Nursery Team – Mrs K Marr (EYO), Mrs Dick, Mrs MacDonald, Mr Marin and Mrs Strong (EYP’s), Mrs L Duncan (EYA), Mrs Z Bowyers (DS).

(EYO=Early Years Officer, EYP=Early Years Practitioner, EYA=Early Years Assistant, DS=Domestic Support) 

Nursery Curriculum

In their time in Nursery, each child will gain his/her own independent knowledge, skills and interests through structured play activities. The learning environment is stimulating and challenging and provides appropriate and wide-ranging learning opportunities for the children to engage in at their own level. The child is at the centre and is the starting point for learning. In order to promote a holistic approach, the child’s previous experiences, their needs and interests and the unique way they learn have to be considered. To help plan and deliver this we follow eight key areas of learning within the Curriculum for Excellence framework. Each area of learning sets out a range of learning activities.

Literacy and English

All activities within the nursery generate language and nursery staff use their expertise to extend and develop the children’s communication skills.

• During daily sharing time, children take part in conversations/discussions, discovering new words and phrases to help them express their ideas thoughts and feelings As they listen and talk in different situations, they learn to take turns and become aware of when to talk and when to listen.
• A love of books is fostered and children are given the opportunity to listen to, follow, read and discuss a variety of texts, sharing their likes and dislikes.
• Children are given the opportunity to develop their knowledge of letters, names and sounds in a wide range of activities including the use of computer software and the interactive whiteboard. Children are encouraged to develop their early writing skills in a variety of areas within the nursery. A specific writing area is available for children to experiment with drawing/ writing symbols, letters and words to convey their message.

Numeracy and Mathematics

Early numeracy and mathematical skills are developed through discussion, active play and engagement in activities throughout the nursery. A Maths area, interactive whiteboard and a range of computer software are available daily to provide a range of mathematical games/activities.

• Activities are provided for children to learn about shape, colour, size, number, making comparisons and predictions through playing games and puzzles which encourage mathematical awareness
• Children have the opportunity to explore numbers, understand that they represent quantities and develop their ability to count, create sequences and describe order
• Role play situations provide ideal opportunity for using mathematics in a real life situation e.g. setting up a shoe shop provides opportunities for measuring and comparing using standard and non standard units of measure, restaurants/café provides opportunities for handling money, recognising coins and adding/subtracting, fruit/veg shop develops understanding of weight through the use of scales etc.

Health and Wellbeing

Good health and wellbeing is central to effective learning and preparation for successful independent living.

• Through daily sharing time/circle time with their key worker groups, children are given opportunities to share their ideas/feeling and are encouraged to listen and respond to others
• Through involvement in all activities, children are given opportunities to make friends and be part of a group in a range of situations
• Through the development of each child’s personal learning story with their key worker, children celebrate their achievements, skills and individuality
• Daily opportunities are provided for children to participate in different kinds of energetic play both indoors and outdoors, e.g. outdoor climbing frame, bikes and scooters, indoor soft play, expressive movement/dance etc
• Through opportunities provided by physical play and healthy snack, children are becoming aware of healthy lifestyles and choices
• The importance of personal hygiene and health is promoted through daily tooth brushing routines and hand washing

Sciences and Social Subjects

Children’s natural curiosity is harnessed and independence in learning is promoted. Opportunities are planned and provided to encourage them to ask questions, experiment, design/make and solve problems

• Children have the opportunity to use their senses to learn about their world around them e.g. on local trips with staff/friends children will explore the natural environment closely using all their senses; to look a tiny buds on trees, to smell pine cones in the woods, to listen for different birds singing or touch various textures on twigs or stones
• Children have the opportunity to grow plants, learn how to look after them, harvest the produce and use them in a variety of ways e.g. planting flowers/ fruit/ vegetables, eating produce at the snack table, making and selling products for enterprise activities
• Children are made aware of the importance of caring for the environment by reducing, reusing and recycling resources e.g. composting food waste from snack, recycling paper products etc.