HOUSE OF FUN NURSERY

We plan our curriculum to incorporate the Early Years Foundation Stage strategies into our practice. Play both indoors and outdoors underpins the delivery of the Early Years Foundation Stage and through it the children develop socially, emotionally, physically, intellectually and creatively. We aim to create a challenging yet secure environment which extends and supports children's learning through a wide variety of well planned activities and experiences.

Our practice is built around the four guiding principles of the Early Years Foundation Stage:-

Every child is a unique child

Children learn to be strong and independent through positive relationships

Children learn and develop well in enabling environments

Children develop and learn in different ways

 

Finding out and exploring

Playing with what they know

Being willing to 'have a go'

Being involved and concentrating

Keeping trying

Enjoying achieving what they set out to do

Having their own ideas

Making links

Choosing ways to do things

Personal, Social and Emotional Development - this 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.

Communication and Language - this involves: developing children's communication skills through non-verbal communication, including body language, facial expression and eye contact, as well as speaking and listening skills. Children will be encouraged to interact with others to develop their confidence and skills in expressing themselves.  

Physical Development - this involves: providing opportunities for the children to be active and interactive and to develop their co-ordination, control and movement. Children will also be helped to understand the importance of physical activity and to make healthy choices in relation to food.

Literacy - this involves encouraging children to link sounds and letters, to begin to recognise familiar words, and develop early writing techniques. Children will be given access to a wide range of reading materials and introduced to stories, poems and rhymes to ignite their interest.

Mathematics - this involves providing children with opportunities to develop and improve their skills in counting, understanding and using numbers, calculating simple addition and subtraction problems. Children will be encouraged to look at shapes within their environment and introduced to positional and directional language. Varied opportunities will be provided for comparing length, weight, capacity and time.

Understanding the World - this 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 & Design - this involves enabling children to explore and play with a range of media and materials, as well as providing opportunities and encouragement for sharing thoughts, ideas and feelings through a variety of activities including art, music, movement, dance, imaginary play and design and technology.  

Activities are based on the interests of the children within the setting. We plan to develop existing skills and provide stimulation through linked activities related to the children's knowledge and experiences. Throughout the year we will plan to include traditional, cultural and religious festivals and celebrations. All planning is focused on promoting and developing your child's existing knowledge and skills in the seven areas of learning.

Parents / Carers are the most significant person in a young child's life. For this reason we realise the importance of working with you to help support, encourage and re-enforce best practice. We can provide a curriculum to help develop your child's knowledge and experiences and help them progress towards the next stage of development promoting their learning in all areas.

Throughout your child's time at nursery their achievements will be recorded in a 'Learning Journey'. This will include observations, your child's own work and photographs of your child enjoying their time at nursery. The learning journey can be viewed by you at any time and you are welcome to add comments, photographs and any other information you want recorded about your child. When your child leaves nursery the learning journey will be given to you to keep as a record of their development.