Learn and develop. . .
Bluebells Nursery School offers many opportunities for children to learn and develop, encompassing all principles of the Early Years Foundation Stage Curriculum and the Seven Areas of Learning. We are also happy to provide extra curricular activities including Spanish, Science club and cooking sessions.
We support the Areas of Learning in many different ways. Below are a few examples of how the areas are incorporated into our day.
SEVEN AREAS OF LEARNING
We encompass all principles of the Early Years Foundation Stage Curriculum.
Personal, Social and Emotional Development
Bluebells Nursery School helps children to take their first steps towards independence in a warm and secure environment. When joining us at Bluebells children create an ‘All About Me’ book in which they write about their favourite things such as families, foods and likes and dislikes. It is lovely to see the children share their books with teachers and friends, helping them to feel part of the school community. Each child is given their own peg labelled with their name and a picture on which to hang their belongings.
Communication and Language
Within this area of learning the children are helped to discover different ways to communicate with their peers and teachers such as; singing, role-play, storytelling, circle time and show and tell. In order to lay the foundations for early reading we use the Jolly Phonics scheme. This programme is designed to introduce phonics in a fun and stimulating way. Children are encouraged to make their first steps in writing in a variety of ways. We ensure mark making materials are readily available e.g. pencils, crayons, chalks, paintbrushes and a natural selection of mark making resources.
Physical Development
Bluebells Nursery School provides children with a wide range of activities to help develop their gross and fine motor skills. In our garden children are able to use bikes, pushchairs, balls to catch throw and kick and also develop their sense of balance. Parachute activities and climbing equipment is also utilised to help development in this area. During topics such as ‘My Body’ children are able to discuss how to keep healthy and how exercise affects our bodies.
Literacy
Within this area of learning the children are helped to prepare for reading and writing. We provide a language rich environment giving many opportunities for speaking and listening, sharing ideas and feelings. There is constant access to a diverse range of books that can be explored by children during the session. We introduce the sounds and shapes of letters using dry wipe books, the interactive whiteboard, phonic books and sandpaper letters.
Mathematics
We incorporate this area of learning into our daily routine within the setting in a number of ways. During role-play in the home corner children are able to ‘work in a shop’ – exploring money, numbers and shapes. In the construction area whilst children enjoy building towers and rockets they are also exploring patterns, measurements and sizes. Through music and dance children gain an understanding of counting and numbers.
Understanding
the World
Bluebells Nursery School aims to stimulate children’s curiosity about their surroundings. Topics such as animals and space open the way for discussion and investigation about the world around them. Fun activities are planned around topics for example a trip to the zoo to look at different animals or creating our own rocket ships to fly to the moon. Children are provided with experiences through practical activities such as growing our own vegetables and herbs in our garden and creating a mini beast habitat. The children will have access to an interactive whiteboard, giving them the opportunity to explore technology in a fun an exciting way.
Expressive Arts and Design
At Bluebells Nursery School we encourage and support children to express themselves through experimenting with a variety of materials and techniques such as collage, painting, messy play, sticking and printing. Through music and movement children are able to explore and investigate sounds; they may make their own music by using different instruments or even explore the different ways in which they can move their bodies to the beat. Role-play helps to stimulate children’s imaginations – our home corner can be used for many different scenarios such as a hairdresser, garden centre, pet shop or even a fire station.