Nursery Learning Plan
Helping Your Children Grow
Children’s learning and development is based on “The Early Years Foundation Stage” (EYFS) six areas of learning. Our daily timetable incorporates a wide range of activities and learning situations, which are geared towards the development and enhancement of the skills and knowledge of each child. Goldcrest follows the guidance set out by the EYFS and activities are aimed at covering the aspects of the foundation stage.
The activities are based upon meeting each child’s needs as an individual through observing and assessing those needs.
PERSONAL, SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT
It is our intention that through example, encouragement, praise and discussion, the children will begin to develop self-confidence and self-esteem. Through provision of activities, we encourage the children to work independently and co-operatively within a group. We intend also, for the children to learn to respect their peers and carers within the setting. We hope that they will learn to forge friendships, and to resolve differences as they arise.
From a personal viewpoint, we aim for the children to be independent with regards to toileting and to competently use a knife and fork.
We encourage the children to be able to display a variety of appropriate feelings in response to different experiences, as well as being able to display appropriate behaviour.
PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT
FINE MOTOR MOVEMENT
Some of the skills that we aim for the children to achieve include being able to demonstrate increasing skill and control in the use of pens and pencils, to use scissors, to thread objects, pour from a jug, to use cutlery and to be reasonably competent in dressing skills.
LARGE MOTOR MOVEMENT
We aim for the children to learn to use space and equipment in a confident and imaginative manner and to foster their desire to build upon their skills. This could include ball skills, pedalling skills, exploring the capabilities of their body in terms of movement, running, jumping, climbing etc.
KNOWLEDGE & UNDERSTANDING OF THE WORLD
We aim for the children to learn about their immediate environment and aspects of daily life that are of significance to them. This will include learning about where they live, talking about their extended family and discussing events, past and present that are of particular interest to them.
We encourage the children to observe, explore and investigate and they are given the opportunity to acquire designing and making skills.
We encourage conversation relating to children’s questions about the world they live in as well as using visual aids to encourage their natural interest. Children will be encouraged to develop awareness about their own cultures and beliefs and those of other people.
CREATIVE DEVELOPMENT
We aim for the children to learn to express their feelings and ideas through a wide range of creative activities; including music and movement, imaginative play and story sessions. Other creative resources and activities such as playdough, cookery, and free painting allow for the development of the five senses as well as opportunities for the use of imagination, exploration and discovery.
PROBLEM SOLVING, REASONING & NUMERACY
Through a wide range of learning activities and resources, we aim for the children to be able to explore various aspects of mathematics. These include finger rhymes, songs and stories. Water, sand, art and craft activities and the computer all provide opportunities for discovering a variety of mathematical concepts, such as quantity, volume, size and shape.
Opportunities will arise for counting and number recognition, shapes and sizes, measuring, addition, subtraction and awareness of space.
COMMUNICATION, LANGUAGE & LITERACY
Through the use of books, the computer and visual aids, we aim to extend and enrich the vocabulary of the children. We encourage the children to listen and partake in conversation (both one-to-one and in groups), and to respond in an appropriate way. Other activities that aid language development include storytime, singing and board games.
Naturally, conversation arises through all activities within the nursery and particularly during social situations such as meal times, during which the staff positively encourage interaction.
We aim to foster an interest in books, and ensure the children learn to respect and handle them with care. We encourage the children to make choices for themselves and the book corner is always available.
We acknowledge that each child develops individually, and that their acquired knowledge will vary. The computer complements all of the activities offered to promote the Six Areas of Learning.
