SCHOOL NURSERY

Nursery and Reception - the Foundation Stage

Prior to children entering Year 1, they follow the Foundation Stage of the National Curriculum. The Foundation Stage begins when a child is aged three. The last year is often described as the reception year, when children are entering an Infant or Primary School.

During the academic year 2001 - 2002 the Foundation Stage was fully integrated into the nursery and reception at Highworth. Since it covers the nursery and reception stages, there is now an even smoother transition for our children passing from the nursery into the reception classes and the mainstream school.

The Foundation Stage is not a curriculum as such but has a series of Early Learning Goals in six major areas of learning. These are:

1. Personal, Social and Emotional Development
2. Communication, Language and Literacy
3. Mathematical Development
4. Knowledge and Understanding of the World
5. Physical Development
6. Creative Development

These together form a basis for the planning throughout the Foundation Stage, so laying secure foundations for learning.

The Foundation Stage should create young children who are active learners, who use all of their senses to build concepts and ideas from their experiences. The process of learning, as well as the content, is of vital importance. The children's understanding and experience of this is crucial to their development towards the more structured National Curriculum undertaken in Key Stages 1 and 2.

Personal Social and Emotional Development

Social and personal development is the key to all nursery education. We aim for our children to develop in confidence, to consider and respect themselves and to relate positively to adults and other children.

Children soon learn the nursery routine through our expectations and encouragement.
"Play" is crucial to children's learning. Staff ensure that children encounter learning experiences through structured play, by providing appropriate equipment and materials.

Through adult involvement, comment and questions resulting from observation, the children are helped to learn.
Communication Language and Literacy

All areas of the curriculum provide a vehicle to develop language skills.

• Book corner Encourages an enjoyment of books.
• Develops listening and spoken language skills.
• Drawing/Writing Offer a choice of writing/drawing tools and paper.
• Develop pencil control, pencil pressure and cutting skills.
• Language Games and stories.

Mathematical Development

We provide a range of resources and experiences to develop number concepts, concepts of measurement, mathematical language and problem solving.

Knowledge and Understanding of the World.

To develop a sense of wonder and awe.

• Science Observation, investigation and exploration of living and
  man-made things.
• Technology Joining materials together, developing box-modelling
  skills, etc. Use of computer programmes.
  
  
  

Physical Development

Use of large and small apparatus to develop, co-ordinate and control. Use of tools such as pencils and scissors to develop finer movements and skills.

Creative Development

Children explore colour, texture, shape and form using a variety of materials and techniques.

• Home corner Develops imaginative, creative and social play.
• Music/songs Experiment with sound and rhythms. Develop listening
  skills. Build up a repertoire of songs including nursery rhymes.
• Drama/role-play Develop confidence, social interactions and make sense of
  the world.