Welcome to EYFS – Nursery
Here at Westlea Nursery we believe that every child deserves the best possible start to their educational life. We are committed to providing a warm, caring and professional environment where your child will feel comfortable and able to learn and develop to their full potential. We carefully plan activities and learning opportunities based around your child’s interests to help them develop in every area of the early years curriculum.
It is commonly said that ‘Children just play at Nursery’ and whilst this statement is true… it is not ‘just’ play.
Play gives children the opportunity to practice what they are learning… in fact whilst they are playing they are learning how to learn, building a firm foundation on which to carry their school life.
The Early Years Foundation Stage Curriculum we follow is set out into two distinct areas. The prime areas which begin to develop from birth and continue to be fundamental throughout the EYFS and the specific areas which include essential skills and knowledge.
Prime areas of the curriculum are:
Communication and language development involves giving children opportunities to experience a rich language environment; to develop their confidence and skills in expressing themselves; and to speak and listen in a range of situations.
Physical development involves providing opportunities for young children to be active and interactive; and to develop their co-ordination, control, and movement. Children must also be helped to understand the importance of physical activity, and to make healthy choices in relation to food.
Personal, social and emotional development involves helping children to develop a positive sense of themselves, and others; to form positive relationships and develop respect for others; to develop social skills and learn how to manage their feelings; to understand appropriate behaviour in groups; and to have confidence in their own abilities.
Specific areas of the curriculum are;
Literacy development involves encouraging children to link sounds and letters and to begin to read and write. Children must be given access to a wide range of reading materials (books, poems, and other written materials) to ignite their interest.
Mathematics involves providing children with opportunities to develop and improve their skills in counting, understanding and using numbers, calculating simple addition and subtraction problems; and to describe shapes, spaces, and measures.
Understanding the world involves guiding children to make sense of their physical world and their community through opportunities to explore, observe and find out about people, places, technology and the environment.
Expressive arts and design involves enabling children to explore and play with a wide range of media and materials, as well as providing opportunities and encouragement for sharing their thoughts, ideas and feelings through a variety of activities in art, music, movement, dance, role-play, and design and technology.
The Characteristics of Effective Learning are emphasised throughout the curriculum to ensure children are engaged, motivated and develop as critical thinkers. These are:
- Playing and Exploring
- Active Learning
- Creating and Critical Thinking.
