop and extend their mathematical skills. They will be encouraged to recognise numbers and mathematical language, experience practical measuring, shape and sorting tasks.
Developing the knowledge and skills required to make sense of the world around them is another critical skill for all children. All aspects of a child’s work at this stage help to develop such a framework of understanding. In addition, children will be helped to understand their world through a wide range of practical activities, (using tools, using their senses, for example) in the classroom, their play areas and beyond in the school grounds.
At the Foundation Stage, the focus is on developing and improving skills of co-ordination, control, manipulation and movement. Throughout their time in the first two years with Hurst Pre-Prep, children will participate in games and activities that will positively help them develop and refine their movements, co-ordination and independence. In addition they will benefit from one swimming lesson and one PE/Games lesson per week with a specialist teacher.
Creativity is fundamental to successful learning. Being creative enables children to make a connection between one area of learning and another and thereby extend their understanding. Art, music, dance, role-play and imaginative play contribute to the development of creativity. They will all feature extensively in cross-curricular work and as subjects in their own right. The children will also have one formal music lesson per week with a specialist teacher.
Below are examples of the topics undertaken in the Nursery and Reception classes.
These topics cover all six areas of the Foundation Stage. There will be separate focuses on Literacy and Numeracy. Details on each topic will be sent home and displayed on the Parents’ Notice Board as the term progresses.
Michaelmas |
Lent |
Summer |
Travel |
Our World and Beyond |
Plants and Animals |
Michaelmas |
Lent |
Summer |
Travel, toys, seasons, festivals and celebrations |
Dinosaurs, family, farms, seasons, festivals, celebrations |
Space, sea, seasons, festivals and celebrations |
02 September 2010