Nursery Provision

We would like to warmly welcome your child into Nursery and are very much looking forward to watching them develop into independent learners, who always have a good attitude to their learning and who have amazing and happy experiences.

Safe ~ Happy ~ Learning

Children in Nursery access the seven areas of learning through a wide range of adult and child led activities. Children are encouraged to use their senses to explore the world around them, learn through their play and develop their speech, language and communication skills in our language rich environment. 

Independent Learning Opportunities

Staff set up the classrooms with a range of exciting and engaging activities that are practical and multisensory. Activities are linked to the half-termly topic or the key text for the week. Children have a wide range of resources in the classrooms that they can access freely to support their independent learning activities. Activities are set up to provide children with opportunities to practise their speaking and listening skills and encourage them to practise reading and writing throughout the day. 

Autumn 1 – All about me

When children first start nursery, the topic needs to revolve around them and their interests. In this topic we cover who is in our family, the similarities and differences we have with our friends and all the things we are interested in. We also touch on the jobs people do, especially people who help us. In maths we do lots of sorting and matching, especially with colours. Our first half-term at nursery is also when we learn all the nursery rules and routines. We will learn how to sit on the carpet, how to share with others and how to be able to make friends.

Autumn 2 – Nursery Rhymes

In this topic we will explore a range of nursery rhymes, learning them by heart and making up actions to go along with them. In Maths, we will be focusing on developing a deep understanding of numbers 1 and 2 and exploring patterns.  Of course, Christmas is in this half-term too and, like the rest of the school, we put on a Christmas production, learning the songs for parents to come and watch us sing!

Spring 1 – Dinosaurs

This topic is all about things that are outside our normal experience! We think about dinosaurs and what it must have been like when they roamed the Earth. Often we draw upon children’s current interests by making links with film, tv, or books. In Maths, we will begin to explore and compare height and length, understand the idea of more and fewer and begin to name and explore 2D shapes. 

Spring 2 – First Tales

In this topic we will focus on a range of traditional tales such as ‘Goldilocks’ and ‘The Three Billy Goats Gruff’. We will begin to learn the repetitive phrases and actions in the story to help us to retell them. In Maths, we will begin to explore numbers 3, 4 and 5 in detail. 

Summer 1 – Farm

The Farm topic is all about animals, taking care of them and their environment, and understanding the need for farm animals. Each week we focus on a story about a farm animal, learning their names and other related vocabulary. Where possible, we arrange for some farm animals to come and visit us. In maths, we begin to explore and compare weights using practical resources and begin to understand and identify one more or one less than a given number to 5

Summer 2- Pirates and Under the Sea

Land Ahoy! Our topic on Pirates will again focus on a key book each week, ensuring we challenge stereotypes by having key girl pirate characters. We will be making flags and creating maps and, of course, include a pirate ship in our role-play area! We will have a Pirate day at Belvedere beach. In maths, we will be looking at maths concepts such as capacity, times of the day as well as positional language.