Early Years Curriculum

Our Early Years Department provides nurture and high-quality structured education for boys and girls from the age of 2½ years old up to school starting age. Although many of our pupils progress through the school from Nursery to Sixth Form, there are places for children who wish to attend the Nursery only. We welcome the Early Years Education Grant.

Children in our Early Years classes are able to develop in a happy and caring environment. They are encouraged to progress to the best of their ability, and at their own personal rate, establishing basic learning patterns for their future years. Our Early Years classes provide a relaxed atmosphere, enabling parents to leave their children in the care of qualified and experienced staff with complete peace of mind. Parents can be sure that their child will be encouraged to become confident amongst other children, and will learn the vital social skills necessary for their future school life.

We work in close partnership with parents to ensure that all our children feel secure in a comfortable and stimulating environment. Parents are encouraged to discuss their children's development and progress on a regular basis.

Our recent highly successful Ofsted inspection states:
"Staff use very good strategies to promote early literacy skills. Children benefit from effective teaching of early reading and writing and show enthusiasm in their work. Children's mathematical skills are promoted very effectively through the use of a range of activities and appropriate resources."

A typical day's activities in the Nursery include;-

• News time
• Group discussion on days of the week, numbers, birthdays, current topics
• Computer and interactive whiteboard activities, including Music, Art & Design, number and letter sound programmes.
• Activity folders
• Letter sounds and other phonic activities
• Puzzles, maths games
• Creative activities
• Music, movement and singing
• Group time
• Story time
• Story tape from Oxford Reading Tree
• Work shops
• Outdoor play, drink, snack, lunch and rest time are incorporated into each day.

September 2008 has seen the implementation of the Early Years Foundation Stage. The children's development is closely monitored through constant observations both formal and informal. The underpinning philosophy of the Early Years Foundation Stage is that each child is an individual and will develop at an individual pace. We aim to further the children's
development according to their individual needs.

The Early Years Foundation Stage comprises of six areas of learning;

Personal, Social and Emotional Development.
We provide children with experiences and support which will help them to develop a posive sense of themselves and of others; respect for others; social skills; and a positive disposition to learn. We aim to support each individual child's emotional well being in order to help them become confident in themselves and what they can do.

Communication, Language and Literacy
We support and further children's learning in communicating, speaking and listening, reading and writing. They are provided with opportunities to use these skills in a range of situations and for a range of purposes.

Problem Solving, Reasoning and Numeracy
We provide opportunities for the children to become confident and competent in learning and using key skills. This area of learning includes counting, sorting, matching, seeking patterns, making connections and recognising relationships, working with numbers, shapes and measures. The children's understanding is developed through stories, songs, games and imaginative play.

Knowledge and Understanding of the World
The children are supported in developing their knowledge, skills and understanding that help them to make sense of the world around them. We offer opportunities for them to use a range of tools safely; encounter creatures, people, plants and objects in their natural environments and in real life situations. They undertake practical ‘experiments' and work with a range of materials.

Physical Development
We encourage children's physical development by providing opportunities for them to be active and interactive and to improve their skills of coordination, control manipulation and movement. They are supported in developing an understanding of the importance of physical activity and making healthy choices.

Creative Development
The children's creativity is extended by supporting their curiosity, exploration and play. We provide opportunities for children to explore and share their thoughts, ideas and feelings through a variety of art, music, imaginative and role play activities.

See Early Years Gallery - click here

See Early Years 2009 Christmas Party  photos - click here